COUNTY REPORT MA

Franklin County, Massachusetts

30 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Tracking 30 ZIP codes in Franklin County shows a water safety record well above the national median — violations are isolated exceptions, not recurring patterns.

How Franklin County Compares

Franklin County70/100
Massachusetts avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Franklin County Compares

B
County Grade
70/100
Avg Safety Score
30
ZIP Codes
24
Water Systems

Franklin County scores 4 points above the Massachusetts state average (66/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
70
Avg Safety Score
30
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 1093 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 1380 (53/100)
$308K
Median Home Value
$1,383
Avg Remediation (45% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Franklin County, Massachusetts

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: 12.7 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 10.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,896, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.454% avg pipe failure probability, 87% of ZIPs at high risk

77% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 26.5% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1965
Median Build Year
77%
Pre-1978 Housing
45%
Pipe Failure Probability
87%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
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: $1,896

Sea Level Rise $833/yr
Energy Code Gap $531/yr
Water / Lead $318/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

33,962 housing units in Franklin County

Pre-1940 37%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 21%
1980–1999 19%
2000+ 9%

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 Franklin County

$308K
Median Home Value
$1,383
Est. Remediation Cost
0.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 26.5% (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 Franklin County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Shelburne Falls Fire District 1,806 5
2 Ashfield Water District 400 3
3 SUNDERLAND WATER DISTRICT 3,190 2
4 Whately Water Department 900 2
5 Woodland Mhp Llc 36 2

24 total water systems serve Franklin County.

All ZIP Codes in Franklin County

30 ZIP codes tracked in Franklin County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 1093 Whately 83 B 1 $426K
2 1337 Bernardston 83 B 0 $312K
3 1340 Colrain 83 B 0 $268K
4 1342 Deerfield 83 B 0 $363K
5 1344 Erving 83 B 0 $242K
6 1351 Montague 83 B 0 $308K
7 1354 Gill 83 B 0 $324K
8 1360 Northfield 83 B 1 $337K
9 1364 Orange 83 B 0 $226K
10 1370 Shelburne Falls 83 B 0 $334K
11 1373 South Deerfield 83 B 1 $388K
12 1375 Sunderland 83 B 0 $391K
13 1376 Turners Falls 83 B 0 $238K
14 1339 Charlemont 81 B 2 $308K
15 1302 Greenfield 80 B 0
16 1330 Ashfield 80 B 3 $368K
17 1301 Greenfield 75 B 0 $254K
18 1054 Leverett 63 C 0 $445K
19 1338 Buckland 63 C 0 $254K
20 1341 Conway 63 C 0 $377K
21 1072 Shutesbury 53 D 0 $321K
22 1343 Drury 53 D 0 $265K
23 1346 Heath 53 D 0 $285K
24 1347 Lake Pleasant 53 D 0 $166K
25 1349 Millers Falls 53 D 0 $274K
26 1355 New Salem 53 D 0 $357K
27 1367 Rowe 53 D 0 $271K
28 1378 Warwick 53 D 0 $301K
29 1379 Wendell 53 D 0 $271K
30 1380 Wendell Depot 53 D 0 $129K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Franklin 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

Franklin County in Massachusetts covers 30 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).

5 of 30 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Massachusetts water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Franklin County?
Franklin County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 30 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Franklin County?
Franklin County is served by 24 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 30 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Franklin County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Franklin County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,896 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Franklin County?
The median home build year in Franklin County is 1965. 77% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Franklin County compare to Massachusetts?
Franklin County has an average water safety score of 70/100, which is above the Massachusetts state average of 66/100.

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