COUNTY REPORT KY

Nicholas County, Kentucky

3 ZIP codes · Avg score 62/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Spanning 3 ZIP codes, Nicholas County lands near the national median for water safety — compliance results are mixed, and the county's middle-grade standing reflects genuine variability rather than a single systemic problem.

How Nicholas County Compares

Nicholas County62/100
Kentucky avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Nicholas County Compares

C
County Grade
62/100
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Nicholas County scores 1 points above the Kentucky state average (61/100) and 6 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
62
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 40311 (78/100)
Lowest ZIP: 41037 (53/100)
$126K
Median Home Value
$1,767
Avg Remediation (140% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,210, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.425% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk

78% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Infrastructure Overview

1963
Median Build Year
78%
Pre-1978 Housing
43%
Pipe Failure Probability
50%
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: $1,210

Flood $667/yr
Energy Code Gap $360/yr
Water / Lead $183/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

3,720 housing units in Nicholas County

Pre-1940 26%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 15%

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 Nicholas County

$126K
Median Home Value
$1,767
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Nicholas 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 with Most Violations

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

# Water System Population Violations
1 Carlisle Water Department 2,059 0
2 KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO 299,501 0
3 HARRISON CO WATER ASSOC 16,736 0
4 SHARPSBURG WATER DISTRICT 4,332 0
5 WESTERN FLEMING WATER DISTRICT 4,262 0

All ZIP Codes in Nicholas County

3 ZIP codes tracked in Nicholas County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 40311 Carlisle 78 B 0 $125K
2 40348 Millersburg 55 C 0 $127K
3 41037 Elizaville 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Nicholas County

While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.

Overview

Nicholas County in Kentucky covers 3 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (62/100).

No EPA violations recorded across any tracked ZIP codes in Nicholas County.

← Back to Kentucky water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Nicholas County?
Nicholas 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 Nicholas County?
Nicholas County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 3 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Nicholas County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Nicholas County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,210 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Nicholas County?
The median home build year in Nicholas County is 1963. 78% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Nicholas County compare to Kentucky?
Nicholas County has an average water safety score of 62/100, which is above the Kentucky state average of 61/100.

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