Photo: Katie Brady from Missoula, Montana, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Bigfork is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Bigfork differs from Montana on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bigfork. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bigfork
Cancer and arthritis run high in Bigfork
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.2%), vs 9.3% across Montana. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (33.8%), vs 28.4% across Montana. In all, Bigfork runs above Montana on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Bigfork keeps up with checkups
It beats Montana on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.2% vs 72.4%) and dentist visits (72.5% vs 63.3%). Checkups ↓
Bigfork adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (25.9% vs 30.7%), frequent mental distress (12.9% vs 17.2%), lack of emotional support (18.2% vs 21.2%) and depression (21.6% vs 24.9%) all run below Montana. Mind & connection ↓
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 Bigfork’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Bigfork’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bigfork is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #5 of 41 in Montana. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 64%.
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). Bigfork’s median household income is $85,307; among the 10,381 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bigfork adults…
Bigfork runs below MT on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Bigfork is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Montana. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bigfork as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bigfork adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How Bigfork adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Bigfork does better than Montana.
1 in 4 Bigfork 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.
Care in and near Bigfork
No hospital or community health center in Bigfork 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 Bigfork; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
15 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.9% of Bigfork adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Bigfork and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigfork | A | 29.4% | 10.3% | 9.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bigfork adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bigfork
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bigfork is better than Montana on 18 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Bigfork’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bigfork | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%14.2–18.7 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.7–15 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 17.2% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.4%25.3–33.7 | 31.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.1%32–38.4 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.1%33.8–40.5 | 32.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.8%30.8–36.9 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.2%12–14.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.1%6–8.2 | 7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.4%5.2–7.8 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%8.2–11.7 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%15–20.7 | 20.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.7–19.5 | 20.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.3%23.7–31.2 | 31.4% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.6–8.2 | 9.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.2%73.4–79 | 72.4% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.5%69.8–75.2 | 63.3% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%87.1–89.9 | 82.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.5–81.3 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%68.7–76.1 | 63.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%70.6–82 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.9–24.4 | 24.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 25.9%22.6–29.5 | 30.7% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.2%15.7–21 | 21.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%6.1–8.9 | 11.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.2%5.2–7.4 | 9.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 6.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9%4–6.1 | 8.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.3–33.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%11.2–15 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.7–7.5 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Bigfork
Is Bigfork a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bigfork is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #5 of 41 in Montana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bigfork?
CDC estimates 29.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 33.7%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bigfork?
Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, 15.5 miles in a straight line from Bigfork’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bigfork have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.2%), 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 Bigfork more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bigfork.
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.