Astoria, NY: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 100/100
4 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Astoria: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Within Astoria, safety indicators for tap water remain above the NY median - documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.
How Astoria Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Astoria Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.01 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 87% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.03.
Water Systems Serving Astoria
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in Astoria, NY - the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Astoria, New York (population ~142,870), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 8,271,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 4 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Astoria: A (100/100)
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
Astoria water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0100 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 3 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11102 | A | New York City System | 8,271,000 |
| 11103 | A | New York City System | 8,271,000 |
| 11105 | — | New York City System | 8,271,000 |
| 11106 | A | New York City System | 8,271,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Astoria
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 Astoria
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 Astoria's Housing Stock?
With 87% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Astoria, where the median build year is 1945, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Astoria 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.
Astoria: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Low proportionality - that's the Astoria picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Astoria are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,475 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 177% above the New York average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Astoria
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 87% of Astoria stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Astoria
Historical NFIP data for Astoria contains 98 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $46,266. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$2,500</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 Astoria, NY