Soldotna, Alaska is a small city located on the Kenai Peninsula of Southcentral Alaska. With a population of 4,163 according to the last census, Soldotna is a rural community with limited access to healthcare. While there are several local hospitals and medical facilities in the area, they often require significant travel time or cost for residents in outlying areas. For those seeking primary care services, there are several health clinics and urgent care providers within the city limits as well as some telehealth options for remote care. The city also has a variety of recreational activities available to promote health and wellness including numerous outdoor trails, parks, and public access fishing sites. With limited medical resources available at their disposal, residents must take extra steps to stay healthy and seek preventive care when needed.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 155 physicians per 100,000 population in Soldotna. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Soldotna area is 119.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
119.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Soldotna area is 30 (100=best). The US average is 55.
30 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Soldotna area is 82 (100=best). The US average is 87.
82 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Soldotna commutes 20.0 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Soldotna area is 83 (100=best). The US average is 58.
83 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.