COUNTY REPORT IA

Franklin County, Iowa

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Franklin County: 8 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.

How Franklin County Compares

Franklin County59/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Franklin County Compares

C
County Grade
59/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems

Franklin County scores 0 points above the Iowa state average (59/100) and 9 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
59
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50475 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50427 (40/100)
$86K
Median Home Value
$1,425
Avg Remediation (166% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Franklin 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: 15 (asthma 10%, diabetes 14.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $864, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.506% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

88.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.7% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1950
Median Build Year
88.4%
Pre-1978 Housing
51%
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: $864

Energy Code Gap $439/yr
Water / Lead $400/yr
Flood $25/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

4,188 housing units in Franklin County

Pre-1940 34%
1940–1959 23%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 10%
2000+ 5%

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 Franklin County

$86K
Median Home Value
$1,425
Est. Remediation Cost
1.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.7% (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 Franklin County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Alexander Water Department 164 1
2 Coulter Water Supply 219 1
3 GENEVA WATER WORKS 136 0
4 SHEFFIELD WATER SUPPLY 1,130 0
5 Hampton Muni Water Works 4,337 0

8 total water systems serve Franklin County.

All ZIP Codes in Franklin County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Franklin County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50475 Sheffield 70 B 0 $156K
2 50420 Alexander 66 C 1 $78K
3 50452 Latimer 66 C 0 $108K
4 50633 Geneva 66 C 0 $73K
5 50431 Coulter 64 C 1 $82K
6 50441 Hampton 62 C 0 $124K
7 50041 Bradford 40 D 0
8 50427 Chapin 40 D 0 $86K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Franklin County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Franklin County in Iowa covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).

2 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 Franklin County?
Franklin 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 Franklin County?
Franklin County is served by 8 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Franklin County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Franklin County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $864 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Franklin County?
The median home build year in Franklin County is 1950. 88.4% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Franklin County compare to Iowa?
Franklin County has an average water safety score of 59/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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