Where Buffalo Soapstone residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Buffalo Soapstone, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo Soapstone. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo Soapstone
Buffalo Soapstone is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Buffalo Soapstone’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 ↓
Fewer Buffalo Soapstone adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below Alaska. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 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 Buffalo Soapstone’s likely range.
Care in and near Buffalo Soapstone
No hospital or community health center in Buffalo Soapstone 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 Buffalo Soapstone; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.6% of Buffalo Soapstone adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Out of every 100 Buffalo Soapstone adults…
Buffalo Soapstone runs below 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.
5.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo Soapstone adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
How Buffalo Soapstone adults are doing
About the same as Alaska on each measure.
1 in 3 Buffalo Soapstone 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.
Buffalo Soapstone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishhook | B+ | 36.6% | 8% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Sutton-Alpine | C | 39.5% | 12% | 20.1% | CDC place |
| Farm Loop | A− | 36.4% | 8.5% | 15.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo Soapstone adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Buffalo Soapstone
Why doesn’t Buffalo Soapstone have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Buffalo Soapstone.
What hospital is closest to Buffalo Soapstone?
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Buffalo Soapstone’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Buffalo Soapstone?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Palmer Clinic in Palmer, 5.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo Soapstone.
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.