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ZipVitals

ZIP code

59008

in Belfry, MontanaPopulation 456

52.77/ 100

Ranked #12,406 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)

Ranked #97 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 28%)

Ranked #15 of 30 Billings, MT ZIPs (top 50%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

What defines this ZIP

Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US1st
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

4.5 days/year

in the bottom 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST23rd
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a nursing home

19 mi

in the top 3.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST72nd
US96th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

1.4 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 4.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST52nd
US4th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

19 mi

in the top 6.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST78th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

7.7%

in the bottom 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST11th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

5.3%

in the top 6.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST76th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.

A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

1.1%

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST35th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

7.1%

in the bottom 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST13th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

Belfry, Montana (ZIP 59008), on the composite measure, lands in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,406th) and the top 28% of Montana (97th).

continue reading

Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 1.2% nationally, humid heat lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 7.0% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 8.1% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a nursing home rests in the top 3.7% nationally, and walkability sits in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden lands in the top 6.5% nationally. Modeled fine-particle resides in the top 8.0% nationally.

In everyday language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 59068, just across the boundary.

What’s driving this score

Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Billings, MT metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 87%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 68%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 97%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 58%

13%

Disability

healthier than 54%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 29%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 10%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 91%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 78%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 63%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 73%

8%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 56%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 46%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 37%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 26%

16%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 96%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 78%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 81%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 74%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 81%

5%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 41%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 19%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 30%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 33%

5%

“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured

Evidence

Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.

Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults34.9%31.1–38.9
High blood pressure among adults40.8%36.7–45.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.9%10.7–13.2
Current asthma among adults10.9%9.7–12.4
Coronary heart disease among adults8.4%7.3–9.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.2%6.7–10.0
Depression among adults22.8%19.5–26.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.0%10.2–14.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.9%33.8–42.5
Obesity among adults32.5%26.2–40.1
Stroke among adults4.1%3.6–4.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.1%9.9–14.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.7%6.1–9.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.1%74.9–81.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.5%71.8–79.2
Cholesterol screening among adults86.5%84.5–88.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years70.6%65.7–75.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults68.6%65.3–71.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.0%66.0–81.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.2%15.2–21.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.0%10.3–15.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults21.7%17.4–26.3
Short sleep duration among adults30.2%24.5–36.2
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.9%15.7–22.6
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%13.1–17.1
Frequent physical distress among adults14.8%12.6–17.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.9%11.1–15.1
Any disability among adults31.7%27.1–36.7
Hearing disability among adults10.2%8.9–11.6
Independent living disability among adults7.6%6.5–9.0
Mobility disability among adults14.6%12.0–17.5
Self-care disability among adults3.8%3.2–4.5
Vision disability among adults4.5%3.8–5.3
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.5%17.2–24.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.4%7.3–11.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.7%5.1–8.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.1%5.7–8.6
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.1%5.1–7.1
Loneliness among adults29.1%24.5–34.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.2%4.3–6.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate18.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–649.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)8.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)30.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)3.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357
Households without a vehicle1.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3221.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360
Broadband subscription89.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)7.7%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate91.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360
Foreign-born population2.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360
Single-parent households76.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+23.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age52.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income$100,469$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321
Median home value$438,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312
Median gross rent$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$877 ($544–$1,329) n=213
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.3 yr ± 0.8878.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30879.7 yr (76.7–83.7) n=358

About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.88 years of 79.3, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured