ZIP code
59601
in Helena, MontanaPopulation 31,728
57.20/ 100
Ranked #7,077 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #21 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 6.2%)
Ranked #4 of 17 Helena, MT ZIPs (top 24%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Park land
58.1%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.6%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
7.2 days/year
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
28.5%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 59601, one of several in Helena, Montana ranks in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,077th) and the top 6.2% of Montana (21st).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: park land settles in the top 1.8% nationally, and dental providers resides in the top 3.0% nationally. Civic registers in the top 3.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 4.6% nationally. Modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled disaster risk lands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled fine-particle sits in the top 1.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is at the national minimum. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 1.9% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Close by, ZIP 59634, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Helena, MT metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 99%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 76.9 — 74 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,708 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.
Nearby
59602
Montanashares a border
Score 54.14
Closest healthier
59634
Montanashares a border
Score 60.95
Similar health profile
99037
Washington98% similar profile
Score 56.03
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 | 30.1% | 27.4–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.7% | 26.7–32.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 22.7–29.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 29.8–36.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.1% | 25.7–34.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.6% | 7.8–11.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.4–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.3% | 71.2–77.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.7% | 71.4–77.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.4% | 82.5–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 63.4–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.8–70.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.6–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 16.8–22.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.4% | 14.8–20.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.5% | 24.5–32.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 25.7–32.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.1% | 16.6–21.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.1% | 25.6–32.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 53.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $72,290 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $386,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 79.6, 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