Brown County, Minnesota
7 ZIP codes · Avg score 56/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Brown County's 7 ZIP codes, water safety results are uneven — a portion of systems carry active or recent violations, while others meet standards without issues.
How Brown County Compares
How Brown County Compares
Brown County scores 6 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 12 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Brown County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.2 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 11.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,029, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.477% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
86.2% 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: $1,029
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
4,808 housing units in Brown 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 Brown County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Rock Rural Water System | 5,840 | 0 |
| 2 | Comfrey | 402 | 0 |
| 3 | Sleepy Eye | 3,599 | 0 |
| 4 | Hanska | 393 | 0 |
| 5 | New Ulm | 14,052 | 0 |
6 total water systems serve Brown County.
All ZIP Codes in Brown County
7 ZIP codes tracked in Brown County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56041 | Hanska | 70 | B | 0 | $186K |
| 2 | 56085 | Sleepy Eye | 70 | B | 0 | $162K |
| 3 | 56019 | Comfrey | 66 | C | 0 | $145K |
| 4 | 56087 | Springfield | 65 | C | 0 | $140K |
| 5 | 56030 | Essig | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 6 | 56056 | La Salle | 40 | D | 0 | $72K |
| 7 | 56084 | Searles | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Brown County
Below: editorial picks, no sponsored placements.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 86.2% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Brown County, Minnesota
Overview
Brown County in Minnesota covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (56/100).
No EPA violations recorded across any tracked ZIP codes in Brown County.
← Back to Minnesota 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.