COUNTY REPORT KY

Rowan County, Kentucky

3 ZIP codes · Avg score 58/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

While Rowan County avoids the worst tiers, a portion of its 3 ZIP codes have logged violations.

How Rowan County Compares

Rowan County58/100
Kentucky avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Rowan County Compares

C
County Grade
58/100
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems

Rowan County scores 3 points below the Kentucky state average (61/100) and 10 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
58
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 40351 (67/100)
Lowest ZIP: 40317 (53/100)
$140K
Median Home Value
$1,300
Avg Remediation (93% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,313, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.295% avg pipe failure probability

42.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
1 (1 health)
2023
6 (6 health)
2025
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 6 violations. Past 5 years: 8 total (8 health-based).

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

Infrastructure Overview

1990
Median Build Year
42.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
30%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Moderate
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: $1,313

Flood $1,133/yr
Energy Code Gap $180/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

10,809 housing units in Rowan County

Pre-1940 2%
1940–1959 6%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 41%
2000+ 28%

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 Rowan County

$140K
Median Home Value
$1,300
Est. Remediation Cost
0.9%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Rowan 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 Rowan County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 ROWAN WATER INC 18,765 1
2 Morehead Utility Plant Board 9,052 1
3 Morehead State University 6,500 1
4 RATTLESNAKE RIDGE WATER DISTRICT 11,397 1
5 BATH COUNTY WATER DISTRICT 10,083 1

6 total water systems serve Rowan County.

All ZIP Codes in Rowan County

3 ZIP codes tracked in Rowan County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 40351 Morehead 67 C 1 (1 health) $163K
2 40313 Clearfield 55 C 0 $116K
3 40317 Elliottville 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Rowan County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Rowan County in Kentucky covers 3 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (58/100).

1 of 3 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 Rowan County?
Rowan 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 Rowan County?
Rowan County is served by 6 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 3 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Rowan County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Rowan County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,313 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Rowan County?
The median home build year in Rowan County is 1990. 42.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Rowan County compare to Kentucky?
Rowan County has an average water safety score of 58/100, which is below the Kentucky state average of 61/100.

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