ZIP code
59721
in Cardwell, MontanaPopulation 423
50.79/ 100
Ranked #15,151 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #142 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #12 of 17 Helena, MT ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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
3.2%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
23.9 mi
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
7.6 days/year
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS5thDefinition & 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 nursing home
15.3 mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.9 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST65thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.1%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
8.4%
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Cardwell, Montana (ZIP 59721) ranks in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,151st) and the top 42% of Montana (142nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat lands in the bottom 4.9% nationally, and short sleep registers in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Poverty sits in the bottom 7.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 7.7% nationally. Against that, modeled fine-particle is in the top 2.2% nationally, distance to a nursing home stands in the top 5.3% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 6.7% nationally. Walkability lies in the bottom 6.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer 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. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 59632, 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. 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
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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
59632
Montanashares a border
Score 52.79
Closest healthier
59735
Montanashares a border
Score 53.10
Similar health profile
59736
Montana95% similar profile
Score 51.63
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 | 31.6% | 28.9–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.5% | 32.5–38.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 20.2–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 31.8–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.2% | 27.1–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.5–15.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.7–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.5–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.3% | 69.3–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.9–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.4% | 63.6–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.2% | 63.4–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 68.4–79.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.4–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.8% | 18.6–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.0% | 24.9–33.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.5–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.8–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.7–34.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.3–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.2–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.4–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.3% | 25.0–31.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 11.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 26.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 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 | 83.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 8.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360 |
| Single-parent households | 64.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 28.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 48.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $94,167 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $790,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $292,450 ($127,430–$548,550) n=312 |
| Median gross rent | $877 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 1.36 | 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 1.36 years of 80.6, 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