COUNTY REPORT IA

Guthrie County, Iowa

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Tracking 9 ZIP codes in Guthrie County reveals a mixed picture — tap water quality varies meaningfully by location.

How Guthrie County Compares

Guthrie County57/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Guthrie County Compares

C
County Grade
57/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
12
Water Systems

Guthrie County scores 2 points below the Iowa state average (59/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
57
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50115 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50128 (32/100)
$110K
Median Home Value
$2,247
Avg Remediation (204% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Guthrie 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 9.8%, diabetes 12.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $823, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.51% avg pipe failure probability, 78% of ZIPs at high risk

79.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 37.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1902
Median Build Year
79.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
51%
Pipe Failure Probability
78%
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: $823

Energy Code Gap $390/yr
Water / Lead $367/yr
Flood $67/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

5,866 housing units in Guthrie County

Pre-1940 37%
1940–1959 9%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 20%
2000+ 15%

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 Guthrie County

$110K
Median Home Value
$2,247
Est. Remediation Cost
2.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

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 Guthrie County residents

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 37.2% (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 Guthrie County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Xenia Rwd (des Moines) 12,860 24
2 Bayard Water Supply 405 14
3 Neola Light & Water 906 11
4 Adair Municipal Water Supply 809 11
5 Jamaica Water Supply 195 8

12 total water systems serve Guthrie County.

All ZIP Codes in Guthrie County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Guthrie County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50115 Guthrie Center 70 B 0 $140K
2 50216 Panora 69 C 3 $199K
3 50048 Casey 66 C 0 $110K
4 50070 Dexter 66 C 2 $188K
5 50277 Yale 66 C 0 $86K
6 50002 Adair 56 C 11 $190K
7 50029 Bayard 52 D 3 $73K
8 50026 Bagley 40 D 0 $102K
9 50128 Jamaica 32 F 8 (1 health) $106K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Guthrie County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Guthrie County in Iowa covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).

5 of 9 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to Iowa water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Guthrie County?
Guthrie 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 Guthrie County?
Guthrie County is served by 12 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Guthrie County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Guthrie County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $823 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Guthrie County?
The median home build year in Guthrie County is 1902. 79.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Guthrie County compare to Iowa?
Guthrie County has an average water safety score of 57/100, which is below the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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