Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Plains is healthier than 97%
Plains differs from Montana on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Plains. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Plains
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Plains
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 7% across Montana. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 6.6% across Montana. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.5% across Montana. In all, Plains runs above Montana on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Plains
56.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.3% across Montana. Among those 65 and older, 16% have lost all their teeth (Montana 12.3%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Plains, and more people treating it
37.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Montana 31.9%), but 77.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Plains is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Plains is healthier than 45%. Against the 232 towns with similar household incomes ($19K–$32K), it’s healthier than 97%. 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 Plains’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Plains’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Plains is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 67% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Plains’ median household income is $25,491; among the 232 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($19K–$32K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Plains adults…
Plains runs above MT on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Plains adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
Care in and near Plains
1 hospital in Plains, 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 Plains; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Plains adults are doing
About the same as Montana on each measure.
3 in 10 Plains 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.
9.6% of Plains adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
Plains and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains | B− | 33.7% | 11.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Plains adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Plains
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Plains is better than Montana on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside Plains’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Plains | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.7%18.2–25.5 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.2–18.9 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.7–19.1 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%27.4–40.3 | 31.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.1–13.9 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%32.9–41.2 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%32.1–40.3 | 32.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.2%30.6–37.8 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.3–12.7 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%7.8–10.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%7.9–11.4 | 7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13–19.1 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%12.5–18.7 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%19.9–29.5 | 20.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%14.9–21 | 20.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%27.1–38.7 | 31.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%7.8–13.2 | 9.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.1%68.2–76 | 72.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53.1–60.5 | 63.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.1–86.4 | 82.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%74.6–80.9 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%55.5–66.1 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%66.4–80.7 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%20.3–27.2 | 24.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.1%24.7–34 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18.2–25.2 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.7%10.1–16 | 11.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.3%7.5–11.4 | 9.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.7–8.2 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.5–9.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.6%7.5–12.2 | 8.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%30.4–40.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%14.4–20.3 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%12.8–17.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11%9.6–12.5 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%4.9–6.7 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8–11.2 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4–5.5 | 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 Plains
Is Plains a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Plains is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− 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 Plains?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.4% and 40.3%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Plains?
Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Plains’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Plains have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–13.2%), 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 Plains 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 Plains.
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.