Photo: Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Big Sky is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Big Sky differs from Montana on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Sky. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Sky
Big Sky is an active town
Only 12.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 20.6% across Montana. The town has 174 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Big Sky doesn’t win on
24.7% of adults binge drink, vs 20.3% across Montana, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Big Sky
Big Sky runs below Montana on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4% vs 7%), stroke (2.1% vs 3.5%) and heart disease (4% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 16% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Montana figure falls outside Big Sky’s likely range.
What’s behind Big Sky’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Sky is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 78%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Big Sky’s median household income is $138,805; among the 3,679 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($104K–$174K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
174 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Big Sky adults…
Big Sky runs below MT on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Big Sky
No hospital or community health center in Big Sky itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Big Sky; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Sky adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How Big Sky adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Big Sky does better than Montana.
3 in 10 Big Sky adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.1% of Big Sky adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Big Sky and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky | A+ | 23.8% | 6.6% | 9.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big Sky adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Sky
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Sky is better than Montana on 22 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Big Sky’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Sky | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.7%10.1–13.5 | 18.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%9–11.5 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.5–17 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.8%20.4–27.5 | 31.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.9%21.6–26.4 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.2%25.7–30.9 | 32.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.7%19.6–23.9 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.6–4.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4%3.4–4.8 | 7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.9–2.4 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.8%4.8–6.9 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%7.4–11.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 12.4%10.5–14.7 | 20.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 24.7%21.8–27.6 | 20.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.9%24.5–31.5 | 31.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%5.8–9.1 | 9.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.6%65.2–71.6 | 72.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.6%68–73.1 | 63.3% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.3–85.4 | 82.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.9%63.7–70 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%61.3–68.7 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%68.2–79.5 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.7%19.3–24.4 | 24.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 28.9%25.9–32.5 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.5%16.2–21.3 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.8%5.4–8.3 | 11.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.5%5.4–7.9 | 9.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%3.9–5.5 | 6.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.5–6.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.1%3.2–5.3 | 8.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.3%18.7–24.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.1%6.1–8.3 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.6–12.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%5–6.2 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.2%4.5–6 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Montana figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Big Sky
Is Big Sky a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Sky is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Sky?
CDC estimates 23.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.4% and 27.5%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Sky?
Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, 16.2 miles in a straight line from Big Sky’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Big Sky have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–9.1%), against 9.3% across Montana.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Big Sky more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Big Sky.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Montana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.