Montana Slips Down In New National Health Rankings

When I think about the healthiest places in the country, my mind immediately goes to the western states. Places like Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado seem like obvious choices. Life out here revolves around the outdoors. Hiking, hunting, skiing, and spending time in the mountains are just part of everyday life. So naturally, I assume states like ours would rank near the top when it comes to overall health. But according to the America's Health Rankings 2025 Report, that assumption might not be completely accurate.

The report evaluates all 50 states using dozens of different indicators that fall into five broad areas. These include social and economic conditions, environmental factors, personal habits, access to medical care, and overall health results. When everything was tallied up, the states at the top of the list were mostly in the Northeast.

So where did Montana land? Surprisingly, the Treasure State came in at No. 31. The study did point out a few positives. Montana has lower obesity rates than many states and a strong high school graduation rate. But there were also some challenges noted, including higher levels of excessive alcohol use and increased e-cigarette use.

Another stat that stood out is that about 24% of residents say they skip medical care because of the cost. Montana actually ranked much higher in the past. Back in 1990, the state placed No. 13 nationwide. Since then, the ranking has slowly slipped over the decades.