ZIP code
59472
in Sand Coulee, MontanaPopulation 507
51.52/ 100
Ranked #14,083 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #129 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #5 of 17 Great Falls, MT ZIPs (top 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.
Civic-institution access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.0%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
4.4 days/year
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.7%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
7.3%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
11.3 per million
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS6thDefinition & 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
1.7 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST62ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
71.4%
in the top 13.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
0.85%
in the top 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›The read
On the composite measure, Sand Coulee, Montana (ZIP 59472) stands in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,083rd) and the top 38% of Montana (129th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: civic registers in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled humid heat lies in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Fiber broadband is in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled pfas registers in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 5.6% nationally. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled fine-particle lies in the top 2.3% nationally, walkability is in the bottom 5.9% nationally, and modeled binge drinking registers in the top 8.3% nationally.
For clarity, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 59412, 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. 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
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
“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
59405
Montanashares a border
Score 46.32
Closest healthier
59412
Montanashares a border
Score 51.61
Similar health profile
04238
Maine96% similar profile
Score 50.91
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 | 32.6% | 29.8–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 31.2–37.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 27.1% | 24.1–30.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 32.7–39.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.2% | 30.0–38.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.4–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.5–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.0–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.6–78.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.0–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.4% | 67.7–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.1% | 65.2–70.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 70.8–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 16.9–22.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 11.1–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.6% | 18.5–25.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 29.5–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.3% | 28.7–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 18.7–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.4–12.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.5–8.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.8–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.2% | 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 | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 77.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 29.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 54.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $68,036 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $235,300 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 78.7, 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