Charles A. Broadwater House · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Helena West Side is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Helena West Side beats Montana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Helena West Side. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Helena West Side
Helena West Side is an active town
Only 15.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 20.6% across Montana. The town has 46 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Helena West Side
Helena West Side runs below Montana on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.2% vs 7%), stroke (2.7% vs 3.5%) and heart disease (5.2% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Helena West Side adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Montana. 1 in 13 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 9 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Helena West Side’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Helena West Side’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena West Side is healthier than 91% 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 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 71%.
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). Helena West Side’s median household income is $66,921; among the 10,184 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
46 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Helena West Side adults…
Helena West Side runs below MT on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Helena West Side residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Montana. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.8% of Helena West Side adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Care in and near Helena West Side
1 hospital in Helena West Side, 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 Helena West Side; ≈ 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 Helena West Side adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How Helena West Side adults are doing
About the same as Montana on each measure.
3 in 10 Helena West Side 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.
Helena West Side and the towns around it
Helena West Side has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena West Side | A | 29.5% | 8.2% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Helena | A− | 29.9% | 8.6% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Helena Valley West Central | A− | 31.6% | 9.5% | 12.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Helena West Side adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Helena West Side
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Helena West Side is better than Montana on 17 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Helena West Side’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Helena West Side | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.9%11.9–16.2 | 18.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.6–13.7 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–17.8 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%25.1–34.1 | 31.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.2%7–9.4 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.2%25.1–31.2 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.6%29.3–35.9 | 32.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.6%25.8–31.5 | 28.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.4–6 | 7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.5–8.4 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%8.5–12.3 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.3%12.8–18.3 | 20.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.8%17.8–23.9 | 20.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.1%24.1–32.1 | 31.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.3–8.1 | 9.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.5%71–77.5 | 72.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.9%69.2–74.8 | 63.3% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.9–87.7 | 82.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.3–76 | 73.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.9–70.8 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%73.6–84.8 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22–28.5 | 24.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%25–32.3 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.1%16.4–22.1 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.6%6.2–9.3 | 11.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.6%5.4–7.9 | 9.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%4–5.6 | 6.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.6–6.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.8%3.8–6 | 8.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.1%22.8–29.7 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.8–12 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.1–13.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.9 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–3 | 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 Helena West Side
Is Helena West Side a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Helena West Side is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Helena West Side?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.1% and 34.1%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Helena West Side?
St. Peters Health in Helena, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Helena West Side’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Helena West Side have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.1%), 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 Helena West Side 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 Helena West Side.
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.