Cornelius, NC Home Safety: Home Safety 92/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cornelius: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Unlike many cities its size in NC, Cornelius keeps health-based violation rates low - systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Cornelius Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Cornelius Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 15% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.72.
Water Systems Serving Cornelius
Cornelius, NC is covered by 2 major water utilities out of 2 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cornelius, North Carolina (population ~31,021), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 1,164,051 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 Cornelius: A (92/100)
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
Cornelius water systems draw from: Groundwater, 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 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28031 | A | Charlotte Water | 1,163,701 |
All ZIP Codes in Cornelius
- 28031 [A]
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 Cornelius
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 Cornelius'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
Newer construction dominates Cornelius's residential inventory, as reflected in a median build year of 2008. The practical implication is that lead-soldered copper plumbing joints - a pre-1986 standard now federally prohibited - are an exception rather than the rule in this city, though they remain present in the older fraction of the housing stock.
Most homes in Cornelius 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.
Cornelius: Remediation Cost in Perspective
While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Cornelius is notably favorable - the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.
Remediation costs in Cornelius 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 111% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cornelius
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.
Whenever aggregate samples pass the federal action benchmark and pre-rule housing - 15% in Cornelius - represents a smaller fraction, lead occupies a lower priority on the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Cornelius
Historical NFIP data for Cornelius contains 21 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,162. 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 Cornelius, NC