Cheshire, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cheshire: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Across Cheshire, MA, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.
How Cheshire Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Cheshire Water
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,860 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.11.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cheshire
Just one provider appears in the list below for Cheshire, MA, among 1 on the federal list. A listing shows which system is tied to the area, not which one serves a particular street; the water bill or the utility itself confirms that for a given address.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cheshire, Massachusetts, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 3,234 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.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cheshire: B (83/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Cheshire water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0150 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01225 | B | Cheshire Water Department | 1,407 |
All ZIP Codes in Cheshire
- 01225 [B]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Cheshire
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Housing & Infrastructure in Cheshire
With 81% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Cheshire, with a median build year of 1965, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Cheshire were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Cheshire Homeowners
Two area figures drive this section for Cheshire: the median home value and the estimated cost of remediation. The estimate is more than 2% of that value, which puts the city in the elevated tier; since both figures describe the area as a whole, the cost for an individual property may be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Cheshire equal about 2.1% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,240–$6,480. Home values here are 58% below the Massachusetts average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cheshire
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Two pieces of area data frame lead for Cheshire families. First, the average of ZIP-level 90th-percentile lead results is 0.010 mg/L or higher. Second, census figures put homes built before 1986, which are more likely to contain lead pipes, fixtures or solder, at about 81% of the housing stock. Neither figure measures a particular home, so a certified lab test of the tap water is the step that shows the lead level there.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Cheshire
Historical NFIP data for Cheshire contains 11 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,554. 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 $4,860 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cheshire, MA