Palo Alto County, Iowa
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C
ZipCheckup grade for Palo Alto County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Within Palo Alto County, 8 tracked ZIP codes add up to a middle-tier grade, with water records that should be checked system by system.
How Palo Alto County Compares
How Palo Alto County Compares
Palo Alto County scores 4 points above the Iowa state average (63/100) and 6 points below the national average (73/100).
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Palo Alto County, Iowa
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.1 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 12.1%)
Modeled additional annual cost estimate per homeowner: $474, largest modeled factor: Energy Code Gap
78% of homes built before 1980 (lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978)
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 DWINSA infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $474
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
4,770 housing units in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County
Modeled remediation costs in Palo Alto County can be compared with the median property value; actual costs vary by property.
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 Palo Alto County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems mapped to Palo Alto County ZIP codes
1 community water system mapped to Palo Alto County ZIP codes; EPA may list more systems serving the county.
- C
All ZIP Codes in Palo Alto County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Palo Alto County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50536 | Emmetsburg | 67 | C | 0 | $121K |
| 2 | 50515 | Ayrshire | — | — | $27K | |
| 3 | 50527 | Curlew | — | — | $84K | |
| 4 | 50528 | Cylinder | — | — | — | |
| 5 | 50562 | Mallard | — | — | $76K | |
| 6 | 50597 | West Bend | — | — | $183K | |
| 7 | 51342 | Graettinger | — | — | $102K | |
| 8 | 51358 | Ruthven | — | — | $147K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Palo Alto County
The mix of guides changes from county to county.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 78% of homes built before 1980
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Palo Alto County, Iowa
Overview
Palo Alto County in Iowa covers 8 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100) across 1 scored records.
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.