Norton County, Kansas
4 ZIP codes · Avg score 62/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Norton County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 4 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.
How Norton County Compares
How Norton County Compares
Norton County scores 2 points below the Kansas state average (64/100) and 6 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.6 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 12.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $783, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.518% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
83.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2023)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Norton County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2021 with 3 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $783
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
2,515 housing units in Norton 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 Norton County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Norton 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 Norton County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 4 systems in Norton County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Clayton, | 46 | 11 |
| 2 | City of Norton, | 2,758 | 5 |
| 3 | City of Almena, | 366 | 4 |
| 4 | City of Lenora, | 206 | 1 |
All ZIP Codes in Norton County
4 ZIP codes tracked in Norton County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 67645 | Lenora | 66 | C | 1 | $77K |
| 2 | 67654 | Norton | 64 | C | 5 (2 health) | $125K |
| 3 | 67622 | Almena | 60 | C | 4 | $84K |
| 4 | 67629 | Clayton | 59 | C | 11 (6 health) | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Norton County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 83.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Norton County in Kansas covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (62/100).
4 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Kansas 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.