Residential delivery area · Montana
ZIP Code 59859: Plains, MT
ZIP code 59859 uses the postal name Plains, Montana and lies entirely in Sanders County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 4,400 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $64,846 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Weeksville (under 1%) and Plains (under 1%); more than 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Plains · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Sanders County
- Census places
- Weeksville (under 1%) census-designated place; Plains (under 1%)
- House district
- MT-1 119th Congress
- State
- Montana
- Time zone
- Mountain
- Land area
- 710.8 sq mi · 6 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 59859?
59859 centers on 47.520°, -114.795° and covers 710.8 square miles of land plus 4.8 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 59856, 59848, 59845, 59866, 59873, 59831, 59846, 59925.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 59859, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 59859 compare with the rest of Sanders County?
| Measure | 59859 | In Sanders County | In MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,360 | 1st of 11 | 53rd of 369 |
| Median household income | $65k | 2nd of 6 | 60th of 104 |
| Median home value | $429k | 2nd of 7 | 37th of 120 |
Its median household income is higher than in 38% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 12% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 59859?
The 2020 Census counted 3,683 people in 59859; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 4,360. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 12.6% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 4,360±480 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 3,683+12.6% since 2010 (3,270)
- Households
- 1,854
- Median age
- 55.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 59859?
Of the 4,360 people the ACS estimates in 59859, 15.8% are under 18 and 34.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (90.9%).
- Under 1815.8%
- 18 to 6449.5%
- 65 and older34.8%
- White, not Hispanic90.9%
- Other or two or more4.4%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.0%
- Black, not Hispanic0.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 59859 earn?
Median household income is $64,846 (ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd highest of the 6 ranked ZIP codes in Sanders County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($56,283 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $64,846±$9,519
- Income per person
- $37,706
- Below the poverty line
- 13.9%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 10.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 20.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $67,0921,780 returns; wages 50% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 59859?
FHFA's house price index for 59859, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 110% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 53% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −5.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $429,200
- Median gross rent
- $865
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 78.2%
- Housing units
- 2,180
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 59859?
111 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction22
- Retail trade16
- Health care and social assistance12
- Accommodation and food services11
- Other services (except public administration)10
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 59859?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59856 | Paradise | 130 | – | 10.0 mi |
| 59848 | Lonepine | 81 | $37k | 14.0 mi |
| 59845 | Hot Springs | 1,223 | $32k | 16.3 mi |
| 59866 | Saint Regis | 1,161 | $74k | 19.5 mi |
| 59873 | Thompson Falls | 2,920 | $60k | 24.4 mi |
| 59831 | Dixon | 544 | $46k | 26.8 mi |
| 59846 | Huson | 1,377 | $71k | 28.7 mi |
| 59925 | Marion | 1,532 | $64k | 36.3 mi |
| 59915 | Elmo | 452 | $59k | 27.4 mi (near) |
| 59824 | Charlo | 1,526 | $53k | 28.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.