COUNTY REPORT CO

San Miguel County, Colorado

5 ZIP codes · Avg score 33/100 · Grade F · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for San Miguel County: F.

Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.

Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →

San Miguel County's water safety record falls below average - health-based violations are on file in a notable share of the county's 5 ZIP codes, and several systems have recorded exceedances that trigger federal notification requirements.

How San Miguel County Compares

San Miguel County33/100
Colorado avg59/100
National avg73/100

How San Miguel County Compares

F
County Grade
33/100
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems

San Miguel County scores 26 points below the Colorado state average (59/100) and 40 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:

F
County Grade
33
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 81435 (33/100)
Lowest ZIP: 81435 (33/100)
$706K
Median Home Value
$2,100
Avg Remediation (30% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: San Miguel County, Colorado

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: 10.6 (asthma 10.5%, diabetes 8.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $634, driven primarily by flood

42.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across San Miguel County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
5 (5 health)
2024
15 (15 health)
2025
3 (3 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 15 violations. Past 5 years: 23 total (23 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 8.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 26.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1996
Median Build Year
42.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
37/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
20%
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: $634

Flood $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $324/yr
Water Infrastructure $120/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

6,637 housing units in San Miguel County

Pre-1940 6%
1940–1959 1%
1960–1979 17%
1980–1999 46%
2000+ 30%

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 San Miguel County

$706K
Median Home Value
$2,100
Est. Remediation Cost
0.3%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in San Miguel 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 San Miguel County residents

Asthma 10.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 8.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 26.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving San Miguel County

3 community water systems serving San Miguel County.

Systems with the most violations in San Miguel County

3 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in San Miguel County

5 ZIP codes tracked in San Miguel County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 81435 Telluride 33 F 172 (10 health) $706K
2 81325 Egnar 10 $457K
3 81423 Norwood 10 $412K
4 81426 Ophir 134 $875K
5 81430 Placerville $1004K

Recommended Buyer Guides for San Miguel County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

San Miguel County in Colorado covers 5 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of F (33/100) across 1 scored records.

4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Colorado Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

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

What You Can Do

San Miguel County has a grade of F. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

42.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in San Miguel County?
San Miguel County receives a grade of F. 1 of 5 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve San Miguel County?
San Miguel County is served by 3 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 5 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in San Miguel County?
The primary environmental risk factor in San Miguel County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $634 per homeowner.
How old are homes in San Miguel County?
The median home build year in San Miguel County is 1996. 42.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does San Miguel County compare to Colorado?
San Miguel County has an average Home Safety Score of 33/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Colorado state average of 59/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). San Miguel County, CO: HSS 33/100; PFAS Found in Water. https://zipcheckup.com/county/colorado/san-miguel/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-colorado-san-miguel,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{San Miguel County, CO: HSS 33/100; PFAS Found in Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/colorado/san-miguel/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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