ZIP code
59521
in Box Elder, MontanaPopulation 3,529
24.41/ 100
Ranked #31,524 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 1.7%)
Ranked #334 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 2.1%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
10.8%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Mammography
59.9%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
49.4%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.3%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
24.3%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
15.4%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
24.1%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
28.9%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
21.6%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
38.9%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Box Elder, Montana (ZIP 59521) lands in the bottom 1.7% nationally (31,524th) and the bottom 2.1% of Montana (334th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the load on this area runs deepest, the data leads: modeled energy burden settles in the top 0.4% nationally, and mammography resides in the bottom 0.8% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and vision disability rests in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability stands in the top 1.5% nationally, independent living disability lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and tooth loss lands in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health sits in the top 4.2% nationally, and loneliness is in the top 2.3% nationally. More encouragingly, mental-health providers settles in the top 2.7% nationally.
A note on the terms: energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 59501, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.8%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.8%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.3%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 1%
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.
Nearby
59501
Montanashares a border
Score 43.67
Closest healthier
59520
Montanashares a border
Score 42.65
Similar health profile
59066
Montana99% similar profile
Score 31.79
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 | 26.4% | 24.2–28.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 33.2–39.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 15.8% | 14.4–17.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 27.6% | 24.8–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 14.4–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.6% | 27.1–32.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 45.2% | 40.4–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.5–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 28.9% | 25.4–32.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.1% | 13.1–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.3% | 64.6–69.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.1% | 66.0–72.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 72.8% | 70.4–75.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.4% | 45.3–53.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 45.1% | 42.2–48.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 59.9% | 53.0–66.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 28.6% | 26.0–31.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.9% | 28.5–35.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.3% | 38.8–47.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.1% | 30.4–36.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 26.2% | 24.1–28.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 21.2% | 19.4–23.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 24.3% | 22.2–26.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.5% | 41.1–48.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.9–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 15.4% | 14.1–16.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.1% | 18.2–22.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.1–7.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.5–12.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.9% | 29.6–36.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 38.9% | 35.2–42.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 30.8% | 27.4–34.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.2% | 24.4–30.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 24.1% | 21.8–26.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.5% | 37.5–45.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 19.3–24.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 33.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 37.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 34.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 10.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 30.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $50,288 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $103,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $406 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 3.63 | 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 3.63 years of 76.6, 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