ZIP code
59538
in Malta, MontanaPopulation 2,737
46.67/ 100
Ranked #20,549 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #229 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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
33.7 mi
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Walkability
0.62 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST15thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
28.1 mi
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
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 ›Grocery access
0.34 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
102.7 mi
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
7.3 days/year
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
28 mi
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.3%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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
ST72ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Malta, Montana (ZIP 59538), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 36% nationally (20,549th) and the bottom 33% of Montana (229th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: distance to a nursing home resides in the top 1.3% nationally, walkability rests in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and distance to a community health center lies in the top 4.7% nationally. More encouragingly, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and grocery registers in the top 3.1% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 3.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 4.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband resides in the top 7.8% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 59087, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.8%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 29%
5%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
59087
Montanashares a border
Score 48.99
Closest healthier
59230
Montanashares a border
Score 48.05
Similar health profile
61313
Illinois97% similar profile
Score 45.48
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 | 31.1% | 27.6–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 30.8–39.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 20.7–28.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.7–13.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 31.3–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 31.2–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.3–12.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.5–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.3–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.0% | 68.9–77.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.3–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.3–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.3% | 56.4–64.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.1% | 62.5–78.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.3% | 16.1–22.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.7–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 20.1–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 28.7–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.0–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 27.7–36.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 12.9–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 17.8–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 9.8–14.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.4–10.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.9–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 24.7–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.7% | 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 | 70.6% | 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 | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 64.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 44.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $57,097 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $191,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $631 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 1.02 | 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 1.02 years of 78.6, 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