Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Seward is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Seward differs from Alaska on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Seward. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Seward
Seward ranks #3 for health in Alaska
Out of 41 Alaska towns with a Health Grade, Seward is #3 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 87% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Seward doesn’t win on
21.1% of adults binge drink, vs 17.6% across Alaska, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Seward is behind on routine checkups
It trails Alaska on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (60.9% vs 68.8%), cholesterol checks (76.6% vs 79.6%) and mammograms (58.5% vs 66%). Checkups ↓
Diabetes and COPD are less common in Seward
Seward runs below Alaska on five chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.2% vs 9.4%), COPD (4.9% vs 6.1%) and stroke (2.5% vs 3.1%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alaska figure falls outside Seward’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Seward’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seward is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #3 of 41 in Alaska. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 54%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Seward’s median household income is $85,481; among the 10,351 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Seward adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Out of every 100 Seward adults…
Seward runs below AK on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Seward
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Seward, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Seward; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Seward adults are doing
About the same as Alaska on each measure.
1 in 3 Seward adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.5% of Seward adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Seward and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seward | A | 30.7% | 7.2% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Bear Creek | A− | 31.6% | 8.5% | 15% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Seward adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Seward
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Seward is better than Alaska on 10 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Seward’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Seward | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%13–18 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10–13.2 | 13.1% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.8–16.9 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%26.1–35.4 | 35.5% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.4%25.5–31.6 | 32.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.1%28.8–35.3 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.3%17.1–21.6 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.9%4–5.8 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.3%9.2–13.7 | 13.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4%11.7–17.4 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.5%14.5–20.7 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.1%18.1–24.3 | 17.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%28.3–36.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.9%7.8–12.5 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 60.9%57.1–64.9 | 68.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.3%54.2–60.6 | 59.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.6%73.7–79.5 | 79.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 63.6%59.9–66.9 | 68% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%57.2–65.2 | 59.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 58.5%51.6–65.7 | 66% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.5%15.9–21.4 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28.9–36.6 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.6–26.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%9.5–14.5 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.4%8.6–12.3 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.7–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.5–9 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.5%5.8–9.3 | 10.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.4%21.8–29.3 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.9%7.4–10.5 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.5%10.6–14.6 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.2–3 | 3.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Alaska figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Seward
Is Seward a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seward is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #3 of 41 in Alaska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Seward?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.1% and 35.4%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Seward?
Providence Seward Hospital in Seward, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Seward’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Seward have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–12.5%), against 10% across Alaska.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Seward more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Seward.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alaska figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.