Chaffee County, Colorado
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Chaffee County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Unlike top-rated counties, Chaffee County's 6 ZIP codes carry a fair number of documented violations - chlorine compliance and disinfection byproduct limits are the categories most often cited in recent data.
How Chaffee County Compares
How Chaffee County Compares
Chaffee County scores 6 points above the Colorado state average (59/100) 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: Chaffee County, Colorado
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12 (asthma 10.8%, diabetes 10.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $670, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
45.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Chaffee County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 1 violation. Past 5 years: 2 total (2 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: $670
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
11,102 housing units in Chaffee 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 Chaffee County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Chaffee 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 Chaffee County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Chaffee County
2 community water systems serving Chaffee County.
- C
- C
Systems with the most violations in Chaffee County
1 water system with recorded EPA violations.
- C
All ZIP Codes in Chaffee County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Chaffee County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81211 | Buena Vista | 67 | C | 0 | $566K |
| 2 | 81201 | Salida | 63 | C | 11 | $632K |
| 3 | 81227 | Monarch | — | — | — | |
| 4 | 81228 | Granite | — | — | — | |
| 5 | 81236 | Nathrop | — | — | $656K | |
| 6 | 81242 | Poncha Springs | — | — | 11 | $479K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Chaffee County
Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Chaffee County in Colorado covers 6 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100) across 2 scored records.
2 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
← Back to Colorado 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.