CITY REPORT IA

Remsen, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 0 water systems · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
0
Water Systems
N/A
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$219K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.5% of home value)

Remsen Water: The Quick Version

  • Homes built before 1986: 80% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 13.28 - above typical levels.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Remsen, Iowa, covering 0 community water system serving approximately 2,909 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 0 of 1 ZIP codes.

EPA water-system violation data is unavailable in the dataset used for this page for the tracked ZIP codes in Remsen.

Lead & Copper

  • Lead data: not yet available for Remsen
  • Lead action-level status: not available

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

All ZIP Codes in Remsen

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Remsen

9.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.2%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
15.5%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 9.7% ↓
Diabetes 11.2% ↑
Mental Health 15.5% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

How Old Is Remsen's Housing Stock?

1951
Median Build Year
80%
Built Before 1986
52%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 80% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Remsen, the median build year of 1951 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.

1951
Median Year Built
80%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
52%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (52%) 1970–1986 (28%) Post-1986 (20%)

Over half of homes in Remsen were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Remsen: Remediation Cost in Perspective

In Remsen, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.

Median Home Value
$219,100
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.5%

Remediation costs in Remsen are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 33% above the Iowa average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Remsen

80%
Homes Built Before 1986

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 80% of the Remsen inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix water issues in Remsen?
Estimated remediation costs in Remsen average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,500. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesIowa → Remsen, IA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Remsen, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/remsen/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ia-remsen,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Remsen, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/remsen/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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