ZIP code
59401
in Great Falls, MontanaPopulation 13,255
43.95/ 100
Ranked #23,466 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #271 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #16 of 17 Great Falls, MT ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)
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.
Lead in tap water
12 ppb
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
US98thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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
2.7%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.61 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Child-care access
0.69 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.23 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 59401, one of several in Great Falls, Montana lands in the bottom 27% nationally (23,466th) and the bottom 21% of Montana (271st).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: lead in tap water settles in the top 1.6% nationally, modeled fine-particle is in the top 2.7% nationally, and modeled disaster risk sits in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled tree cover lands at the national minimum. On the better side, mental-health providers lies in the top 2.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes stands in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Elder services rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and outpatient registers in the top 5.2% nationally. Childcare resides in the top 5.3% nationally, and grocery settles in the top 5.7% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. On the overall standing, ZIP 59404, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 Great Falls, 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 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $55,299 predicts 77.7 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,997 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.5 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.7 years — 5.2 years below them.
Ranked #3,410 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
59404
Montanashares a border
Score 52.12
Closest healthier
59405
Montanashares a border
Score 46.32
Similar health profile
46550
Indiana98% similar profile
Score 44.49
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 | 30.8% | 28.3–33.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 31.3–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 25.4–31.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.0% | 31.1–37.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.6% | 33.3–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.8% | 14.2–19.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.0% | 9.4–12.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.0% | 70.1–75.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.1% | 69.9–76.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.1% | 78.0–82.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.6% | 60.7–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 56.2–62.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 70.9–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.1% | 17.4–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.7–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.3% | 22.2–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 32.9–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.7% | 20.3–25.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.3% | 18.3–22.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 33.0–39.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 20.4–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.2–18.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.9–14.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 30.7–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 52.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 37.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $55,299 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $223,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $824 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 years of 75.5, 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