COUNTY REPORT IA

Cedar County, Iowa

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

For most households in Cedar County, the 8 tracked ZIP codes show adequate but uneven water quality.

How Cedar County Compares

Cedar County61/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Cedar County Compares

C
County Grade
61/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
16
Water Systems

Cedar County scores 2 points above the Iowa state average (59/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
61
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 52772 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 52766 (45/100)
$163K
Median Home Value
$1,950
Avg Remediation (120% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cedar County, Iowa

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: 13.9 (asthma 10%, diabetes 12%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,111, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.498% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

80.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.9% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1956
Median Build Year
80.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
50%
Pipe Failure Probability
100%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,111

Energy Code Gap $405/yr
Flood $400/yr
Water / Lead $306/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

7,199 housing units in Cedar County

Pre-1940 42%
1940–1959 9%
1960–1979 19%
1980–1999 13%
2000+ 17%

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 Cedar County

$163K
Median Home Value
$1,950
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.9% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Cedar County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 West Branch Mhp 400 6
2 West Branch Water Works 2,509 6
3 Clarence Water Supply 1,039 4
4 Mechanicsville Water Department 1,020 4
5 Lowden Water Supply 807 2

16 total water systems serve Cedar County.

All ZIP Codes in Cedar County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Cedar County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 52772 Tipton 70 B 0 $214K
2 52216 Clarence 66 C 0 $165K
3 52255 Lowden 66 C 2 $138K
4 52721 Bennett 63 C 0 $180K
5 52306 Mechanicsville 61 C 4 $160K
6 52358 West Branch 58 C 6 $236K
7 52337 Stanwood 56 C 0 $148K
8 52766 Nichols 45 D 0 $123K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cedar County

While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.

Overview

Cedar County in Iowa covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).

3 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Iowa water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cedar County?
Cedar 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 Cedar County?
Cedar County is served by 16 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cedar County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cedar County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,111 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cedar County?
The median home build year in Cedar County is 1956. 80.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cedar County compare to Iowa?
Cedar County has an average water safety score of 61/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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