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ZIP code

59856

in Paradise, MontanaPopulation 130

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

43.70/ 100

Ranked #23,699 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)

Ranked #274 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 20%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

7.1%

in the top 0.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing-cost burden

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST17th
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

6.1%

in the top 2.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.

A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

100%

at the national maximum

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

37.1 mi

in the top 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Home broadband subscription

100%

at the national maximum

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Park land

37.2%

in the top 3.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST85th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

15%

in the top 4.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, Paradise, Montana (ZIP 59856) lands in the bottom 26% nationally (23,699th) and the bottom 20% of Montana (274th).

continue reading

Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled fine-particle lands in the top 0.5% nationally, and energy burden sits in the top 2.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center is in the top 2.6% nationally, and modeled transportation noise settles in the top 4.3% nationally. On the better side, housing-cost burden resides at the national minimum, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and poverty rests at the national minimum. Homeownership stands at the national maximum, home broadband subscription lies at the national maximum, and park land lands in the top 3.6% nationally.

Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 59866, about 3.0 miles away, 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.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 73%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 56%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 54%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 21%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 8%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 27%

13%

Disability

healthier than 26%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 2%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 55%

16%

Mental Health

healthier than 55%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 12%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 15%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 32%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 28%

11%

Disability

healthier than 16%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 9%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 9%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults36.7%33.0–40.3
High blood pressure among adults39.6%35.6–43.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults12.2%11.0–13.6
Current asthma among adults11.2%9.8–12.5
Coronary heart disease among adults9.8%8.5–11.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.4%8.6–12.3
Depression among adults23.1%19.7–26.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.9%11.0–14.9
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.9%33.7–42.0
Obesity among adults34.5%28.3–40.9
Stroke among adults5.1%4.4–5.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years16.0%12.9–19.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.2%7.9–13.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure79.0%75.8–82.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults73.5%69.5–77.2
Cholesterol screening among adults86.1%84.0–88.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years64.6%59.1–69.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults57.1%53.2–60.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years72.5%64.7–79.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.8%14.0–19.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.4%13.2–19.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.9%20.2–29.9
Short sleep duration among adults33.3%27.4–39.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults22.3%18.5–26.2
Frequent mental distress among adults16.0%14.0–18.2
Frequent physical distress among adults17.1%14.7–19.6
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.4%12.3–16.8
Any disability among adults35.8%30.7–40.9
Hearing disability among adults11.7%10.3–13.2
Independent living disability among adults9.4%7.9–11.0
Mobility disability among adults18.1%15.1–21.3
Self-care disability among adults4.9%4.2–5.8
Vision disability among adults5.9%5.0–6.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.0%17.5–24.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.4%9.8–15.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults9.6%7.5–12.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.0%7.2–11.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.4%6.2–8.9
Loneliness among adults27.9%23.3–33.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.6–8.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate0.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)27.7%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)0.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)—3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.8% (0.0–10.2%) n=357
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3221.7% (0.0–9.5%) n=360
Broadband subscription100.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)0.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate100.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–6.6%) n=360
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.9% (0.0–4.9%) n=360
Single-parent households58.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+86.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age72.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income—$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.6 yr ± 1.6678.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30879.7 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 1.66 years of 79.6, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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