Photo: National Park Service · Public domainWhere Kobuk residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Kobuk, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kobuk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kobuk
Dental care lags in Kobuk
37.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.7% across Alaska. Among those 65 and older, 26.1% have lost all their teeth (Alaska 13.5%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kobuk
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (38.8%), more than twice the Alaska rate. No reliable transportation (23.5% vs 9%) and utility shut-off threats (19.9% vs 8.2%) are higher too. 30.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in Kobuk
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (30.1%), about twice the Alaska rate. Habits ↓
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 Kobuk’s likely range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kobuk 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.
30.6% of Kobuk 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.
Out of every 100 Kobuk adults…
Kobuk runs below AK on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Kobuk
No hospital or community health center in Kobuk 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 Kobuk; ≈ 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).
How Kobuk adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Kobuk runs above Alaska.
2 in 5 Kobuk 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.
Kobuk 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 Kobuk adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Kobuk
Why doesn’t Kobuk have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Kobuk.
Where can I get low-cost care near Kobuk?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Shungnak Clinic in Shungnak, 7.0 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kobuk.
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.