Clay County, Minnesota
13 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Covering 13 ZIP codes, Clay County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.
How Clay County Compares
How Clay County Compares
Clay County scores 1 points above the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 5 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Clay County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11.4 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 9.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,692, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.41% avg pipe failure probability, 45% of ZIPs at high risk
69.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Clay County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 1 violation. Past 5 years: 2 total (2 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $1,692
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
25,635 housing units in Clay 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 Clay County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comstock | 95 | 13 |
| 2 | Georgetown | 76 | 3 |
| 3 | Dilworth | 4,918 | 2 |
| 4 | Felton | 178 | 2 |
| 5 | Glyndon | 1,386 | 2 |
12 total water systems serve Clay County.
All ZIP Codes in Clay County
13 ZIP codes tracked in Clay County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56549 | Hawley | 70 | B | 0 | $318K |
| 2 | 56525 | Comstock | 69 | C | 13 (1 health) | $166K |
| 3 | 56585 | Ulen | 68 | C | 1 | $228K |
| 4 | 56552 | Hitterdal | 66 | C | 0 | $167K |
| 5 | 56562 | Moorhead | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 6 | 56563 | Moorhead | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 7 | 56561 | Moorhead | 65 | C | 0 | — |
| 8 | 56529 | Dilworth | 64 | C | 2 | $268K |
| 9 | 56580 | Sabin | 64 | C | 2 (1 health) | $268K |
| 10 | 56536 | Felton | 61 | C | 2 | $194K |
| 11 | 56546 | Georgetown | 59 | C | 3 | $230K |
| 12 | 56547 | Glyndon | 53 | D | 0 | $279K |
| 13 | 56560 | Moorhead | 50 | D | 0 | $249K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Clay County
Four sources — EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC — drive the match.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 69.9% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Clay County, Minnesota
Overview
Clay County in Minnesota covers 13 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).
6 of 13 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.
← 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.