Otsego County, Michigan
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Water monitoring across Otsego County's 6 ZIP codes paints a mid-range picture — solid compliance in some zones, documented concerns in others; most violations on record are concentrated in specific prior years rather than spread evenly across the full compliance history, and the overall county grade has held steady in the middle tier without major shifts in either direction.
How Otsego County Compares
How Otsego County Compares
Otsego County scores 8 points below the Michigan state average (74/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Otsego County, Michigan
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.7 (asthma 11.4%, diabetes 12.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $310, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.302% avg pipe failure probability
51% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $310
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
15,574 housing units in Otsego County
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 Otsego County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Otsego 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 Otsego County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Otsego County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GAYLORD, CITY OF | 3,629 | 4 |
| 2 | Glen Meadows Condominiums | 142 | 4 |
| 3 | Beaver Creek Resort | 76 | 4 |
| 4 | Lakeview Apartments | 64 | 4 |
| 5 | Fairway Lake Condominiums | 56 | 4 |
6 total water systems serve Otsego County.
All ZIP Codes in Otsego County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Otsego County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49734 | Gaylord | 81 | B | 2 | — |
| 2 | 49735 | Gaylord | 81 | B | 2 | $201K |
| 3 | 49795 | Vanderbilt | 72 | B | 0 | $163K |
| 4 | 49730 | Elmira | 53 | D | 0 | $185K |
| 5 | 49797 | Waters | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 6 | 49799 | Wolverine | 53 | D | 0 | $165K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Otsego 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 51% of homes built before 1978
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Otsego County, Michigan
Overview
Otsego County in Michigan covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
2 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Michigan water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.