ZIP code
59079
in Shepherd, MontanaPopulation 3,940
46.75/ 100
Ranked #20,456 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #224 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #26 of 30 Billings, MT ZIPs (bottom 13.4%)
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.
Walkability
1.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST50thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.9%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST51stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
95.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.34%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
13 days/year
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
37.9%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
18.4 days/year
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›Mammography
78.1%
in the top 25% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Shepherd, Montana (ZIP 59079) sits in the bottom 36% nationally (20,456th) and the bottom 34% of Montana (224th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: homeownership stands in the top 7.6% nationally, floodplain exposure is in the bottom 8.9% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 11.4% nationally. On the other hand, walkability registers in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and modeled fine-particle lands in the top 4.8% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 10.5% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 11.8% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles in the top 12.7% nationally, and modeled arsenic stands in the top 17% nationally.
In plain language, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 59002, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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
59002
Montanashares a border
Score 55.43
Closest healthier
59015
Montanashares a border
Score 56.41
Similar health profile
46615
Indiana97% similar profile
Score 47.18
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 | 30.5% | 27.7–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 32.2–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 28.3% | 25.1–31.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.0% | 31.0–37.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 32.6–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.2% | 12.7–18.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.9% | 70.8–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 72.5–78.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.4–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.5% | 59.4–67.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.7% | 58.6–64.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.1% | 72.4–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.1% | 16.6–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 14.5–20.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.5% | 20.1–27.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 31.5–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.4–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 30.3–37.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.7–25.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.2–15.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.2–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.6–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 27.7–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 56.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 45.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $68,047 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $376,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $1,744 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 79.8, 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