COUNTY REPORT AL

Cherokee County, Alabama

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 69/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Monitoring figures for Cherokee County indicate average water quality overall — some ZIP codes among the 4 tracked have recorded health-based violations, while others operate cleanly, making individual ZIP-level data the most actionable reference point.

How Cherokee County Compares

Cherokee County69/100
Alabama avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Cherokee County Compares

C
County Grade
69/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems

Cherokee County scores 4 points below the Alabama state average (73/100) and 1 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
69
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 35959 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 36275 (53/100)
$176K
Median Home Value
$2,225
Avg Remediation (126% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.2 (asthma 10.2%, diabetes 16%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $355, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.287% avg pipe failure probability

45.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.5% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1984
Median Build Year
45.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
29%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $355

Flood $250/yr
Energy Code Gap $68/yr
Water / Lead $38/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

10,171 housing units in Cherokee County

Pre-1940 4%
1940–1959 8%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 36%
2000+ 28%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Cherokee County

$176K
Median Home Value
$2,225
Est. Remediation Cost
1.3%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Cherokee County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Cherokee County residents

Asthma 10.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 3 systems in Cherokee County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Cherokee County Water Authority 11,013 1
2 Centre Water & Sewer Board 7,050 1
3 Cedar Bluff Utilities Board 4,875 0

All ZIP Codes in Cherokee County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Cherokee County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 35959 Cedar Bluff 83 B 0 $193K
2 35960 Centre 76 B 1 $176K
3 35973 Gaylesville 63 C 0 $99K
4 36275 Spring Garden 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cherokee County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Cherokee County in Alabama covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (69/100).

1 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Alabama water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is served by 3 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cherokee County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cherokee County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $355 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cherokee County?
The median home build year in Cherokee County is 1984. 45.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cherokee County compare to Alabama?
Cherokee County has an average water safety score of 69/100, which is below the Alabama state average of 73/100.

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