ZIP code
59846
in Huson, MontanaPopulation 1,377
53.61/ 100
Ranked #11,222 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #72 of 341 Montana ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #9 of 18 Missoula, MT ZIPs (top 50%)
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.
Park land
80.2%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
5.5%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
26.4%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
81.5%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
14.5 mi
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
97.3%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST67thUS7thDefinition & 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
2.5%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
10.3%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Huson, Montana (ZIP 59846) places in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,222nd) and the top 21% of Montana (72nd).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: park land stands in the top 0.7% nationally, and modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 1.0% nationally. Modeled tree cover settles in the top 4.3% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 6.2% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Poverty rests in the bottom 8.0% nationally. On the other side, modeled fine-particle resides in the top 0.9% nationally, modeled binge drinking is in the top 4.2% nationally, and distance to a nursing home lands in the top 5.7% nationally. Walkability stands in the bottom 7.3% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 59804, 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 Missoula, 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 67%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 8.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 66.9 — 59 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,277 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
59804
Montanashares a border
Score 58.03
Closest healthier
59834
Montanashares a border
Score 54.22
Similar health profile
56090
Minnesota96% similar profile
Score 53.57
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 | 29.0% | 26.1–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.2% | 29.0–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 5.8–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 25.9% | 22.8–28.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.1–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.5% | 33.1–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.4% | 24.3–32.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 9.9–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.1–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.3% | 71.8–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.5% | 71.2–77.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.4–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.7% | 65.7–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.6% | 66.6–72.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.1% | 73.4–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.6% | 17.8–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 10.7–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.3% | 15.1–21.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 26.4% | 22.8–30.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 14.6–19.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 10.8–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 24.5–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.3–14.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 17.7–23.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.6–11.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.4–8.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.7–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 25.8–32.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MT median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.2% | 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+) | 33.2% | 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 | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360 |
| Homeownership rate | 97.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.7% | 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 | 64.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 61.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356 |
| Population 65+ | 29.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 24.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360 |
| Median age | 52.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 46.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358 |
| Median household income | $70,851 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321 |
| Median home value | $461,200 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 1.57 | 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 1.57 years of 79.5, 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