Photo: STONE8HENGE · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Anchorage is healthier than 11%
Anchorage differs from Kentucky on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Anchorage. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Anchorage
Against towns with similar incomes, Anchorage’s lead shrinks
Anchorage is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, but 11% of the 965 towns with similar household incomes ($150K–$249K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Anchorage is an active town
Only 18.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.9% across Kentucky. Habits ↓
Anchorage keeps up with checkups
It beats Kentucky on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71% vs 58.1%) and cholesterol checks (89.9% vs 84.2%). Checkups ↓
Few Anchorage adults smoke
11.7% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 18.5% across Kentucky. 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 Kentucky figure falls outside Anchorage’s likely range.
What’s behind Anchorage’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Anchorage is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #12 of 141 in Kentucky. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 52%.
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). Anchorage’s median household income is $199,375; among the 965 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($150K–$249K), it’s healthier than 11%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Anchorage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Anchorage adults…
Anchorage runs below KY on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Anchorage
No hospital or community health center in Anchorage 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 Anchorage; ≈ 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 Anchorage adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Anchorage does better than Kentucky.
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.
4.9% of Anchorage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Anchorage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | A− | 32% | 11.9% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Middletown | A | 31.5% | 11.5% | 11% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Anchorage adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Anchorage
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Anchorage is better than Kentucky on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Anchorage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Anchorage | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.2%13.5–16.9 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.5–14.3 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32%27.7–36.3 | 38.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 13.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35%32–38.1 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%35.8–42.3 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%28.1–34.2 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%6.5–8.1 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.9–10.2 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%10.3–13.4 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.5%16–21.2 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13–18.5 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%28.6–36.8 | 39.6% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.2%2.5–4.1 | 5.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.8–83 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71%68–74 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.9%88.2–91.5 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.8%79.8–85.3 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.3%67.2–74.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%69.9–81.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%21.1–27.4 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.4%14.2–18.8 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 15.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.8%24.7–30.8 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.4%11–13.9 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.9–12.5 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.4–6.6 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 4.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Anchorage
Is Anchorage a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Anchorage is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #12 of 141 in Kentucky. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Anchorage?
CDC estimates 32% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 36.3%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Anchorage?
Baptist Health Louisville in Louisville, 5.8 miles in a straight line from Anchorage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Anchorage have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.5–4.1%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.
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 Anchorage more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Anchorage.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky 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.