COUNTY REPORT MI

Berrien County, Michigan

26 ZIP codes · Avg score 95/100 · Grade A · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Berrien County: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Within Berrien County, all 26 tracked ZIP codes show above-average drinking water safety - violations are infrequent and typically minor.

How Berrien County Compares

Berrien County95/100
Michigan avg85/100
National avg73/100

How Berrien County Compares

A
County Grade
95/100
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
27
Water Systems

Berrien County scores 10 points above the Michigan state average (85/100) and 22 points above the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

A
County Grade
95
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49101 (98/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49120 (88/100)
$225K
Median Home Value
$1,605
Avg Remediation (71% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Berrien 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: 14.7 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 13.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,633, driven primarily by flood

74.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
10 (10 health)
2024
9 (9 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 10 violations. Past 5 years: 19 total (19 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 11.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 38.8% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1966
Median Build Year
74.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
47/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
72%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,633

Flood $829/yr
Energy Code Gap $442/yr
Water / Lead $273/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

81,648 housing units in Berrien County

Pre-1940 16%
1940–1959 23%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 13%

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 Berrien County

$225K
Median Home Value
$1,605
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 38.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Berrien County

8 community water systems serving Berrien County.

Show all 8 water systems

27 total water systems serve Berrien County.

Systems with the most violations in Berrien County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Berrien County

26 ZIP codes tracked in Berrien County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49101 Baroda 98 A 4 $226K
2 49127 Stevensville 98 A 4 $287K
3 49038 Coloma 97 A 7 (2 health) $196K
4 49106 Bridgman 97 A 5 $243K
5 49125 Sawyer 97 A 5 $300K
6 49107 Buchanan 96 A 9 (2 health) $175K
7 49103 Berrien Springs 93 A 15 (2 health) $225K
8 49022 Benton Harbor 92 A 23 (11 health) $141K
9 49085 Saint Joseph 92 A 23 (11 health) $287K
10 49120 Niles 88 A 30 (1 health) $167K
11 49023 Benton Harbor
12 49039 Hagar Shores
13 49084 Riverside $170K
14 49098 Watervliet 25 $151K
15 49102 Berrien Center 7 (1 health) $250K
16 49104 Berrien Springs 7 (1 health)
17 49111 Eau Claire 14 $164K
18 49113 Galien $159K
19 49115 Harbert 2 $272K
20 49116 Lakeside 2
21 49117 New Buffalo 4 $448K
22 49119 New Troy $169K
23 49121 Niles
24 49126 Sodus $163K
25 49128 Three Oaks 3 $247K
26 49129 Union Pier 2 $587K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Berrien County

Four sources - EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC - drive the match.

Overview

Berrien County in Michigan covers 26 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of A (95/100) across 10 scored records.

19 of 19 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 17 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Michigan Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Berrien County?
Berrien County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 26 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Berrien County?
Berrien County is served by 27 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 26 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Berrien County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Berrien County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,633 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Berrien County?
The median home build year in Berrien County is 1966. 74.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Berrien County compare to Michigan?
Berrien County has an average Home Safety Score of 95/100 under model 4.0.0, which is above the Michigan state average of 85/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Berrien County, MI: HSS 95/100; PFAS Found in Water. https://zipcheckup.com/county/michigan/berrien/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-michigan-berrien,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Berrien County, MI: HSS 95/100; PFAS Found in Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/michigan/berrien/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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