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ZIP code

59916

in Essex, MontanaPopulation 232

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

46.86/ 100

Ranked #20,323 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 37%)

Ranked #218 of 341 Montana ZIPs (bottom 36%)

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.

PFAS in drinking water

2.3%

in the bottom 0.08% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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

95.8%

in the top 0.10% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Hearing disability

13.6%

in the top 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

26.1%

in the bottom 1.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

0.71 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 1.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST19th
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Coronary heart disease

11.7%

in the top 2.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

2.5%

in the top 3.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST65th
US97th
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 ›

Distance to an emergency room

21.9 mi

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

14.7%

in the top 4.5% 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 ›

Distance to a nursing home

15.4 mi

in the top 5.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST62nd
US95th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, Essex, Montana (ZIP 59916) ranks in the bottom 37% nationally (20,323rd) and the bottom 36% of Montana (218th).

continue reading

Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled hearing disability is in the top 1.2% nationally, and walkability stands in the bottom 1.6% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease settles in the top 2.3% nationally, and fine-particle lies in the top 3.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled transportation noise lands in the top 4.5% nationally, and distance to a nursing home registers in the top 5.2% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled pfas sits in the bottom 0.08% nationally, park land rests in the top 0.10% nationally, and modeled loneliness is in the bottom 1.2% nationally.

Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 59912, about 8.9 miles away.

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

Risk Behavior

healthier than 81%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 99%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 54%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 53%

13%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 17%

14%

Disability

healthier than 21%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 10%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 74%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 79%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 80%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 52%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 45%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 1%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 31%

14%

Disability

healthier than 10%

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.

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 adults40.4%37.0–43.9
High blood pressure among adults44.7%40.9–48.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults14.0%12.7–15.4
Current asthma among adults10.5%9.4–11.8
Coronary heart disease among adults11.7%10.3–13.3
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults11.8%9.9–13.9
Depression among adults21.6%19.0–24.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults15.7%13.5–18.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.3%38.7–45.9
Obesity among adults34.5%29.8–39.3
Stroke among adults5.7%5.0–6.5
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years13.7%11.2–16.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.3%8.2–12.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.8%78.9–84.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.8%75.0–80.5
Cholesterol screening among adults88.3%86.6–89.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.9%64.7–73.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults60.5%57.4–63.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years72.0%65.4–78.0
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults13.6%11.7–15.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.5%12.6–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults25.9%21.8–30.5
Short sleep duration among adults30.0%26.3–34.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults24.7%21.3–28.6
Frequent mental distress among adults13.9%12.2–15.7
Frequent physical distress among adults17.7%15.5–20.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.2%11.4–15.3
Any disability among adults38.2%33.8–42.9
Hearing disability among adults13.6%12.0–15.3
Independent living disability among adults9.1%7.8–10.5
Mobility disability among adults19.5%16.6–22.6
Self-care disability among adults5.2%4.5–6.1
Vision disability among adults6.2%5.4–7.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.3%17.3–23.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.9%10.2–15.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.3%7.9–12.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.8%7.1–10.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.3%6.1–8.6
Loneliness among adults26.1%22.7–29.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.4–7.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MT median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.7% (1.9–27.5%) n=360
Uninsured 18–646.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28611.1% (0.0–33.1%) n=357
No HS diploma (25+)1.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5054.7% (0.0–14.1%) n=360
Bachelor's or higher (25+)40.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50526.6% (12.3–46.1%) n=360
Unemployment rate (16+)2.3%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 subscription91.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.3% (72.1–100.0%) n=360
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)20.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.1% (7.3–37.2%) n=360
Homeownership rate92.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32278.0% (56.9–95.8%) n=360
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.0%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 households92.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08761.3% (39.9–84.5%) n=356
Population 65+24.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55324.0% (12.9–44.0%) n=360
Median age59.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29246.0 yr (32.9–62.3) n=358
Median household income$60,250$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$66,875 ($44,980–$95,192) n=321
Median home value$390,000$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 birth79.7 yr ± 1.8378.9 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 1.83 years of 79.7, 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