COUNTY REPORT MI

Chippewa County, Michigan

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 76/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Although county size varies, Chippewa County's 20 ZIP codes share reliably safe tap water records and above-average compliance scores.

How Chippewa County Compares

Chippewa County76/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Chippewa County Compares

B
County Grade
76/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

Chippewa County scores 2 points above the Michigan state average (74/100) and 8 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
76
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49784 (97/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49793 (66/100)
$163K
Median Home Value
$1,700
Avg Remediation (104% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Chippewa 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: 14.8 (asthma 12.1%, diabetes 13.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $525, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.325% avg pipe failure probability, 5% of ZIPs at high risk

57.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 12.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1981
Median Build Year
57.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
33%
Pipe Failure Probability
5%
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: $525

Energy Code Gap $225/yr
Water / Lead $95/yr
Underground Tanks $80/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

23,786 housing units in Chippewa County

Pre-1940 14%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 27%
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 Chippewa County

$163K
Median Home Value
$1,700
Est. Remediation Cost
1.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 12.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.4% (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 4 systems in Chippewa County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 KINROSS TOWNSHIP 5,300 4
2 RUDYARD TOWNSHIP 250 4
3 Superior Township 767 3
4 Mackinac Island 583 0

All ZIP Codes in Chippewa County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Chippewa County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49784 Kincheloe 97 A 1
2 49785 Kincheloe 97 A 1
3 49786 Kincheloe 97 A 1
4 49788 Kincheloe 97 A 1 $99K
5 49715 Brimley 87 A 3 $164K
6 49780 Rudyard 86 A 4 $139K
7 49719 Cedarville 73 B 0 $219K
8 49745 Hessel 73 B 0 $118K
9 49768 Paradise 73 B 0 $199K
10 49774 Pickford 73 B 0 $168K
11 49783 Sault Sainte Marie 73 B 0 $146K
12 49710 Barbeau 66 C 0 $185K
13 49724 Dafter 66 C 0 $163K
14 49725 De Tour Village 66 C 0 $217K
15 49726 Drummond Island 66 C 0 $251K
16 49728 Eckerman 66 C 0 $119K
17 49736 Goetzville 66 C 0 $142K
18 49752 Kinross 66 C 0 $127K
19 49760 Moran 66 C 0 $135K
20 49793 Trout Lake 66 C 0 $164K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Chippewa County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Chippewa County in Michigan covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (76/100).

6 of 20 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Chippewa County?
Chippewa County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 20 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Chippewa County?
Chippewa County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Chippewa County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Chippewa County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $525 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Chippewa County?
The median home build year in Chippewa County is 1981. 57.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Chippewa County compare to Michigan?
Chippewa County has an average water safety score of 76/100, which is above the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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