COUNTY REPORT MI

Baraga County, Michigan

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

Compared to top-scoring counties, Baraga County's 8 ZIP codes land in the middle tier — some meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and the gap between the best and worst areas is wider than average.

How Baraga County Compares

Baraga County58/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Baraga County Compares

C
County Grade
58/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems

Baraga County scores 16 points below the Michigan state average (74/100) and 10 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
58
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49908 (81/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49970 (53/100)
$116K
Median Home Value
$588
Avg Remediation (51% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Baraga County, Michigan

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: 15 (asthma 11.7%, diabetes 13.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $810, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.399% avg pipe failure probability, 38% of ZIPs at high risk

70.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2022–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2022
7 (7 health)
2023
7 (7 health)
2025
7 (7 health)

Peak year: 2022 with 7 violations. Past 5 years: 21 total (21 health-based).

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 38.7% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1970
Median Build Year
70.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
38%
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: $810

Energy Code Gap $371/yr
Water / Lead $244/yr
Underground Tanks $120/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

5,587 housing units in Baraga County

Pre-1940 22%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 26%
1980–1999 23%
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 Baraga County

$116K
Median Home Value
$588
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 38.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

All ZIP Codes in Baraga County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Baraga County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49908 Baraga 81 B 3 (2 health) $116K
2 49946 Lanse 63 C 0 $120K
3 49919 Covington 53 D 0 $116K
4 49921 Dodgeville 53 D 0
5 49952 Nisula 53 D 0 $107K
6 49958 Pelkie 53 D 0 $157K
7 49962 Skanee 53 D 0 $190K
8 49970 Watton 53 D 0 $116K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Baraga County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Baraga County in Michigan covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (58/100).

1 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Baraga County?
Baraga 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 Baraga County?
Baraga County is served by 2 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Baraga County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Baraga County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $810 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Baraga County?
The median home build year in Baraga County is 1970. 70.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Baraga County compare to Michigan?
Baraga County has an average water safety score of 58/100, which is below the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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