COUNTY REPORT MD

Cecil County, Maryland

26 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Across Cecil County's 26 ZIP codes, water safety results are uneven — a portion of systems carry active or recent violations, while others meet standards without issues.

How Cecil County Compares

Cecil County63/100
Maryland avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Cecil County Compares

C
County Grade
63/100
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
31
Water Systems

Cecil County scores 2 points above the Maryland state average (61/100) and 5 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
63
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 21902 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 21920 (53/100)
$352K
Median Home Value
$2,026
Avg Remediation (58% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cecil County, Maryland

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

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.9 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 13%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,203, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.364% avg pipe failure probability, 19% of ZIPs at high risk

59.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

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

2021
8 (8 health)
2023
7 (7 health)
2024
45 (45 health)
2025
38 (38 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 45 violations. Past 5 years: 98 total (98 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 38.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1982
Median Build Year
59.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
36%
Pipe Failure Probability
19%
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: $4,203

Sea Level Rise $2,800/yr
Flood $862/yr
Energy Code Gap $377/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

52,383 housing units in Cecil County

Pre-1940 10%
1940–1959 10%
1960–1979 22%
1980–1999 32%
2000+ 25%

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 Cecil County

$352K
Median Home Value
$2,026
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Cecil 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 Cecil County residents

Asthma 10.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 38.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

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

# Water System Population Violations
1 Town of North East 8,600 46
2 Mountain Hill Water Company 2,154 35
3 TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN 3,791 28
4 Town of Rising Sun 2,200 22
5 Pine Hills 953 20

31 total water systems serve Cecil County.

All ZIP Codes in Cecil County

26 ZIP codes tracked in Cecil County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 21902 Perry Point 83 B 0
2 21916 Childs 82 B 2 (1 health)
3 21919 Earleville 77 B 2 (1 health) $348K
4 21922 Elkton 76 B 7 (2 health)
5 21911 Rising Sun 74 B 2 (1 health) $314K
6 21915 Chesapeake City 70 B 0 $353K
7 21904 Port Deposit 66 C 9 $319K
8 21921 Elkton 66 C 7 (2 health) $296K
9 21084 Jarrettsville 63 C 0 $445K
10 21132 Pylesville 63 C 0 $512K
11 21635 Galena 63 C 0 $388K
12 21653 Newcomb 63 C 0 $531K
13 21872 Whaleyville 63 C 0 $386K
14 21930 Georgetown 63 C 0
15 21901 North East 59 C 13 (8 health) $343K
16 21903 Perryville 59 C 15 (5 health) $272K
17 21913 Cecilton 56 C 7 (2 health) $234K
18 21652 Neavitt 55 C 0 $516K
19 21662 Royal Oak 55 C 0 $708K
20 21673 Trappe 55 C 0 $351K
21 21914 Charlestown 55 C 0 $301K
22 21918 Conowingo 55 C 0 $294K
23 21160 Whiteford 53 D 0 $364K
24 21912 Warwick 53 D 0 $386K
25 21917 Colora 53 D 6 (2 health) $362K
26 21920 Elk Mills 53 D 0 $339K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cecil County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Cecil County in Maryland covers 26 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).

10 of 26 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 24 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Maryland water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cecil County?
Cecil 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 Cecil County?
Cecil County is served by 31 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 26 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cecil County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cecil County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $4,203 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cecil County?
The median home build year in Cecil County is 1982. 59.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cecil County compare to Maryland?
Cecil County has an average water safety score of 63/100, which is above the Maryland state average of 61/100.

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