Cheltenham, MD Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cheltenham: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
How does Cheltenham tap water hold up under EPA scrutiny? Above average for MD - documented violations are uncommon and the safety grade reflects a clean overall record.
How Cheltenham Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Cheltenham Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 29% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.05 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Cheltenham
Cheltenham, MD runs on one primary water provider among the 1 federally tracked system. A single utility is responsible for the overwhelming share of residential supply - including the infrastructure, compliance filings, and rate schedules that govern service for most households.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cheltenham, Maryland (population ~2,846), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,900,000 people region-wide. 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 Cheltenham: 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
Cheltenham water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 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 2 (Moderate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20623 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Cheltenham
- 20623 [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.
CDC Health Data for Cheltenham
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Cheltenham's Housing Stock?
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Cities with large shares of pre-1986 housing carry elevated aggregate risk from lead-soldered plumbing; Cheltenham sits on the lower end of that spectrum. The median build year of 1995 reflects a housing stock in which post-ban construction is dominant - meaning lead-soldered copper joints are less prevalent across the city as a whole. Still, aggregate figures don't tell you what's happening inside a specific older home. Any structure built before 1986, and particularly those built before 1970 when lead pipes were commonly installed, can still present meaningful lead risk regardless of the city-wide picture.
Most homes in Cheltenham were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cheltenham: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Cheltenham, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Cheltenham are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 6% above the Maryland average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cheltenham
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.
Aggregate sampling rests beneath the federal action threshold here, while only 29% of Cheltenham housing predates the solder rule change.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Cheltenham
Historical NFIP data for Cheltenham contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,484. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$2,100</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cheltenham, MD