COUNTY REPORT KY

Bell County, Kentucky

11 ZIP codes · Avg score 82/100 · Grade B · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Bell County: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Although county size varies, Bell County's 11 ZIP codes share reliably safe tap water records and above-average compliance scores.

How Bell County Compares

Bell County82/100
Kentucky avg69/100
National avg73/100

How Bell County Compares

B
County Grade
82/100
Avg Safety Score
11
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems

Bell County scores 13 points above the Kentucky state average (69/100) and 9 points above the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

B
County Grade
82
Avg Safety Score
11
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 40965 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 40977 (81/100)
$84K
Median Home Value
$1,191
Avg Remediation (142% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Bell County, Kentucky

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,779, driven primarily by flood

58.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Bell County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2025
2 (2 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

Infrastructure Overview

1977
Median Build Year
58.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
45/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
70%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

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: $1,779

Flood $1,343/yr
Energy Code Gap $432/yr
Wildfire $300/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

11,681 housing units in Bell County

Pre-1940 7%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 33%
1980–1999 31%
2000+ 14%

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 Bell County

$84K
Median Home Value
$1,191
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Bell 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.

Water systems serving Bell County

3 community water systems serving Bell County.

Systems with the most violations in Bell County

2 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Bell County

11 ZIP codes tracked in Bell County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 40965 Middlesboro 83 B 1 $85K
2 40977 Pineville 81 B 5 (2 health) $84K
3 40813 Calvin 1 $163K
4 40845 Hulen 1 $99K
5 40856 Miracle 1 $82K
6 40902 Arjay 1
7 40913 Beverly 1
8 40939 Fourmile 1
9 40955 Ingram
10 40958 Kettle Island 1
11 40988 Stoney Fork 1 $60K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Bell County

Strictly editorial - no paid placements influence which guides appear; the selection draws on NSF certifications and EPA detection records for water systems serving this county.

Overview

Bell County in Kentucky covers 11 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of B (82/100) across 2 scored records.

10 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Kentucky Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Bell County?
Bell County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 11 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Bell County?
Bell County is served by 3 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 11 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Bell County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Bell County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,779 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Bell County?
The median home build year in Bell County is 1977. 58.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Bell County compare to Kentucky?
Bell County has an average Home Safety Score of 82/100 under model 4.0.0, which is above the Kentucky state average of 69/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Bell County, KY: HSS 82/100; 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/kentucky/bell/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-kentucky-bell,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Bell County, KY: HSS 82/100; 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/kentucky/bell/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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