Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Eggert · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Kotzebue is healthier than 6%
Kotzebue differs from Alaska on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kotzebue. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kotzebue
The nearest ER is 45 miles from Kotzebue
The closest emergency room is Maniilaq Health Center, 44.7 miles away in a straight line. And 14.3% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9% across Alaska. For everyday care, Maniilaq Association is closer (2.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Kotzebue
51.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.7% across Alaska. Among those 65 and older, 27.5% have lost all their teeth (Alaska 13.5%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kotzebue
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.1%), vs 14.3% across Alaska. Utility shut-off threats (13.1% vs 8.2%) and no reliable transportation (14.3% vs 9%) are higher too. 15.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.1% 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 Kotzebue’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Kotzebue’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kotzebue is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 65% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 3%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Kotzebue’s median household income is $110,357; among the 7,082 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$138K), it’s healthier than 6%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Alaska towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Kotzebue is healthier than 0% of graded towns, against 32% nationally.
Where Kotzebue compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
Care in and near Kotzebue
1 community health center in Kotzebue, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Kotzebue; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Kotzebue 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.
15.4% of Kotzebue adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Out of every 100 Kotzebue adults…
Kotzebue runs below AK on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Kotzebue residents are 65 or older, vs 14% across Alaska. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alaska
Share of adults, with the Alaska figure marked.
How Kotzebue adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Kotzebue runs above Alaska.
4 in 10 Kotzebue 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.
Kotzebue and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kotzebue | C | 37.6% | 11.1% | 22.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kotzebue adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kotzebue
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kotzebue is better than Alaska on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Kotzebue’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kotzebue | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.1–25.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.2–17.2 | 13.1% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.7–21.5 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.6%30.1–45.6 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.5–12.7 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%28.4–36.5 | 32.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30%26.2–34.1 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%18.4–24.1 | 23.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 5.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.5%22.9–32.5 | 13.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.3%18.7–25.9 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24%19.5–28.5 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.9%15.7–22.6 | 17.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%33.2–47.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.5–13.3 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 66.1%61.3–70.6 | 68.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.8%47.8–55.8 | 59.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.3%73.1–79.3 | 79.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.3%60.6–67.9 | 68% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.4%47.6–59 | 59.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 64.9%55.2–73.6 | 66% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.1–23.9 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.1%31.7–42.8 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.5%25.9–35.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.1%18.8–27.6 | 14.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.5%16.2–22.9 | 12.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.1%11.1–15.2 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.3%12.2–16.6 | 9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.4%12.3–18.9 | 10.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34%29.1–38.7 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%11.5–15.6 | 11.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%14.9–19.8 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7–8.9 | 7.7% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.5 | 3.3% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Alaska figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Kotzebue
Is Kotzebue a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kotzebue is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kotzebue?
CDC estimates 37.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 45.6%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Kotzebue have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–13.3%), against 10% across Alaska.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Kotzebue more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kotzebue.
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. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.