Carlton County, Minnesota
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Across all 12 ZIP codes in Carlton County, tap water consistently meets or exceeds federal safety standards.
How Carlton County Compares
How Carlton County Compares
Carlton County scores 8 points above the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Carlton County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.4 (asthma 10.5%, diabetes 11.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,393, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.352% avg pipe failure probability, 8% of ZIPs at high risk
56.9% 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: $1,393
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
15,228 housing units in Carlton 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 Carlton County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Carlton 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 Carlton 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 Carlton County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnum | 621 | 4 |
| 2 | Cloquet | 12,864 | 2 |
| 3 | Carlton | 1,146 | 2 |
| 4 | Scanlon | 1,003 | 2 |
| 5 | Moose Lake | 1,782 | 1 |
10 total water systems serve Carlton County.
All ZIP Codes in Carlton County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Carlton County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55718 | Carlton | 83 | B | 0 | $288K |
| 2 | 55757 | Kettle River | 83 | B | 0 | $212K |
| 3 | 55720 | Cloquet | 81 | B | 2 | $213K |
| 4 | 55767 | Moose Lake | 81 | B | 1 | $227K |
| 5 | 55726 | Cromwell | 80 | B | 0 | $219K |
| 6 | 55707 | Barnum | 72 | B | 4 | $230K |
| 7 | 55797 | Wrenshall | 72 | B | 0 | $241K |
| 8 | 55756 | Kerrick | 63 | C | 0 | $212K |
| 9 | 55798 | Wright | 63 | C | 0 | $216K |
| 10 | 55711 | Brookston | 53 | D | 0 | $192K |
| 11 | 55749 | Holyoke | 53 | D | 0 | $217K |
| 12 | 55780 | Sawyer | 53 | D | 0 | $184K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Carlton 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 — 56.9% of homes built before 1978
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carlton County, Minnesota
Overview
Carlton County in Minnesota covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).
3 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← 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.