Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Malta is healthier than 76%
Malta differs from Montana on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Malta. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Malta
Malta is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Malta’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Malta
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 7% across Montana. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.5% across Montana. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.2%, vs 6.6% across Montana. In all, Malta runs above Montana on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Malta is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Malta is healthier than 44%. Against the 7,261 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 76%. Health Grade ↓
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 Malta’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Malta’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Malta is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 54% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Malta’s median household income is $54,483; among the 7,261 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 76%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Malta compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 9.6% (U.S. 12.3%).
Care in and near Malta
1 hospital in Malta, 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 Malta; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Malta adults…
Malta runs below MT on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Malta adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How Malta adults are doing
About the same as Montana on each measure.
3 in 10 Malta 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.
9% of Malta adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Malta and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | C+ | 38.5% | 11.8% | 14.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Malta adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Malta
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Malta is better than Montana on 2 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Malta’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Malta | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17–23.9 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.3–17.8 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.8–19.4 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%30.9–46.2 | 31.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10–13.7 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%31.5–40.1 | 31.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%31.8–40.6 | 32.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.3%28.5–36 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%9.8–12.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.1–9.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.3–10.4 | 7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.8–5 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.7–11.8 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.1–17.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.1%20.2–30.2 | 20.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.4–22.1 | 20.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.6–40.7 | 31.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.6–11.8 | 9.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%69.8–77.5 | 72.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.5%56.7–64.2 | 63.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%81.7–86.1 | 82.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.4–80.6 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%60.2–70.4 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62.3–78.4 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%20.3–28.1 | 24.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.4%24.6–34.3 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%17.8–24.8 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12%9.6–14.6 | 11.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.4%7.7–11.1 | 9.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.6–7.8 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.5–8.8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%7.1–11 | 8.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%28.2–38.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%13.2–18.6 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%12.7–17.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9–11.7 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.7–10.6 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Malta
Is Malta a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Malta is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Malta?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 46.2%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Malta?
Phillips County Hospital - Cah in Malta, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Malta’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Malta have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–11.8%), 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 Malta more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Malta.
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.