ZIP code
59016
in Busby, MontanaPopulation 1,044
27.33/ 100
Ranked #31,194 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 2.8%)
Ranked #331 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 3.0%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
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.
Fatal road crashes
162.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.10% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
7.3%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
29.6%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
9.9%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
20.8%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.2%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
15.9%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
14.1%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.9%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST40thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People living in poverty
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
Barriers to reaching care
- Distance to the nearest emergency room
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
In its overall standing, Busby, Montana (ZIP 59016) lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally (31,194th) and the bottom 3.0% of Montana (331st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile reads plainly, and several measures carry it: fatal road crashes resides in the top 0.10% nationally, modeled energy burden settles in the top 1.0% nationally, and modeled tooth loss is in the top 3.4% nationally. Slow internet speeds sits in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled transportation lands in the top 1.8% nationally, and modeled vision disability lies in the top 4.5% nationally. Crowded housing stands in the top 2.0% nationally, and modeled independent living disability rests in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled fine-particle registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 2.8% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, fatal road crashes runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. On the overall standing, ZIP 59025, just across the boundary, ranks healthier. In the round, the area also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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.
Nearby
59022
Montanashares a border
Score 17.20
Closest healthier
59025
Montanashares a border
Score 36.96
Similar health profile
56670
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 22.29
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
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 26.5% | 23.7–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.3–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–16.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 22.3–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.6% | 26.2–33.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 30.9–43.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 29.6% | 25.1–33.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.6% | 11.0–16.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.8% | 67.7–73.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.4% | 65.3–73.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 75.7% | 72.8–78.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.6% | 50.6–60.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 44.0% | 40.4–47.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.1% | 60.1–75.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 15.0–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 26.3% | 22.3–30.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 23.9–32.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 34.1–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.3% | 26.3–34.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 23.7% | 21.0–26.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.3–22.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.1–24.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 40.9% | 36.1–45.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.4% | 16.8–21.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.3% | 25.2–33.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.7% | 27.5–38.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 25.0% | 20.7–29.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.3% | 19.6–27.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.9–23.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.6% | 33.7–43.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 15.8–21.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 29.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 38.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 15.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 55.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 8.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 39.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $146,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $425 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $877 ($544–$1,329) n=213 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.0 yr ± 1.79 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.7 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 1.79 years of 76.0, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾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