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ZIP code

59526

in Harlem, MontanaPopulation 2,319

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

25.95/ 100

Ranked #31,362 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 2.2%)

Ranked #333 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 2.4%)

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.

Vision disability

11.6%

in the top 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

15.6%

in the top 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Mammography

63.1%

in the bottom 1.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST2nd
US2nd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

51.5%

in the bottom 2.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST2nd
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

22.8%

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Cognitive disability

23.2%

in the top 2.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Full methodology ›

Unemployment rate

23.8%

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

33.6%

in the top 3.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

20.8%

in the top 2.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

0.9 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 2.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST32nd
US2nd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite measure, Harlem, Montana (ZIP 59526) sits in the bottom 2.2% nationally (31,362nd) and the bottom 2.4% of Montana (333rd).

continue reading

Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled vision disability sits in the top 2.6% nationally, independent living disability registers in the top 2.0% nationally, and mammography lands in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Modeled colon screening resides in the bottom 2.7% nationally, transportation lies in the top 1.1% nationally, and cognitive disability settles in the top 2.2% nationally. Unemployment stands in the top 1.4% nationally, and modeled fair or poor health is in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff rests in the top 2.1% nationally, and walkability sits in the bottom 2.3% nationally.

ZIP 59523, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall. Modeled colon screening sits in the bottom 2.7% nationally.

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 74%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 69%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 41%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 1%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 1%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 4%

8%

Disability

healthier than 2%

7%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 84%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 75%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 6%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 2%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 1%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 2%

8%

Disability

healthier than 1%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 6%

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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.

  • Clean environment, heavy chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 75.5; chronic-disease standing 15.7 — 60 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #1,739 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.

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 adults29.4%26.2–32.5
High blood pressure among adults37.3%33.2–41.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults6.5%5.8–7.1
Current asthma among adults15.3%13.5–17.2
Coronary heart disease among adults8.5%7.5–9.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults11.0%9.7–12.5
Depression among adults26.2%22.5–30.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults17.1%15.0–19.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.1%28.3–35.9
Obesity among adults46.0%38.9–52.7
Stroke among adults5.3%4.8–5.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years25.8%21.9–30.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years15.3%12.4–18.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure71.2%68.0–74.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults68.8%64.4–72.8
Cholesterol screening among adults74.9%71.9–77.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years51.5%46.6–56.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults45.6%42.0–49.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years63.1%54.6–70.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.0%15.0–21.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults28.9%25.2–32.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults32.9%28.1–38.1
Short sleep duration among adults36.5%31.1–42.2
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults33.6%29.8–37.6
Frequent mental distress among adults24.1%21.3–26.8
Frequent physical distress among adults21.6%19.2–24.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults23.2%20.6–26.1
Any disability among adults45.8%40.9–50.7
Hearing disability among adults11.8%10.5–13.2
Independent living disability among adults15.6%13.7–17.6
Mobility disability among adults21.9%19.4–24.7
Self-care disability among adults7.2%6.3–8.1
Vision disability among adults11.6%10.2–13.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults30.7%26.5–35.0
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults37.3%32.7–42.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults31.0%26.7–35.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults25.5%22.1–29.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults22.8%19.9–25.8
Loneliness among adults36.6%31.4–42.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults20.8%18.3–23.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate24.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–6426.3%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)10.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)19.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)23.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357
Households without a vehicle13.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3221.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360
Broadband subscription81.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)23.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate58.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360
Crowded housing (>1 per room)5.1%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360
Foreign-born population0.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360
Single-parent households42.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+15.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age31.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income$63,869$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321
Median home value$85,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312
Median gross rent$617$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 birth76.0 yr ± 1.0278.9 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 1.02 years of 76.0, 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