Zip code 59859: Plains, Montana

Q: What city is zip code 59859?

59859 is assigned to Plains, Montana. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 59859 in?

59859 is in Sanders County, Montana.

Q: What is the population of 59859?

About 4,360 people live in 59859, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 59859?

The median household income in 59859 is $64,846.

Q: What zip codes are near 59859?

The closest zip codes to 59859 are 59856, 59848, 59845, 59866, 59873.

Residential delivery areaSanders CountyMountain Time

Population

4,360

Median household income

$65K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$429K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$865/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

55.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

711 sq mi

6 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 59859

59859 is a rural zip code in Plains, Montana (Sanders County), covering 711 sq mi of land. About 4,360 people live here, or 6 per square mile. The median resident is 55.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $64,846 a year, 20% below the national median of $80,734. 13.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $429,200, or 6.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $865 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18.6 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; construction and repair; and production and manufacturing.

How 59859 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age55.2
98th
U.S. 38.9 · MT 40.468th of 318 in MT
Rent-burdened renters73.4%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MT 44.8%28th of 286 in MT
Residents 65 and older34.8%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · MT 20.1%50th of 318 in MT
Veterans13.7%
97th
U.S. 6.2% · MT 9%59th of 318 in MT
Unemployment rate10.4%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · MT 3.6%32nd of 317 in MT
Uninsured rate18%
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · MT 8.6%49th of 318 in MT
Housing vacancy15%
86th
U.S. 10.1% · MT 13.2%203rd of 317 in MT
Government workers20.5%
86th
U.S. 14.5% · MT 16.6%110th of 317 in MT
Income inequality (Gini)0.478
80th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MT 0.46574th of 316 in MT
Self-employed workers11.9%
76th
U.S. 10% · MT 15.2%244th of 317 in MT
Homeownership rate78.2%
74th
U.S. 65.2% · MT 69.2%154th of 317 in MT
Median home value$429,200
66th
U.S. $332,700 · MT $375,80071st of 291 in MT
Poverty rate13.9%
65th
U.S. 12.5% · MT 11.5%113th of 317 in MT
Work from home13.1%
52nd
U.S. 15.1% · MT 12.5%163rd of 317 in MT
Per capita income$37,706
43rd
U.S. $44,673 · MT $41,711144th of 318 in MT
Healthcare workers9%
43rd
U.S. 9.7% · MT 9.9%116th of 317 in MT
Median household income$64,846
28th
U.S. $80,734 · MT $72,509159th of 295 in MT
Bachelor's degree or higher20.7%
22nd
U.S. 35.7% · MT 35.2%233rd of 318 in MT
Broadband access87.4%
21st
U.S. 91% · MT 89.4%156th of 317 in MT
Median earnings per worker$39,405
19th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MT $43,881193rd of 316 in MT
Median gross rent$865
11th
U.S. $1,413 · MT $1,081107th of 209 in MT
Diversity index17.2
10th
U.S. 61.4 · MT 29.4176th of 318 in MT
Foreign-born residents1.7%
10th
U.S. 14.1% · MT 2.3%114th of 318 in MT
Residents under 1815.8%
10th
U.S. 22% · MT 21%227th of 318 in MT
Average commute18.6 min
8th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MT 19.1 min199th of 293 in MT
Population4,360
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MT 1,116,87553rd of 318 in MT
Population density6/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · MT 8/sq mi113th of 318 in MT
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MT 2.3%280th of 317 in MT

Measure	59859	Sanders	MT	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MT
Median age	55.2	54.6	40.4	38.9	98th	68th of 318
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	73.4%	56.2%	44.8%	51.1%	98th	28th of 286
Residents 65 and older	34.8%	33%	20.1%	17.2%	98th	50th of 318
Veterans	13.7%	13.4%	9%	6.2%	97th	59th of 318
Unemployment rateWeakness	10.4%	6%	3.6%	5.2%	95th	32nd of 317
Uninsured rateWeakness	18%	13.7%	8.6%	8.4%	93rd	49th of 318
Housing vacancy	15%	19.9%	13.2%	10.1%	86th	203rd of 317
Government workers	20.5%	18.8%	16.6%	14.5%	86th	110th of 317
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.478	0.445	0.465	0.483	80th	74th of 316
Self-employed workers	11.9%	15.7%	15.2%	10%	76th	244th of 317
Homeownership rate	78.2%	81.3%	69.2%	65.2%	74th	154th of 317
Median home value	$429,200	$359,000	$375,800	$332,700	66th	71st of 291
Poverty rate	13.9%	15.4%	11.5%	12.5%	65th	113th of 317
Work from home	13.1%	15.2%	12.5%	15.1%	52nd	163rd of 317
Per capita income	$37,706	$32,019	$41,711	$44,673	43rd	144th of 318
Healthcare workers	9%	10.9%	9.9%	9.7%	43rd	116th of 317
Median household income	$64,846	$57,476	$72,509	$80,734	28th	159th of 295
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.7%	21.5%	35.2%	35.7%	22nd	233rd of 318
Broadband access	87.4%	87.8%	89.4%	91%	21st	156th of 317
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,405	$37,991	$43,881	$49,666	19th	193rd of 316
Median gross rent	$865	$820	$1,081	$1,413	11th	107th of 209
Diversity index	17.2	21.6	29.4	61.4	10th	176th of 318
Foreign-born residents	1.7%	1.7%	2.3%	14.1%	10th	114th of 318
Residents under 18	15.8%	17%	21%	22%	10th	227th of 318
Average commuteStrength	18.6 min	22 min	19.1 min	26.4 min	8th	199th of 293
Population	4,360	13,285	1,116,875	334,922,499	7th	53rd of 318
Population density	6/sq mi	5/sq mi	8/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	113th of 318
Tech workers	0%	0.4%	2.3%	3.8%	1st	280th of 317

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

13%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

15%

55–64

23%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

55.2

Under 18

15.8%

65 and over

34.8%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0.5%
Hispanic3%
Asian1%
Native American2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

17.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

36.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,854
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 57%
Married couples: 48.2%
Living alone: 40.2%
Veterans (of adults): 13.7%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

17%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

22%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

59859

$64,846

Sanders Co.

$57,476

Montana

$72,509

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,706

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.478

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

59859

$429,200

Sanders Co.

$359,000

Montana

$375,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

59859

$865

Sanders Co.

$820

Montana

$1,081

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

77%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.2%

20+ units

Mobile home

16%

Boat, RV, van

0.8%

Housing units: 2,180
Owner-occupied: 78.2%
Vacant: 15%
Median year built: 1995
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 73.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 32.7%
Home value to income: 6.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

60%

Carpooled

Transit

0.8%

Walked

10%

Bicycle

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

52%

10–19

19%

20–29

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

10%

Average commute

18.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

10.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

41.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

13%

Construction and repair

12%

Production

12%

Education

10%

Management

Healthcare

Sales

Engineering and science

Transportation and moving

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Food service

0.8%

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Construction

14%

Manufacturing

11%

Agriculture and mining

11%

Retail

10%

Education

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Arts and recreation

0.3%

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$39,405

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	59859	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$72,500	$74,888
Service	$40,993	$26,804
Sales and office	$27,663	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$28,750	$49,199
Production and transportation	$33,824	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

30%

Some college

29%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.1%
Households with broadband: 87.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 70.7%
No internet access: 5.4%
Without health insurance: 18%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Plains
State: Montana
County: Sanders County
Center point: 47.5198° N, 114.7952° W
Land area: 711 sq mi
Water area: 4.8 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 59859

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
59856	Paradise, MT	10 mi	130	—	—
59848	Lonepine, MT	14 mi	81	$37,188	$462,500
59845	Hot Springs, MT	16 mi	1,223	$31,970	$191,100
59866	Saint Regis, MT	20 mi	1,161	$73,462	$343,700
59873	Thompson Falls, MT	24 mi	2,920	$60,000	$305,900
59831	Dixon, MT	27 mi	544	$46,406	$197,500
59915	Elmo, MT	27 mi	452	$58,750	—
59824	Charlo, MT	28 mi	1,526	$53,382	$317,800
59846	Huson, MT	29 mi	1,377	$70,851	$461,200
59872	Superior, MT	29 mi	2,501	$55,926	$396,600
59860	Polson, MT	31 mi	11,897	$62,047	$441,500
59830	De Borgia, MT	32 mi	102	—	$337,500

Zip codes like 59859 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 59859

What city is zip code 59859?

59859 is assigned to Plains, Montana. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 59859 in?

59859 is in Sanders County, Montana.

What is the population of 59859?

About 4,360 people live in 59859, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 59859 in?

59859 is in Mountain Time.

What is the median household income in 59859?

The median household income in 59859 is $64,846.

What zip codes are near 59859?

The closest zip codes to 59859 are 59856, 59848, 59845, 59866, 59873.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 59859, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.