Plains, MT · standard
ZIP Code 59859
Sanders County, Montana - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,270
- 2/sq mi Low-density area
- $64,846
- Median income Near-median income area
- $429,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 20.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Plains pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 38th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 18%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 59859 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 59859 (Plains, MT) fell -5.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 396.4 in 2023 to 375.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 59859 covers 1816.7 square miles in Plains, Sanders County, Montana (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,270 residents on file, a density of 2 people per square mile, in the Denver time zone.
ZIP 59859 reports a modest median household income of $64,846 (7% below the average Montana ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,706. Unemployment is 10.4%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $429,200 (31% above the average Montana ZIP), while 78.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $865.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 55.2, and the average commute is -. No nearby ZIP peer set is available for this delivery area, so the Montana and national benchmarks above are the appropriate context for 59859.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 59859
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Plains, MT
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 59859.
- Construction
Construction
22 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
16 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
12 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
11 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
10 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 59859, Plains, MT · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
3,270
Population
1816.7
Area (sq mi)
2
People / sq mi
Denver
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 59859?
55.2
Median Age
49.7%
Male
50.3%
Female
1.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$64,846
Median Household Income
-7% vs state ZIP avg
$37,706
Per Capita Income
13.9%
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 59859 ranks among Montana ZIPs
Plains, MT household income vs. every Montana ZIP code
Median household income among 321 reporting Montana ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$64,846 46th percentile higher than 46% of 321 Montana ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Montana ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
2,180housing units
2,180
Total Housing Units
1,854
Occupied Units
326
Vacant Units
2.31
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$429,200
Median Home Value
+31% vs state ZIP avg
$865
Median Rent
1995
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-5.3%
YoY Change (2024)
375
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+275%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 59859 have decreased 5.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +275% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +9.0% | 237 |
| 2021 | +15.2% | 273 |
| 2022 | +16.1% | 317 |
| 2023 | +25.2% | 396 |
| 2024 | -5.3% | 375 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 111 business establishments in ZIP 59859, employing approximately 909 people with a combined annual payroll of $35,956,000.
111
Businesses
909
Employees
$36.0M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 22 | 19.8% |
| Retail trade | 16 | 14.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 12 | 10.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 11 | 9.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10 | 9.0% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 5 | 4.5% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 4.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 3.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 3.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 3.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 4 | 3.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 3.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 2.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 59859, both outside MT so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (3,270 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Sanders County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 59859 in?
ZIP code 59859 (Plains) is located in Sanders County, Montana. Sanders County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sanders-mt.
What is the population of ZIP code 59859?
ZIP code 59859 in Plains, MT has a population of 3,270 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 59859?
The median household income in ZIP 59859 is $64,846, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 59859?
The median home value in ZIP 59859 is $429,200, which is 54% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 59859?
The largest racial group in ZIP 59859 is White at 92.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 59859?
ZIP code 59859 has 111 business establishments employing approximately 909 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 59859?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 59859 are: Construction (22), Retail trade (16), Health care and social assistance (12). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 59859?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 59859 decreased by 5.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 275%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 59859?
In ZIP code 59859, 50.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 59859?
In ZIP code 59859, approximately 78.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 59859?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 59859 is 13.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 59859's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 59859 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Plains, MT ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.