ZIP code
59323
in Colstrip, MontanaPopulation 2,101
51.48/ 100
Ranked #14,149 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #132 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 39%)
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.
Binge drinking
22.2%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.94 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.5%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
19.4 mi
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
29.9%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.94 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
79.1 mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS95thDefinition & 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 an emergency room
19.4 mi
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
24 mi
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Colstrip, Montana (ZIP 59323) sits in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,149th) and the top 39% of Montana (132nd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: childcare rests in the top 2.7% nationally, floodplain exposure settles at the national minimum, and modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Civic rests in the top 4.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 5.3% nationally. On the other hand, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 1.7% nationally, and fine-particle rests in the top 3.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles in the top 3.5% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lands in the top 5.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests in the top 6.2% nationally.
Put plainly, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 82801, about 58 miles away.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 13.2; chronic-disease standing 79.4 — 66 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,040 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
59327
Montanashares a border
Score 45.03
Closest healthier
82801
Wyomingabout 58 mi away
Score 56.19
Similar health profile
61731
Illinois97% similar profile
Score 52.49
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 | 26.2% | 23.1–29.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.6% | 28.9–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.4–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.9% | 26.3–33.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 29.3–42.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.1–13.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.5–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.0% | 66.3–73.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.7% | 65.8–73.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 80.9–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.9% | 59.2–68.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.6% | 63.1–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 71.8–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.2% | 18.8–26.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.8% | 15.4–22.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 26.8–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.7% | 23.7–32.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.1–12.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.2–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.7–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.9–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.9–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.8% | 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 | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 59.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 13.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 44.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $82,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $194,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $659 | $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 | 74.2 yr ± 2.25 | 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 2.25 years of 74.2, 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