COUNTY REPORT AL

Shelby County, Alabama

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 64/100 · Grade C · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Shelby County: C.

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

Water systems across Shelby County's 20 ZIP codes produce average compliance results overall - pockets with documented violations exist, and the variation between areas makes ZIP-level lookup the most useful tool for residents here.

How Shelby County Compares

Shelby County64/100
Alabama avg72/100
National avg73/100

How Shelby County Compares

C
County Grade
64/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems

Shelby County scores 8 points below the Alabama state average (72/100) and 9 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
64
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 35143 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 35147 (55/100)
$263K
Median Home Value
$1,945
Avg Remediation (74% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Shelby 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: 12.2 (asthma 9.3%, diabetes 11.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $607, driven primarily by flood

30.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 31.7% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1993
Median Build Year
30.4%
Pre-1978 Housing
27/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
0%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Moderate
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: $607

Flood $757/yr
Energy Code Gap $68/yr
Water Infrastructure $25/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

101,874 housing units in Shelby County

Pre-1940 1%
1940–1959 3%
1960–1979 13%
1980–1999 42%
2000+ 41%

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 Shelby County

$263K
Median Home Value
$1,945
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 31.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Shelby County

8 community water systems serving Shelby County.

Show all 8 water systems

18 total water systems serve Shelby County.

Systems with the most violations in Shelby County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Shelby County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Shelby County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 35143 Shelby 83 B 1 $212K
2 35244 Birmingham 80 B 28 $391K
3 35186 Wilsonville 67 C 1 $289K
4 35043 Chelsea 66 C 26 (1 health) $348K
5 35114 Maylene 66 C 4 (1 health) $280K
6 35176 Vandiver 65 C 3 $114K
7 35242 Birmingham 65 C 24 $452K
8 35080 Helena 64 C 28 (1 health) $279K
9 35124 Pelham 64 C 28 (1 health) $283K
10 35051 Columbiana 63 C 35 (1 health) $248K
11 35007 Alabaster 60 C 35 (2 health) $232K
12 35040 Calera 60 C 14 (2 health) $211K
13 35115 Montevallo 60 C 15 (2 health) $166K
14 35078 Harpersville 56 C 31 $191K
15 35178 Vincent 56 C 31 $152K
16 35147 Sterrett 55 C 34 $283K
17 35137 Saginaw
18 35144 Siluria
19 35185 Westover
20 35187 Wilton

Recommended Buyer Guides for Shelby County

Below: editorial picks, no sponsored placements.

Overview

Shelby County in Alabama covers 20 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (64/100) across 16 scored records.

16 of 16 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations 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 Shelby County?
Shelby 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 Shelby County?
Shelby County is served by 18 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Shelby County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Shelby County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $607 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Shelby County?
The median home build year in Shelby County is 1993. 30.4% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Shelby County compare to Alabama?
Shelby County has an average Home Safety Score of 64/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Alabama state average of 72/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Shelby County, AL: HSS 64/100; PFAS Found in Water. https://zipcheckup.com/county/alabama/shelby/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-alabama-shelby,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Shelby County, AL: HSS 64/100; PFAS Found in Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/alabama/shelby/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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