Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Susitna North is healthier than 52%
Susitna North differs from Alaska on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Susitna North. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Susitna North
COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in Susitna North
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 6.1% across Alaska. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 5.7% across Alaska. Arthritis is also above the state: 34.6%, vs 23.3% across Alaska. In all, Susitna North runs above Alaska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 44 miles from Susitna North
The closest emergency room is Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, 43.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Sunshine Community Health Center Incorporated is closer (10.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Susitna North is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Susitna North’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Susitna North, and more people treating it
41% of adults have high blood pressure (Alaska 32.5%), but 74.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 68% statewide. Checkups ↓
Susitna North is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Susitna North is healthier than 28%. Against the 7,526 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 52%. Health Grade ↓
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 Susitna North’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Susitna North’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Susitna North is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Susitna North’s median household income is $55,357; among the 7,526 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Where Susitna North compares well: binge drinking, 13.1% (U.S. 15.4%).
Out of every 100 Susitna North adults…
Susitna North runs above AK on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Susitna North
1 community health center in Susitna North, 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 Susitna North; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Susitna North adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Susitna North adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Susitna North does better than Alaska.
3 in 10 Susitna North 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.
12.3% of Susitna North adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Susitna North and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susitna North | C | 40.5% | 13% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Willow | C+ | 38.7% | 13% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Talkeetna | — | — | — | — |
Talkeetna: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Susitna North adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Susitna North
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Susitna North is better than Alaska on 5 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Susitna North’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Susitna North | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.2–26.3 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.6–18.6 | 13.1% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.5%35.5–45 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.2–14.7 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41%37.4–44.3 | 32.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%38.6–45.5 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.6%31.4–37.6 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–10.9 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8–10 | 5.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.5–11.6 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.6%12.1–17.7 | 13.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.7–22.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%23.1–30.9 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.1%11.1–15.1 | 17.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2%28.5–36.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8–11.7 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.2%72.1–77.9 | 68.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.9–60.4 | 59.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.6–85.5 | 79.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%70.8–77 | 68% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.5%54.2–62.8 | 59.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 64.3%57.6–71.1 | 66% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.5–23.9 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.4%26.1–32.9 | 33.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.9–25.7 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.3–17.4 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.7–13.3 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.1–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.6–10 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%10–14.7 | 10.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%32.9–40.6 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%15–19.8 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%12.9–16.6 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.9%9.6–12 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 3.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Susitna North
Is Susitna North a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Susitna North is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Susitna North?
CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 45%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Susitna North have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.7%), 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 Susitna North more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Susitna North.
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.