ZIP code
59443
in Fort Shaw, MontanaPopulation 705
46.74/ 100
Ranked #20,470 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #225 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #12 of 17 Great Falls, MT ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.0%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.7%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
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 ›Distance to a nursing home
19.4 mi
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
7.5 days/year
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS5thDefinition & 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 an emergency room
19.5 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.94%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Mammography
78%
in the top 26% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
Fort Shaw, Montana (ZIP 59443), overall, ranks in the bottom 36% nationally (20,470th) and the bottom 34% of Montana (225th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: fiber broadband lands in the top 2.6% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled fine-particle registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home resides in the top 3.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles in the top 5.9% nationally, and modeled nitrate is in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled radon sits in the top 13.2% nationally, and walkability lands in the bottom 11.9% nationally.
Defined simply, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 59421, just across the boundary, comes out 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 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 RiskPartial
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
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
59421
Montanashares a border
Score 50.25
Closest healthier
59436
Montanashares a border
Score 49.71
Similar health profile
16832
Pennsylvania94% similar profile
Score 48.78
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 | 36.2% | 33.3–39.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 35.8–42.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 23.4–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 35.6–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 32.5–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 10.2–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.4–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.3% | 74.4–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.1% | 73.2–78.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.4–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.2% | 60.4–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.5% | 61.6–67.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 73.1–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 16.0–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 13.8–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.1% | 21.6–28.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 30.9–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.1% | 19.1–25.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.8% | 32.0–39.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.2–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.7–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.0–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.1–10.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 28.4–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.9% | 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 | 25.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 38.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 25.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 47.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $81,221 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $271,400 | $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 | 83.2 yr ± 1.52 | 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 1.52 years of 83.2, 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