Photo: Beeblebrox · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Alaska, Nikiski is healthier than 15% of graded towns
Nikiski differs from Alaska on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nikiski. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nikiski
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Nikiski
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6.1% across Alaska. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.7% across Alaska. Cancer is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 7% across Alaska. In all, Nikiski runs above Alaska on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Nikiski
52% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.7% across Alaska. Among those 65 and older, 16.3% have lost all their teeth (Alaska 13.5%). Nikiski’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Nikiski, and more people treating it
37.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Alaska 32.5%), but 72% of them take medicine for it, vs 68% statewide. Checkups ↓
Nikiski is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Nikiski is healthier than 45%. Against the 10,072 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 62%. Health Grade ↓
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 Nikiski’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Nikiski’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nikiski is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns, #35 of 41 in Alaska. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 67% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Nikiski’s median household income is $65,863; among the 10,072 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Nikiski adults…
Nikiski runs above AK on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Nikiski adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Care in and near Nikiski
No hospital or community health center in Nikiski 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 Nikiski; ≈ 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.
6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Nikiski adults are doing
About the same as Alaska on each measure.
1 in 3 Nikiski 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.5% of Nikiski adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Nikiski 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikiski | B− | 34.5% | 11% | 19.5% | CDC place |
| Salamatof | B− | 35.3% | 9.9% | 21.1% | CDC place |
| Point Possession | — | — | — | — |
Point Possession: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Nikiski adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nikiski
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nikiski is better than Alaska on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Nikiski’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nikiski | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.8–24.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 13.1% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.3–18.2 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.5%29.6–39.4 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.5–12.7 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.7%34.3–41.2 | 32.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.7–42.6 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28.8%26–31.7 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 5.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.6–10.3 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.6–19.8 | 13.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%16.6–22.8 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.1%20.4–28.3 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14–19.2 | 17.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%29–37.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.6–12.9 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 65.9%62–69.5 | 68.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48.9–55.4 | 59.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.9%77.3–82.2 | 79.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%68.6–75.1 | 68% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.3%53.3–61.6 | 59.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 58.9%52–65.9 | 66% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.7%17.9–23.7 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%29–36.5 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.9–26.2 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%12.8–18 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.1–13.8 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.2–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%9.4–13.9 | 10.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29.4–37.4 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.2–17.5 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%12.9–17 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.6–10 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.8–5 | 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 Nikiski
Is Nikiski a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nikiski is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #35 of 41 in Alaska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Nikiski?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 39.4%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nikiski?
Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna, 16.7 miles in a straight line from Nikiski’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Nikiski have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–12.9%), 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 Nikiski more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Nikiski.
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.