ZIP code
59231
in Saint Marie, MontanaPopulation 306
47.30/ 100
Ranked #19,793 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #212 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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.
Distance to a community health center
103.1 mi
in the top 0.05% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
200.7 mi
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
18.9%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
5.4 days/year
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
23 mi
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Saint Marie, Montana (ZIP 59231) ranks in the bottom 38% nationally (19,793rd) and the bottom 38% of Montana (212th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures that press hardest set the tone here: distance to a community health center sits in the top 0.05% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled tree cover is at the national minimum. On the stronger side, distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled disaster risk settles in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 2.2% nationally. Modeled transportation noise resides at the national minimum, air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and humid heat registers in the bottom 3.4% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 3.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 59230, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental HazardPartial
in the top 0.01%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental HazardPartial
in the top 0.00%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 34%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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
59230
Montanashares a border
Score 48.05
Closest healthier
59248
Montanaabout 3.4 mi away
Score 48.38
Similar health profile
89319
Nevada96% similar profile
Score 47.84
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 | 33.5% | 30.0–37.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.4% | 35.3–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.4–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.7–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 33.2–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.9% | 26.3–40.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.2–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.7% | 8.2–13.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.1–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.6% | 69.6–77.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.0–85.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.7% | 58.3–67.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.6% | 56.2–62.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.6% | 63.5–77.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.2–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 11.8–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 20.7–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 26.8–37.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.4% | 17.6–25.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 13.9–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.1–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.5% | 29.6–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.0–12.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 7.7–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.1–19.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.0% | 17.1–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 9.8–16.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.0–12.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.4–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 25.2–35.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.4–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 39.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 18.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 18.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 23.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 28.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 37.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $38,971 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $18,800 | $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
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.9 yr ± 1.41 | 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 1.41 years of 77.9, 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