Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Where Whittier residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Whittier, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Whittier. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Whittier
The nearest ER is 47 miles from Whittier
The closest emergency room is Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, 47.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Girdwood Health Clinic is closer (20.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Heart disease and cancer run high in Whittier
1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.1%), vs 5.7% across Alaska. 1 in 12 adults have had cancer (8.4%), vs 7% across Alaska. In all, Whittier runs above Alaska on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Whittier is short on dental care and mental health care
Whittier’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Whittier adults report less mental distress
Frequent mental distress (13.7% vs 16.1%) and depression (17.1% vs 20.7%) both run below Alaska. Mind & connection ↓
Fewer Whittier adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Alaska. 1 in 10 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Whittier’s likely range.
Care in and near Whittier
No hospital or community health center in Whittier 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 Whittier; ≈ 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 Whittier adults…
Whittier runs below AK on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
How Whittier adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Whittier does better than Alaska.
1 in 3 Whittier 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.
8% of Whittier adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
6.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Whittier adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Whittier and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Whittier adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Whittier
Why doesn’t Whittier have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Whittier.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Whittier.
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. 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.