ZIP code
59638
in Jefferson City, MontanaPopulation 769
53.46/ 100
Ranked #11,427 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #77 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #8 of 17 Helena, MT ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.6%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
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 ›Loneliness
26.9%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
4.9 days/year
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
6.8%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Park land
25%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
97.8%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$126,723
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS90thDefinition & 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
Overall, Jefferson City, Montana (ZIP 59638) lands in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,427th) and the top 23% of Montana (77th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: poverty registers at the national minimum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and humid heat lies in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Modeled pfas lands in the bottom 3.1% nationally, park land sits in the top 5.6% nationally, and homeownership is in the top 5.9% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Household income resides in the top 7.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled fine-particle registers in the top 1.9% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 59634, 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. 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
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
59632
Montanashares a border
Score 52.79
Closest healthier
59634
Montanashares a border
Score 60.95
Similar health profile
59920
Montana96% similar profile
Score 51.88
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 | 31.3% | 27.6–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.6% | 30.4–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.2–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 19.7–26.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.4–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 30.7–39.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 27.8–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.0–16.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 6.6–10.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.0% | 71.2–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 69.0–76.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.3–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.3% | 59.4–69.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.4–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 67.0–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.1–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 11.4–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.4% | 18.0–26.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.7% | 25.3–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 15.5–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.5–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.7% | 25.0–33.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.2–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.1–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.4–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.6–9.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.8–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.9% | 22.6–31.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 97.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 59.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 45.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $126,723 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | — | $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
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 yr ± 3.92 | 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 3.92 years of 81.4, 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