COUNTY REPORT IA

Humboldt County, Iowa

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

Safe water is the norm for most of Humboldt County's 10 ZIP codes — but a notable subset have documented violations that push the grade to the middle tier.

How Humboldt County Compares

Humboldt County59/100
Iowa avg59/100
National avg68/100

How Humboldt County Compares

C
County Grade
59/100
Avg Safety Score
10
ZIP Codes
13
Water Systems

Humboldt 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
10
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 50519 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 50545 (40/100)
$114K
Median Home Value
$1,350
Avg Remediation (118% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Humboldt 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: 14.9 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 13.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,010, driven primarily by water_lead

Infrastructure: 0.54% avg pipe failure probability, 90% of ZIPs at high risk

87.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 41.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1947
Median Build Year
87.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
54%
Pipe Failure Probability
90%
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: $1,010

Water / Lead $465/yr
Energy Code Gap $405/yr
Flood $140/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

4,753 housing units in Humboldt County

Pre-1940 33%
1940–1959 19%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 10%
2000+ 10%

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 Humboldt County

$114K
Median Home Value
$1,350
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 41.4% (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 Humboldt County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Dakota City Water Supply 769 6
2 Humboldt Municipal Water Department 4,792 6
3 Deer Creek Subdivision (fort Dodge) 55 6
4 Becker Drive Road & Well, Llc 50 6
5 Gilmore City Waterworks 487 2

13 total water systems serve Humboldt County.

All ZIP Codes in Humboldt County

10 ZIP codes tracked in Humboldt County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 50519 Bode 66 C 0 $114K
2 50529 Dakota City 66 C 0 $119K
3 50577 Renwick 66 C 0 $101K
4 50582 Rutland 66 C 0 $70K
5 50541 Gilmore City 65 C 2 (1 health) $98K
6 50558 Livermore 63 C 1 $110K
7 50548 Humboldt 62 C 6 $178K
8 50591 Thor 54 D 1 $170K
9 50570 Ottosen 43 D 0 $114K
10 50545 Hardy 40 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Humboldt 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

Humboldt County in Iowa covers 10 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).

4 of 10 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 Humboldt County?
Humboldt 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 Humboldt County?
Humboldt County is served by 13 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 10 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Humboldt County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Humboldt County is water_lead. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,010 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Humboldt County?
The median home build year in Humboldt County is 1947. 87.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Humboldt County compare to Iowa?
Humboldt County has an average water safety score of 59/100, which is above the Iowa state average of 59/100.

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