Photo: Ajohns90 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Alaska, Soldotna is healthier than 25% of graded towns
Soldotna differs from Alaska on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Soldotna. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Soldotna
Alaska sets a high bar
Soldotna is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but only 25% of the 41 Alaska towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Soldotna
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.5%), vs 7% across Alaska. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 6.1% across Alaska. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.3%, vs 5.7% across Alaska. In all, Soldotna runs above Alaska on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Soldotna, and more people treating it
36.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Alaska 32.5%), but 72.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 68% statewide. Checkups ↓
Soldotna is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Soldotna is healthier than 60%. Against the 7,811 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%. 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 Soldotna’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Soldotna’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Soldotna is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #31 of 41 in Alaska. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 77% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Soldotna’s median household income is $56,280; among the 7,811 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Soldotna adults…
Soldotna runs above AK on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Soldotna adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alaska.
Care in and near Soldotna
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Soldotna, 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 Soldotna; ≈ 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.
5.1 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Soldotna adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Soldotna does better than Alaska.
1 in 3 Soldotna 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.
10.7% of Soldotna adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.1% across Alaska.
Soldotna and the towns around it
Soldotna’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldotna | B | 33% | 10.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Kalifornsky | A− | 31.7% | 8.8% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Funny River | B+ | 31% | 11.4% | 14% | CDC place |
| Ridgeway | B | 33.5% | 10.7% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Sterling | A− | 31.7% | 9.9% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Soldotna adults live with a disability (Alaska 29.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Soldotna
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Soldotna is better than Alaska on 3 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Alaska figure falls inside Soldotna’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Soldotna | AK | U.S. | vs AK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.1–22.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13–16.8 | 13.1% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.6–17.5 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%28.2–37.8 | 35.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.8–11.8 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.2%32.9–39.5 | 32.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%34.6–41.6 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28%25.2–30.7 | 23.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 5.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.7–9.3 | 6.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%13.6–19.8 | 13.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%13.9–19.7 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.2%19.4–26.9 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.7–18.7 | 17.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%26.4–34.1 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8–12.6 | 10% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 66.7%63.1–70.1 | 68.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%57.9–64.1 | 59.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80%77.6–82.2 | 79.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.8%69.8–75.6 | 68% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%56.9–65.4 | 59.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 60.5%53.7–67.5 | 66% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.6–23.5 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%28.3–35.9 | 33.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%18.4–24.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%11.5–16.5 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.2–12.7 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.5–8.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.7%8.5–12.9 | 10.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%27.9–35.8 | 29.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.3–16.6 | 11.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12–16 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.3–10.5 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.5–5.8 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.2–9.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 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 Soldotna
Is Soldotna a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Soldotna is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #31 of 41 in Alaska. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Soldotna?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 37.8%, against 35.5% across Alaska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Soldotna?
Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Soldotna’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Soldotna have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–12.6%), 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 Soldotna more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Soldotna.
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.