Shelby County, Iowa
11 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Shelby County, EPA compliance data for 11 ZIP codes sits at a moderate level — not alarming, but not uniformly clean either.
How Shelby County Compares
How Shelby County Compares
Shelby 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
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Shelby 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 10%, diabetes 12.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $732, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.51% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
85.7% 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
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $732
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
5,624 housing units in Shelby 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 Shelby County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Shelby 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 Shelby County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Shelby County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Horn Muni Water Works | 631 | 10 |
| 2 | Defiance Water Department | 250 | 7 |
| 3 | Irwin Municipal Supply | 313 | 5 |
| 4 | Regional Water | 4,132 | 2 |
| 5 | Urban Bluffs - North | 1,558 | 2 |
10 total water systems serve Shelby County.
All ZIP Codes in Shelby County
11 ZIP codes tracked in Shelby County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51530 | Earling | 66 | C | 1 | $151K |
| 2 | 51562 | Panama | 66 | C | 0 | $158K |
| 3 | 51537 | Harlan | 65 | C | 0 | $162K |
| 4 | 51570 | Shelby | 65 | C | 2 | $188K |
| 5 | 51527 | Defiance | 63 | C | 7 | $115K |
| 6 | 51446 | Irwin | 62 | C | 5 | $94K |
| 7 | 51531 | Elk Horn | 61 | C | 10 | $132K |
| 8 | 51565 | Portsmouth | 55 | C | 0 | $117K |
| 9 | 51447 | Kirkman | 40 | D | 0 | $243K |
| 10 | 51563 | Persia | 40 | D | 0 | $209K |
| 11 | 51578 | Westphalia | 40 | D | 0 | $95K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Shelby County
Four sources — EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC — drive the match.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 85.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Shelby County, Iowa
Overview
Shelby County in Iowa covers 11 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).
5 of 11 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Iowa water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.