Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Missoula is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Missoula differs from Montana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Missoula. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Missoula
Missoula has a five-star hospital
St. Patrick Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Missoula doesn’t win on
23.9% of adults binge drink, vs 20.3% across Montana, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Missoula
Missoula runs below Montana on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.8% vs 6.6%), stroke (2.6% vs 3.5%) and arthritis (21.4% vs 28.4%). A young population is part of it: only 15% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%). Conditions ↓
Missoula is an active town
Only 16.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 20.6% across Montana. The town has 112 miles of trails across 76 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Missoula’s likely range.
What’s behind Missoula’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Missoula is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, #9 of 41 in Montana. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Missoula’s median household income is $70,392; among the 10,543 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 97%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Missoula
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Missoula, 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 Missoula; ≈ 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.
112 miles of trails across 76 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Missoula adults…
Missoula runs below MT on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Missoula adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How Missoula adults are doing
About the same as Montana on each measure.
1 in 3 Missoula 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.
7.7% of Missoula adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Missoula and the towns around it
Missoula’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | A− | 26.3% | 7.7% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Orchard Homes | A− | 26.8% | 10% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| East Missoula | B+ | 28.4% | 9.2% | 14.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Missoula adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Missoula
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Missoula is better than Montana on 14 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Missoula’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Missoula | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.3%13.6–17.1 | 18.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.4–13 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.3–20.1 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%22.6–30.3 | 31.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.9%22.4–27.4 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.9%27.1–32.7 | 32.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.3–23.5 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.8 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.7–12.9 | 12.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.3%14–18.8 | 20.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 23.9%20.8–27 | 20.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.1%23.5–31.1 | 31.4% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.8–10.4 | 9.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%66.3–73 | 72.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.3%63.2–69.2 | 63.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.5%77.4–81.5 | 82.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.8%65.6–71.6 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%62.1–70.2 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%72–83.3 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%24.2–30.3 | 24.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%28.3–35.3 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18.3–23.6 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%9.3–12.3 | 11.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.2%8–10.5 | 9.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 8.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2%23.4–29.1 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.3%8.2–10.4 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14%12.5–15.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.5 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.5–8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 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 Missoula
Is Missoula a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Missoula is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #9 of 41 in Montana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 97%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Missoula?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.6% and 30.3%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Missoula?
St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Missoula’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Missoula have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.4%), 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 Missoula 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 Missoula.
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.