COUNTY REPORT MN

Cook County, Minnesota

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Across Cook County's 4 ZIP codes, water safety results are uneven — a portion of systems carry active or recent violations, while others meet standards without issues.

How Cook County Compares

Cook County59/100
Minnesota avg62/100
National avg68/100

How Cook County Compares

C
County Grade
59/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems

Cook County scores 3 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 9 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
59
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 55604 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 55612 (53/100)
$291K
Median Home Value
$1,000
Avg Remediation (34% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.7 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 12.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $768, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.323% avg pipe failure probability

46.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1991
Median Build Year
46.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
32%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
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: $768

Energy Code Gap $338/yr
Flood $200/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

5,319 housing units in Cook County

Pre-1940 9%
1940–1959 16%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 31%
2000+ 23%

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 Cook County

$291K
Median Home Value
$1,000
Est. Remediation Cost
0.3%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

All ZIP Codes in Cook County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Cook County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 55604 Grand Marais 66 C 3 $307K
2 55606 Hovland 63 C 0 $275K
3 55605 Grand Portage 53 D 0 $139K
4 55612 Lutsen 53 D 0 $423K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cook County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Cook County in Minnesota covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).

1 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Minnesota water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cook County?
Cook County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Cook County?
Cook County is served by 2 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cook County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cook County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $768 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cook County?
The median home build year in Cook County is 1991. 46.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cook County compare to Minnesota?
Cook County has an average water safety score of 59/100, which is below the Minnesota state average of 62/100.

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