Photo: Wanetta Ayers · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Unalaska is healthier than 33%
Unalaska differs from Alaska on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Unalaska. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Unalaska
Against towns with similar incomes, Unalaska’s lead shrinks
Unalaska is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, but 33% of the 4,341 towns with similar household incomes ($99K–$165K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Unalaska
Unalaska runs below Alaska on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.7% vs 7%), arthritis (15.2% vs 23.3%) and COPD (4.1% vs 6.1%). A young population is part of it: only 5% of residents are 65 or older (Alaska 14%). Conditions ↓
Unalaska is behind on routine checkups
It trails Alaska on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (62.8% vs 68.8%), dentist visits (53.4% vs 59.7%) and colon screening (48.8% vs 59.2%). Checkups ↓
Unalaska adults report less mental distress
Frequent mental distress (13.7% vs 16.1%) and depression (14.3% vs 20.7%) both run below Alaska. Mind & connection ↓
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 Unalaska’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Unalaska’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Unalaska is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #17 of 41 in Alaska. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 91% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 38%).
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). Unalaska’s median household income is $131,964; among the 4,341 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($99K–$165K), it’s healthier than 33%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Alaska towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Unalaska is healthier than 60% of graded towns, against 75% nationally.
Out of every 100 Unalaska adults…
Unalaska runs below AK on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 5% of Unalaska residents are 65 or older, vs 14% across Alaska. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Unalaska adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
How Unalaska adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Unalaska runs above Alaska.
4 in 10 Unalaska 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.
Care in and near Unalaska
1 community health center in Unalaska, 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 Unalaska; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
24 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9% of Unalaska adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Unalaska and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unalaska | A− | 32% | 10% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Unalaska adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Unalaska
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Unalaska is better than Alaska on 9 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Unalaska’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Unalaska | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15–20.1 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 13.1% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12–15.4 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32%25.5–38.9 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.7–11.5 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.2%25.3–33.2 | 32.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%28.7–37 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 15.2%13–17.6 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8%7.1–9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 5.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.5–4.6 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.6–15.8 | 13.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.5–18.6 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.2%20.1–28.6 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.3%16–23 | 17.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%33.1–46.4 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.3%10.4–14.6 | 10% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 62.8%57.9–67.5 | 68.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.4%49.3–57.2 | 59.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.6%74.8–80.3 | 79.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 62.3%58–66.5 | 68% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 48.8%43.1–54.3 | 59.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.9%56.5–74.1 | 66% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.3%12–16.9 | 20.7% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%31.8–42.6 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.1%28.7–37.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.2%13.6–18.9 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%11.4–15.5 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.8–9.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.6–9.8 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%7.5–10.8 | 10.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.2%19.7–27 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.6–13.8 | 14% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 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 Unalaska
Is Unalaska a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Unalaska is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #17 of 41 in Alaska. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Unalaska?
CDC estimates 32% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.5% and 38.9%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Unalaska have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–14.6%), 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 Unalaska 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 Unalaska.
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.