ZIP code
59261
in Saco, MontanaPopulation 525
46.82/ 100
Ranked #20,364 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #220 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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
50.8 mi
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & 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
162.6 mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
33.4 mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Walkability
1.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST48thUS4thDefinition & 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 a nursing home
18.2 mi
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
6.8 days/year
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
28.4%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.0%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Saco, Montana (ZIP 59261) lands in the bottom 36% nationally (20,364th) and the bottom 35% of Montana (220th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: distance to a community health center registers in the top 1.1% nationally, and walkability rests in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home stands in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled radon lies in the top 12.0% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 11.7% nationally. More encouragingly, distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 1.6% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is in the top 1.6% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and loneliness registers in the bottom 9.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 59241, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 31%
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
59241
Montanashares a border
Score 52.04
Closest healthier
59250
Montanashares a border
Score 51.82
Similar health profile
61059
Illinois98% similar profile
Score 48.34
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 | 33.3% | 29.5–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.7% | 33.5–41.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.1–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.6–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 31.3–45.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 9.7–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.8–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 75.2–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.6% | 70.9–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.4–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 61.7–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.8% | 58.2–65.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.6% | 65.8–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.4% | 15.5–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.4–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 20.3–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 28.5–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 17.5–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 28.5–37.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.7–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.5–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.2–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.8–9.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.4% | 24.0–32.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 17.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.5% | 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 | 6.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 68.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 26.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 54.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $53,158 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $143,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $537 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 78.5, 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