Santa Cruz County, Arizona
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Santa Cruz County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Within Santa Cruz County, 8 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality - national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.
How Santa Cruz County Compares
How Santa Cruz County Compares
Santa Cruz County scores 1 points below the Arizona state average (66/100) and 8 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:
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.8 (asthma 9.4%, diabetes 15.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,974, driven primarily by wildfire
50.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Santa Cruz County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 7 violations. Past 5 years: 11 total (11 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
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: $1,974
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
18,498 housing units in Santa Cruz County
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 Santa Cruz County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Santa Cruz County
8 community water systems serving Santa Cruz County.
- C
- C
- C
- C
Show all 8 water systems
- C
Systems with the most violations in Santa Cruz County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
- C
- C
- C
- C
All ZIP Codes in Santa Cruz County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Santa Cruz County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85621 | Nogales | 67 | C | 73 (2 health) | $174K |
| 2 | 85648 | Rio Rico | 63 | C | 11 | $213K |
| 3 | 85611 | Elgin | — | — | 21 (1 health) | $327K |
| 4 | 85624 | Patagonia | — | — | 4 | $378K |
| 5 | 85628 | Nogales | — | — | — | |
| 6 | 85640 | Tumacacori | — | — | 11 | — |
| 7 | 85646 | Tubac | — | — | 11 | $473K |
| 8 | 85662 | Nogales | — | — | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Santa Cruz County
Federal and certification sources drive the ordering: EPA monitoring data, NSF certifications, FEMA flood maps, and CDC lead guidance - guides surface only when county data warrants them.
- Best Water Filters for PFAS — PFAS detected in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 50.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Santa Cruz County, Arizona
Overview
Santa Cruz County in Arizona covers 8 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100) across 2 scored records.
6 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
← Back to Arizona Home Safety Profile
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.