ZIP code
59477
in Simms, MontanaPopulation 334
45.99/ 100
Ranked #21,371 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #247 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #15 of 17 Great Falls, MT ZIPs (bottom 11.8%)
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.
Distance to a nursing home
25.1 mi
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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 ›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 an emergency room
21.6 mi
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
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 ›Walkability
2.2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST71stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$42,292
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Simms, Montana (ZIP 59477) comes out in the bottom 33% nationally (21,371st) and the bottom 28% of Montana (247th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: distance to a nursing home settles in the top 2.2% nationally, modeled fine-particle registers in the top 2.3% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 4.5% nationally. Walkability lands in the bottom 8.9% nationally. On the brighter side, fiber broadband is in the top 2.6% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the bottom 11.7% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the top 12.2% nationally.
In plain terms, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 59410, just across the boundary.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
59410
Montanashares a border
Score 47.82
Closest healthier
59421
Montanashares a border
Score 50.25
Similar health profile
47023
Indiana94% similar profile
Score 45.23
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 | 35.3% | 32.1–38.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.8% | 34.5–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.4–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 27.2% | 24.1–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.2–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 34.6–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 32.4–41.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 11.1–16.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 7.3–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 73.4–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.7% | 72.6–78.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.8% | 82.4–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 63.5–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.1% | 60.0–65.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 72.0–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 13.7–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 20.6–29.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 31.9–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.0% | 18.6–25.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 31.4–40.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.3–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.3–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.7–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.3–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.2–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.7–11.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 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 | 96.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.5% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 81.0% | 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 | 60.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $42,292 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $237,500 | $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 | 83.1 yr ± 1.55 | 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 1.55 years of 83.1, 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