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ZipVitals

ZIP code

59483

in Sun River, MontanaPopulation 247

47.83/ 100

Ranked #19,135 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)

Ranked #200 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 41%)

Ranked #9 of 17 Great Falls, MT ZIPs (bottom 47%)

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

Robust across all 9 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.

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

3.0%

in the top 2.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST74th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

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 ›

Walkability

1.2 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 3.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST45th
US3rd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

7.5 days/year

in the bottom 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST47th
US5th
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 ›

Homeownership rate

97.5%

in the top 6.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US94th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Distance to a nursing home

13.3 mi

in the top 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST54th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Fiber broadband

97.4%

in the top 7.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

19.3%

in the top 9.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST72nd
US91st
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 ›

Housing-cost burden

38%

in the top 12.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US87th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Mammography

80%

in the top 11.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US89th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

The read

Sun River, Montana (ZIP 59483) ranks in the bottom 40% nationally (19,135th) and the bottom 41% of Montana (200th).

continue reading

Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: modeled fine-particle settles in the top 2.3% nationally, and walkability rests in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled radon settles in the top 11.0% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the top 9.3% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and homeownership rests in the top 6.1% nationally. Fiber broadband lands in the top 7.6% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs.

For context, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 59404, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 90%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 41%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 59%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 44%

13%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 26%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 33%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 23%

8%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 24%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 65%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 64%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 44%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 59%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 45%

14%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 12%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 17%

8%

Disability

healthier than 32%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 30%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 60%

14%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 50%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 50%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 50%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 40%

5%

Holding it back

Preventive Care

healthier than 30%

13%

Disability

healthier than 30%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 30%

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.

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 adults33.8%30.8–36.8
High blood pressure among adults37.2%34.1–40.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.0%9.0–11.1
Current asthma among adults12.0%10.6–13.3
Coronary heart disease among adults7.9%6.8–9.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.4%7.0–9.8
Depression among adults26.0%23.0–29.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.5%9.9–13.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.1%33.9–40.3
Obesity among adults36.0%31.7–40.5
Stroke among adults4.1%3.6–4.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.4%8.6–12.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.2%8.1–12.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.4%73.3–79.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.0%71.8–78.0
Cholesterol screening among adults83.8%81.5–86.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.2%63.1–71.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults63.5%60.5–66.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years80.0%74.7–84.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.3%16.7–22.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.7%12.8–18.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.7%21.0–28.6
Short sleep duration among adults35.3%31.5–39.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.7%18.4–24.9
Frequent mental distress among adults18.0%15.8–20.1
Frequent physical distress among adults16.2%14.1–18.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults15.3%13.2–17.4
Any disability among adults36.0%31.8–39.9
Hearing disability among adults10.5%9.2–11.7
Independent living disability among adults8.6%7.3–9.8
Mobility disability among adults15.7%13.2–18.0
Self-care disability among adults4.1%3.4–4.7
Vision disability among adults5.1%4.4–5.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.1%19.7–26.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.5%10.0–15.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.6%6.7–10.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.1%7.4–10.8
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.3%6.1–8.5
Loneliness among adults32.8%28.8–36.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.4–7.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate4.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–644.5%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)11.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)5.7%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 subscription79.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)38.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate97.5%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 population10.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360
Single-parent households82.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+48.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age63.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income$97,813$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321
Median home value$429,400$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth83.1 yr ± 1.5578.9 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 1.55 years of 83.1, 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