COUNTY REPORT MI

Cass County, Michigan

7 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Recent monitoring in Cass County's 7 ZIP codes shows middle-tier safety — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.

How Cass County Compares

Cass County57/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Cass County Compares

C
County Grade
57/100
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
12
Water Systems

Cass County scores 17 points below the Michigan state average (74/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
57
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49112 (68/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49095 (40/100)
$218K
Median Home Value
$2,623
Avg Remediation (120% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cass 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 11.7%, diabetes 13.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $891, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.411% avg pipe failure probability, 43% of ZIPs at high risk

66.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2022–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2022
1 (1 health)
2023
2 (2 health)
2024
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 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 13.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1974
Median Build Year
66.4%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
43%
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: $891

Energy Code Gap $347/yr
Water / Lead $293/yr
Flood $171/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

21,801 housing units in Cass County

Pre-1940 20%
1940–1959 19%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 19%
2000+ 17%

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 Cass County

$218K
Median Home Value
$2,623
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.2% (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 Cass County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Cassopolis 1,815 25
2 Dowagiac 6,350 25
3 Cass County Water System 1,350 19
4 White Pines Mobile Home Park 90 19
5 Colony Bay Condominiums 75 6

12 total water systems serve Cass County.

All ZIP Codes in Cass County

7 ZIP codes tracked in Cass County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49112 Edwardsburg 68 C 5 $232K
2 49067 Marcellus 66 C 1 $187K
3 49061 Jones 65 C 1 (1 health) $201K
4 49047 Dowagiac 64 C 19 (1 health) $182K
5 49130 Union 53 D 0 $333K
6 49031 Cassopolis 44 D 6 (1 health) $218K
7 49095 Vandalia 40 D 0 $251K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cass County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Cass County in Michigan covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).

5 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cass County?
Cass 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 Cass County?
Cass County is served by 12 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 7 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cass County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cass County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $891 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cass County?
The median home build year in Cass County is 1974. 66.4% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cass County compare to Michigan?
Cass County has an average water safety score of 57/100, which is below the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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