Cottonwood County, Minnesota
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
In recent monitoring cycles, Cottonwood County's 6 ZIP codes show a split record — several have documented water safety violations.
How Cottonwood County Compares
How Cottonwood County Compares
Cottonwood County scores 4 points above the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.3 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 13.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,362, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.447% avg pipe failure probability, 83% of ZIPs at high risk
84.7% 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: $1,362
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
5,107 housing units in Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windom | 4,646 | 1 |
| 2 | Red Rock Rural Water System | 5,840 | 1 |
| 3 | Delft | 58 | 1 |
| 4 | Bingham Lake | 128 | 0 |
| 5 | Jeffers | 369 | 0 |
9 total water systems serve Cottonwood County.
All ZIP Codes in Cottonwood County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Cottonwood County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56118 | Bingham Lake | 66 | C | 0 | $252K |
| 2 | 56145 | Jeffers | 66 | C | 0 | $95K |
| 3 | 56159 | Mountain Lake | 66 | C | 0 | $135K |
| 4 | 56174 | Storden | 66 | C | 0 | $99K |
| 5 | 56183 | Westbrook | 66 | C | 0 | $124K |
| 6 | 56101 | Windom | 65 | C | 1 | $172K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Cottonwood County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 84.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Overview
Cottonwood County in Minnesota covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
1 of 6 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.