Photo: Beeblebrox · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Kachemak residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Kachemak, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kachemak. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kachemak
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Kachemak
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.1%), vs 7% across Alaska. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 5.7% across Alaska. COPD is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.1% across Alaska. In all, Kachemak runs above Alaska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Alaska 14%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Kachemak, and more people treating it
40.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Alaska 32.5%), but 76.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 68% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Kachemak adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, 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 Kachemak’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Kachemak adults…
Kachemak runs above AK on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Kachemak is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 14% across Alaska. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Kachemak as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kachemak adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of Kachemak adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Care in and near Kachemak
No hospital or community health center in Kachemak 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 Kachemak; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Kachemak adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Kachemak does better than Alaska.
3 in 10 Kachemak 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.
Kachemak 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | B+ | 31.7% | 9.7% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Diamond Ridge | A− | 31% | 8.8% | 14% | CDC place |
| Fritz Creek | B+ | 32.2% | 9.5% | 15.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kachemak adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Kachemak
Why doesn’t Kachemak have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Kachemak.
What hospital is closest to Kachemak?
South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Kachemak’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Kachemak?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is SVT Health & Wellness in Homer, 3.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kachemak.
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.