Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, West Yellowstone is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
West Yellowstone differs from Montana on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Yellowstone. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Yellowstone
The nearest ER is 32 miles from West Yellowstone
The closest emergency room is Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, 32.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Bighorn Valley Health Center is closer (0.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone runs below Montana on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.4% vs 7%), stroke (2.7% vs 3.5%) and heart disease (5.1% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 9% of residents are 65 or older (Montana 20%). Conditions ↓
West Yellowstone is an active town
Only 16.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 20.6% across Montana. 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 West Yellowstone’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind West Yellowstone’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Yellowstone is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 61%.
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). West Yellowstone’s median household income is $58,839; among the 8,617 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near West Yellowstone
1 community health center in West Yellowstone, 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 West Yellowstone; ≈ 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 West Yellowstone adults…
West Yellowstone runs below MT on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of West Yellowstone residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Montana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Montana
Share of adults, with the Montana figure marked.
1.5 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Yellowstone adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Montana.
How West Yellowstone adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, West Yellowstone does better than Montana.
1 in 3 West Yellowstone 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.
6.6% of West Yellowstone adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.3% across Montana.
West Yellowstone and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Yellowstone | A | 25.5% | 8.4% | 11.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Yellowstone adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Yellowstone
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Yellowstone is better than Montana on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Montana figure falls inside West Yellowstone’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Yellowstone | MT | U.S. | vs MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%13.1–18.9 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%10.8–14.7 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.3–18.5 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.5%21.3–29.5 | 31.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.1–9.8 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.9%23.8–29.8 | 31.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.3%27.1–33.4 | 32.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.6%21.9–27.3 | 28.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.4%4.4–6.6 | 7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.3–3.1 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9%7.3–11 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%9–14.3 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 16.7%13.5–20.2 | 20.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.8%19–25 | 20.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.9%27–35.2 | 31.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%9.2–14.7 | 9.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.2%65.6–72.5 | 72.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%60.4–66.8 | 63.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.3–85.4 | 82.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.1%65.4–72.6 | 73.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.5–70.8 | 63.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%67–80.1 | 74.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.9–24.5 | 24.9% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%27.1–34.8 | 30.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%17.9–24.4 | 21.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.7%8.4–13.4 | 11.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%7.7–11.4 | 9.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%5.9–8.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.6%5–8.4 | 8.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2%22.4–30.3 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8–11.8 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.3–15.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 8.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.3–4.6 | 4.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.6–7.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.5–3.6 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 West Yellowstone
Is West Yellowstone a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Yellowstone is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Yellowstone?
CDC estimates 25.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.3% and 29.5%, against 31.4% across Montana and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in West Yellowstone have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–14.7%), 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 West Yellowstone 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 West Yellowstone.
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.