COUNTY REPORT KY

Letcher County, Kentucky

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Letcher County, 20 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality — national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.

How Letcher County Compares

Letcher County61/100
Kentucky avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Letcher County Compares

C
County Grade
61/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Letcher County scores 0 points above the Kentucky state average (61/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
61
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 41837 (81/100)
Lowest ZIP: 41848 (53/100)
$65K
Median Home Value
$1,870
Avg Remediation (286% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Letcher 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: $1,111, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.344% avg pipe failure probability, 28% of ZIPs at high risk

59.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2022–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2022
8 (8 health)
2023
10 (10 health)
2024
8 (8 health)
2025
13 (13 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 39 total (39 health-based).

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

Infrastructure Overview

1983
Median Build Year
59.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
34%
Pipe Failure Probability
28%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,111

Energy Code Gap $351/yr
Flood $320/yr
Wildfire $285/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

8,215 housing units in Letcher County

Pre-1940 15%
1940–1959 12%
1960–1979 28%
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 Letcher County

$65K
Median Home Value
$1,870
Est. Remediation Cost
2.9%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Letcher County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 LETCHER COUNTY WATER DISTRICT 2,673 49
2 FLEMING-NEON WATER COMPANY 3,212 49
3 WHITESBURG WATER WORKS 3,861 3
4 JENKINS WATER SYSTEM 2,609 0
5 Mountain Water District 44,057 0

All ZIP Codes in Letcher County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Letcher County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 41837 Mayking 81 B 0 $111K
2 41858 Whitesburg 64 C 3 (1 health) $102K
3 40826 Eolia 63 C 0 $43K
4 41517 Burdine 63 C 0
5 41520 Dorton 63 C 0
6 41810 Cromona 63 C 0 $23K
7 41812 Deane 63 C 0 $78K
8 41815 Ermine 63 C 0 $78K
9 41824 Isom 63 C 0 $52K
10 41826 Jeremiah 63 C 0 $71K
11 41835 Mc Roberts 63 C 0
12 41838 Millstone 63 C 0 $60K
13 41849 Seco 63 C 0
14 41855 Thornton 63 C 0
15 41563 Shelby Gap 55 C 0 $90K
16 41840 Neon 54 D 46 $56K
17 41825 Jackhorn 53 D 0 $52K
18 41832 Letcher 53 D 0
19 41845 Premium 53 D 0
20 41848 Roxana 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Letcher County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Letcher County in Kentucky covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).

2 of 20 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to Kentucky water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Letcher County?
Letcher 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 Letcher County?
Letcher County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Letcher County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Letcher County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,111 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Letcher County?
The median home build year in Letcher County is 1983. 59.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Letcher County compare to Kentucky?
Letcher County has an average water safety score of 61/100, which is above the Kentucky state average of 61/100.

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