Health · Gateway

Gateway, AK health

Gateway differs from Alaska on 14 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (8% vs 13.5%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (10.2% vs 14.3%). Where it trails the state: fewer adults treating high blood pressure (64.8% vs 68%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Gateway
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Gateway’s Health Grade: A−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Gateway is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns and 86% of Alaska towns.

A-Self-rated healthA-Physical distressA-Mental distressBObesityA+DiabetesB-SmokingAExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 81%
Less healthyHealthier
Alaska towns we grade (71)Healthier than 86%
Towns with similar incomes, $103K–$172K (3,626)Healthier than 40%

Wealth explains part of the grade. Gateway is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Gateway could be anywhere from B to A.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Alaska ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Gateway with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Gateway uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Gateway compares with Alaska

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Gateway adults…

29 of every 100 Gateway adults have high blood pressure
Alaska: 33 in 100 · better · margin 25.6–31.2%

Bars show Gateway; the black tick is Alaska. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Gateway, betterGateway, worseToo close to callAlaska
Get no exerciseshare of adults 18.9% Gateway
AK 21.7%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 32.3% Gateway
AK 35.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults 17.2% Gateway
AK 17.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 14.3% Gateway
AK 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Gateway adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.

71%
Yearly checkup
AK 69%
64%
Dentist visit
AK 60%
82%
Cholesterol check
AK 80%
58%
Colon screening
AK 59%
67%
Mammogram
AK 66%
65%
Taking BP meds
AK 68%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Gateway 7.9% · Alaska 1 in 10 (10%)
Mind & connection

How Gateway adults are doing

1 in 3Gateway adults feel lonely
31.4% · Alaska 33.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Gateway adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.7% · Alaska 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Gateway adults lack social or emotional support
23.2% · Alaska 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 6Gateway adults are in frequent mental distress
15.4% · Alaska 16.1% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 10
Gateway adults worry about having enough food
10.2% · AK 14.3% · better
1 in 10
Gateway adults worry about keeping their housing
10.1% · AK 12.3% · better
1 in 15
Gateway adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.5% · AK 8.2% · better
1 in 14
Gateway adults lack reliable transportation
7% · AK 9% · better

7% of Gateway adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.

Disability

Living with a disability

27.5%

of Gateway adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs9.6%
Thinking or memory13.1%
Hearing6.6%
Errands alone6.5%
Vision3.5%
Dressing or bathing2.7%

Black tick: Alaska. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Gateway

Gateway and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Gateway.

South Lakes: 36.3% Knik-Fairview: 38% Farm Loop: 36.4% Wasilla: 38.4% North Lakes: 36.9% Big Lake: 39.3% Meadow Lakes: 38.5% Point MacKenzie: 42.3% Palmer: 36.5% Buffalo Soapstone: 36.7% Fishhook: 36.6% Tanaina: 38.2% Gateway: 35.6% Gateway South Lakes Knik-Fairview Farm Loop Wasilla Mat-Su Regional Medical Center · Palmer · 1.4 mi · 3★ MedicareH Bogard Office · Wasilla · 4.3 mi+
35.6%42.3%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#1 of 13towns on this map, healthiest first
Gateway35.6%
South Lakes36.3%
Farm Loop36.4%
Knik-Fairview38%
Wasilla38.4%
6 places to get careNearest ER 1.4 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Gateway

1 hospital in Gateway, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMat-Su Regional Medical CenterPalmer · 1.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyProvidence Alaska Medical Center★★★★★ · 32.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMat-Su Health ServicesWasilla · 4.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.4 mi
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
Palmer · ★★★★★
ERIn Gateway
4.3 mi
Mat-Su Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Wasilla
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
14.4 mi
Southcentral Foundation
2 sites · nearest in Sutton
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
28.7 mi
673rd Medical Group (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson)
Jber · not rated
ER
31.9 mi
Alaska Regional Hospital
Anchorage · ★★★★★
ER
32.8 mi
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Anchorage · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careGateway's county is a federal shortage area.Denali · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careGateway's county is a federal shortage area.Denali · need score 10 of 25
! Mental healthGateway's county is a federal shortage area.Denali · need score 12 of 25

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 Gateway. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Gateway
MeasureGatewayMarginAlaska
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure28.5%25.6–31.2%32.5%better
High cholesterol33.5%30.3–36.5%33.4%about the same
Obesity35.6%31–39.8%35.5%about the same
Arthritis23.5%21.1–25.8%23.3%about the same
Depression21.7%18.9–24.4%20.7%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)8%6.4–9.8%13.5%better
Asthma10.6%9.3–11.8%10.6%about the same
Cancer (not skin)7%6.3–7.6%7%about the same
Diabetes7.4%6.4–8.5%9.4%better
COPD5.2%4.4–6%6.1%better
Heart disease4.8%4.2–5.4%5.7%better
Stroke2.5%2.3–2.8%3.1%better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.3%11.9–16.9%16%about the same
Binge drink17.2%14.7–19.7%17.6%about the same
Get no exercise18.9%15.9–22%21.7%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.3%28.6–36.3%35.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup70.6%67.1–73.6%68.8%about the same
Dentist visit64.1%61–67.1%59.7%better
Cholesterol check81.8%79.5–83.8%79.6%about the same
Colon screening58.3%54.3–62.3%59.2%about the same
Mammogram67.3%60.9–73.7%66%about the same
Taking BP meds64.8%61.3–67.9%68%worse
No health insurance7.9%6.5–9.6%10%better
Mind & connection
Feel lonely31.4%27.9–34.9%33.3%about the same
Lack emotional support23.2%20.3–26.3%25.4%about the same
Frequent mental distress15.4%13.5–17.3%16.1%about the same
Fair or poor health15.2%13–17.4%18.6%better
Frequent physical distress11.8%10.3–13.3%13.1%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity10.2%8.5–12.1%14.3%better
Housing insecurity10.1%8.5–11.8%12.3%better
Utility shut-off threat6.5%5.6–7.6%8.2%better
No reliable transportation7%6.1–8.1%9%better
Receive SNAP7%5.7–8.6%10.1%
Disability
Any disability27.5%24.2–30.8%29.6%
Walking or climbing stairs9.6%8.2–11.1%11.9%
Thinking or memory13.1%11.3–14.8%14%
Hearing6.6%5.8–7.3%7.7%
Vision3.5%3.1–3.9%4.7%
Dressing or bathing2.7%2.4–3.1%3.3%
Errands alone6.5%5.6–7.4%7.6%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Gateway door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Alaska figure falls inside it, we don't call Gateway better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Gateway directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alaska figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/19 · 2025-01-01