Missoula, MT health
Missoula differs from Montana on 17 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults with heart disease (4.8% vs 6.6%) and fewer adults who have had a stroke (2.6% vs 3.5%). Where it trails the state: more binge drinkers (23.9% vs 20.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MissoulaMissoula’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Missoula is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns and 84% of Montana towns.
About what its income would suggest. Missoula does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Montana ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Missoula with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Missoula uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How Missoula compares with Montana
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Missoula adults…
Bars show Missoula; the black tick is Montana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
MT 20.6%
MT 31.4%
MT 20.3%
MT 13.6%
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
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.
Living with a disability
of Missoula adults live with a disability (Montana 30.9%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Montana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Missoula and the towns around it
Care in and near Missoula
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Missoula, plus the nearest outside it. Nearest first.
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Missoula. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Missoula
| Measure | Missoula | Margin | Montana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 24.9% | 22.4–27.4% | 31.9% | better |
| High cholesterol | 29.9% | 27.1–32.7% | 32.8% | better |
| Obesity | 26.3% | 22.6–30.3% | 31.4% | better |
| Arthritis | 21.4% | 19.3–23.5% | 28.4% | better |
| Depression | 27.2% | 24.2–30.3% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.6% | 8.7–12.9% | 12.3% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2% | 11.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1% | 9.3% | better |
| Diabetes | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8% | 9.9% | better |
| COPD | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9% | 7% | better |
| Heart disease | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3% | 6.6% | better |
| Stroke | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8% | 3.5% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5% | 10.1–13.1% | 13.6% | better |
| Binge drink | 23.9% | 20.8–27% | 20.3% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 16.3% | 14–18.8% | 20.6% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.1% | 23.5–31.1% | 31.4% | better |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 69.8% | 66.3–73% | 72.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 66.3% | 63.2–69.2% | 63.3% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 79.5% | 77.4–81.5% | 82.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 66.2% | 62.1–70.2% | 63.8% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 78% | 72–83.3% | 74.8% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 68.8% | 65.6–71.6% | 73.4% | worse |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 7.8–10.4% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.9% | 28.3–35.3% | 30.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.9% | 18.3–23.6% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.2% | 16.3–20.1% | 17.2% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 15.3% | 13.6–17.1% | 18.3% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 11.7% | 10.4–13% | 14% | better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.8% | 9.3–12.3% | 11.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.2% | 8–10.5% | 9.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2% | 6.5% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9% | 8.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2% | 23.4–29.1% | 30.9% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14% | 12.5–15.5% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 6.7% | 6–7.5% | 8.6% | |
| Vision | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2% | 4.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 7.2% | 6.5–8% | 8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Montana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.