Pondera County Health Data

Pondera County, Montana

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

50/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

76.6 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.5%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

76.6 yr

State avg 76.3 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

13.5%

State avg 11.9%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

50

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

212

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

17.6%

State avg 17.2%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Dentists

33.3

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Pondera County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasurePonderaState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity37.5%33.5%37.6%4.0 pts worse than state
Diabetes10.5%9.0%11.2%1.5 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure31.0%29.5%33.5%1.5 pts worse than state
Depression26.8%25.5%24.1%1.3 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasurePonderaState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking19.9%16.0%16.3%3.9 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking21.6%22.2%17.8%0.6 pts better than state
Physical Inactivity27.1%22.1%27.0%5.0 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasurePonderaState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup67.6%68.4%74.9%0.8 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)58.0%60.1%57.3%2.1 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)67.8%71.9%73.3%4.1 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasurePonderaState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress21.0%19.2%18.6%1.8 pts worse than state
Short Sleep Duration34.3%33.4%37.3%0.9 pts worse than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Pondera County nationally on physical inactivity.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Pondera County uninsured rate remains higher than state and national levels

Health data brief for Pondera County, Montana.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

The uninsured rate for residents under age 65 in Pondera County is 13.5%, which is higher than the Montana state level of 11.9% and the national rate of 10%. Life expectancy in the county is 76.6 years, which is slightly higher than the state average of 76.3 years but lower than the national average of 77 years. Primary care providers are recorded at a rate of 50 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national median of 70 per 100,000. Mental health providers stand at 212 per 100,000, which tracks lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. In addition, 17.6% of adults report poor or fair health, which is slightly higher than the national 17% rate. Explore state-level health data.

Get Care in Pondera County, Montana

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Pondera Medical Center

ER
Not rated by CMS
(406) 271-3211
805 Sunset Blvd, Conrad, MT 59425
Critical Access HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Pondera County, MT?
Pondera County has a health score of 50/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #38 out of 56 counties in Montana (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Pondera County?
Life expectancy in Pondera County is 76.6 years. The Montana state average is 76.3 years, making Pondera County above the state average.
How does Pondera County health compare to the Montana average?
Pondera County's health score of 50/100 is below the Montana average of 54/100. Life expectancy is 76.6 years vs. the state average of 76.3 years. The uninsured rate is 13.5% vs. 11.9% statewide.
What health factors affect Pondera County?
Key health factors for Pondera County include: life expectancy (76.6 years), uninsured rate (13.5%), and primary care physician access (50:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 212:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Pondera County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 50/100 ("Below Average"), Pondera County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Montana. Residents have a life expectancy of 76.6 years. 13.5% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Pondera County?
Pondera County's health score of 50/100 is below the Montana average of 54/100. The uninsured rate of 13.5% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.