Howard County, Iowa
6 ZIP codes · Home Safety Score unavailable · 0 of 6 tracked ZIP records scored · Updated
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: Howard County, Iowa
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.2 (asthma 10%, diabetes 12.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,492, driven primarily by water_lead
82.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $1,492
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
5,028 housing units in Howard 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 Howard County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Howard 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 Howard County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Howard County
1 community water system serving Howard County.
All ZIP Codes in Howard County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Howard County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50466 | Riceville | — | — | $161K | |
| 2 | 50628 | Elma | — | — | $141K | |
| 3 | 52134 | Chester | — | — | $231K | |
| 4 | 52136 | Cresco | — | — | 0 | $153K |
| 5 | 52155 | Lime Springs | — | — | $122K | |
| 6 | 52163 | Protivin | — | — | $106K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Howard County
Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 82.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Howard County in Iowa covers 6 tracked ZIP records. No Home Safety Score is published because the required model evidence is incomplete for every tracked record; missing evidence is not treated as zero.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
← Back to Iowa 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.