CITY REPORT IA

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

1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
1
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$214K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation (1.1% of home value)

Key Facts for Tipton Residents

  • Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 13.91 - above typical levels.

Tipton's Water Providers

Tipton, IA draws its water from one primary utility across 1 tracked system.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Tipton, Iowa, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 5,186 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Water Sources

Tipton water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

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

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
52772 Tipton Water Supply 3,149

All ZIP Codes in Tipton

Data Sources

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

Tipton Community Health Snapshot

10%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.9%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
15.9%
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 10% ↑
Diabetes 11.9% ↑
Mental Health 15.9% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

Tipton Infrastructure Age

1966
Median Build Year
68%
Built Before 1986
49%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 68% 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

What does a median build year of 1966 mean for water safety in Tipton? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used - making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.

1966
Median Year Built
68%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
49%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (49%) 1970–1986 (19%) Post-1986 (32%)

Over half of homes in Tipton 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.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Tipton

Given current Tipton property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier - an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.

Median Home Value
$213,600
Est. Remediation
$2,400
Remediation as % of home value 1.1%

Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Tipton. The estimated $1,600–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 30% above the Iowa average.

Tipton: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

68%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.001
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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 68% of the Tipton 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.

Tipton: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

2
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$15,459
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Tipton contains 2 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,459. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$2,400</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tipton water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Tipton is 0.001 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve Tipton?
Tipton is served by 1 public water system across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 5,186 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Tipton?
Estimated remediation costs in Tipton average $2,400 per household, ranging from $1,600 to $3,300. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesIowa → Tipton, IA

How to cite this page

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

Page version: August 2026.

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