Photo: USDA NRCS Montana · Public domainWhere Chester residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Chester, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Chester
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12%), vs 7% across Montana. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.5% across Montana. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 6.6% across Montana. In all, Chester runs above Montana on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 37% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Chester adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.4%), vs 20.6% across Montana. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Chester
52% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.3% across Montana. Among those 65 and older, 18.9% have lost all their teeth (Montana 12.3%). Checkups ↓
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 Chester’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs above MT on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Chester is an older town: 37% of residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Montana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Chester as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Chester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
Care in and near Chester
1 hospital in Chester, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Chester; ≈ 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).
How Chester adults are doing
About the same as Montana on each measure.
1 in 3 Chester 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.
13.8% of Chester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Chester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chester adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Chester
Why doesn’t Chester have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Chester.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Logan Health - Chester in Chester, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chester.
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. 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.