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ZIP code

59456

in Ledger, MontanaPopulation 392

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

46.73/ 100

Ranked #20,483 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)

Ranked #227 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 33%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Broad coverage across health domains

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.

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 0.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US1st
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

0.55 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST12th
US1st
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

27.1%

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & 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 ›

Binge drinking

21%

in the top 3.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Humid extreme heat

5 days/year

in the bottom 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST27th
US3rd
Definition & 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 ›

Poverty rate

34.9%

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

in the bottom 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US5th
Definition & 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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

0.59%

in the top 7.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Fiber broadband

96.6%

in the top 8.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

The read

On the composite measure, Ledger, Montana (ZIP 59456) stands in the bottom 36% nationally (20,483rd) and the bottom 33% of Montana (227th), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: walkability settles in the bottom 1.2% nationally, and homeownership rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lands in the top 3.3% nationally, and poverty settles in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled nitrate rests in the top 7.1% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 0.4% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and humid heat rests in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled transportation noise lands in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.

For clarity, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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 59416, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 82%

14%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

in the top 0.4%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 59%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 20%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 10%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 33%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 21%

8%

Disability

healthier than 38%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 19%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 69%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 87%

14%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 93%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 59%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 16%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 7%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 12%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 16%

8%

Disability

healthier than 30%

7%

“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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults28.8%26.2–31.4
High blood pressure among adults32.8%29.7–36.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.7%7.9–9.5
Current asthma among adults11.5%10.3–12.7
Coronary heart disease among adults6.8%6.1–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.5%7.2–9.9
Depression among adults25.1%22.1–28.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.4%9.0–11.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened33.0%29.8–36.1
Obesity among adults33.9%28.4–39.8
Stroke among adults3.8%3.3–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years17.9%15.6–20.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.7%8.4–13.4
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure72.4%69.6–75.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults69.3%65.7–72.6
Cholesterol screening among adults79.6%77.1–82.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.0%57.6–66.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.8%56.7–62.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years73.1%67.2–78.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults21.0%18.2–24.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.3%14.4–20.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.9%20.9–29.0
Short sleep duration among adults30.7%26.0–35.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.0%18.1–24.1
Frequent mental distress among adults19.0%16.8–21.1
Frequent physical distress among adults15.4%13.5–17.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults16.7%14.4–19.1
Any disability among adults33.6%29.5–37.7
Hearing disability among adults8.7%7.8–9.7
Independent living disability among adults9.7%8.4–11.1
Mobility disability among adults15.0%12.9–17.2
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.7–5.0
Vision disability among adults5.4%4.7–6.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.4%19.3–25.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults14.3%11.5–17.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults11.4%9.0–14.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.4%8.6–12.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.7%7.4–10.1
Loneliness among adults31.8%27.9–36.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.6–8.9
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate34.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)17.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)22.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3221.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360
Broadband subscription80.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate27.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360
Foreign-born population3.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360
Single-parent households21.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+6.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age32.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income$41,123$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321
Median home value—$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.0 yr ± 0.8178.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30879.7 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 0.81 years of 79.0, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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