COUNTY REPORT AL

Etowah County, Alabama

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Etowah County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

In recent monitoring cycles, Etowah County's 12 ZIP codes show a split record - several have documented water safety violations.

How Etowah County Compares

Etowah County61/100
Alabama avg72/100
National avg73/100

How Etowah County Compares

C
County Grade
61/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
19
Water Systems

Etowah County scores 11 points below the Alabama state average (72/100) and 12 points below the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

C
County Grade
61
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 35907 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 35954 (56/100)
$170K
Median Home Value
$1,675
Avg Remediation (98% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Etowah County, Alabama

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.2 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 16.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $991, driven primarily by flood

63.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 43.8% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1982
Median Build Year
63.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
39/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
25%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $991

Flood $943/yr
Energy Code Gap $172/yr
Water / Lead $159/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

48,916 housing units in Etowah County

Pre-1940 7%
1940–1959 20%
1960–1979 30%
1980–1999 26%
2000+ 16%

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 Etowah County

$170K
Median Home Value
$1,675
Est. Remediation Cost
1.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Etowah 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 Etowah County residents

Asthma 10.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 43.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Etowah County

8 community water systems serving Etowah County.

Show all 8 water systems

19 total water systems serve Etowah County.

Systems with the most violations in Etowah County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Etowah County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Etowah County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 35907 Gadsden 66 C 1 $204K
2 35972 Gallant 66 C 1 $90K
3 35956 Boaz 63 C 6 (1 health) $171K
4 35952 Altoona 62 C 10 (1 health) $120K
5 35901 Gadsden 59 C 24 $174K
6 35903 Gadsden 59 C 23 $170K
7 35904 Gadsden 59 C 24 $100K
8 35905 Gadsden 59 C 24 $189K
9 35906 Rainbow City 58 C 25 $200K
10 35954 Attalla 56 C 29 (1 health) $131K
11 35902 Gadsden
12 35990 Walnut Grove

Recommended Buyer Guides for Etowah County

Four sources - EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC - drive the match.

Overview

Etowah County in Alabama covers 12 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100) across 10 scored records.

10 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Alabama Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Etowah County?
Etowah 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 Etowah County?
Etowah County is served by 19 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Etowah County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Etowah County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $991 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Etowah County?
The median home build year in Etowah County is 1982. 63.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Etowah County compare to Alabama?
Etowah County has an average Home Safety Score of 61/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Alabama state average of 72/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Etowah County, AL: HSS 61/100; 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/county/alabama/etowah/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-alabama-etowah,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Etowah County, AL: HSS 61/100; 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/alabama/etowah/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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