Photo: Justin Morgan · CC BY-SA 2.0Within Alaska, Wasilla is healthier than 12% of graded towns
Wasilla trails Alaska on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wasilla. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wasilla
Wasilla is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Wasilla’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 ↓
COPD and arthritis run high in Wasilla
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.6%), vs 6.1% across Alaska. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (27.4%), vs 23.3% across Alaska. Conditions ↓
Wasilla is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wasilla is healthier than 44%. Against the 10,239 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 59%. 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 Wasilla’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Wasilla’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wasilla is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #36 of 41 in Alaska. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 85% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Wasilla’s median household income is $67,234; among the 10,239 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Wasilla
No hospital or community health center in Wasilla itself. These are the nearest.
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 Wasilla; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Wasilla adults…
Wasilla runs above AK on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
1.7 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Wasilla adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
How Wasilla adults are doing
About the same as Alaska on each measure.
1 in 3 Wasilla 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.
12.1% of Wasilla adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Wasilla and the towns around it
Wasilla’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasilla | C+ | 38.4% | 9.6% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| South Lakes | B+ | 36.3% | 8.7% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Meadow Lakes | B− | 38.5% | 9.4% | 19% | CDC place |
| Knik-Fairview | B− | 38% | 8.5% | 18.6% | CDC place |
| Tanaina | B− | 38.2% | 8.8% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| North Lakes | B | 36.9% | 8.6% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Gateway | A− | 35.6% | 7.4% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wasilla adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wasilla
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wasilla is better than Alaska on 0 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Wasilla’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wasilla | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%18.2–22.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.2–16.3 | 13.1% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.5–19.3 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.4%33.6–42.7 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%29.9–35.7 | 32.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%32.5–38.8 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%25–29.8 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.7–7 | 5.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10.1–14.9 | 13.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%21.7–28.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%13.2–17.8 | 17.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%30.3–38.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.9–12.2 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.9%67.5–73.9 | 68.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.1%52.9–59.3 | 59.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.6%76.1–80.7 | 79.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68%64.9–70.8 | 68% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.8%52.7–61.1 | 59.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 64%57.4–70.6 | 66% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.1–25.7 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.3%29.8–37.1 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%22.1–28.2 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.5–17.8 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.4–15 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%10.3–14.2 | 10.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%31.5–38.4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.5–18.1 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 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 Wasilla
Is Wasilla a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wasilla is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #36 of 41 in Alaska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wasilla?
CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 42.7%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wasilla?
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Wasilla’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wasilla have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.2%), 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 Wasilla more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wasilla.
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.