COUNTY REPORT MN

Koochiching County, Minnesota

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Koochiching County, 12 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality — national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.

How Koochiching County Compares

Koochiching County63/100
Minnesota avg62/100
National avg68/100

How Koochiching County Compares

C
County Grade
63/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Koochiching 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

C
County Grade
63
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 56627 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 56688 (53/100)
$162K
Median Home Value
$900
Avg Remediation (55% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Koochiching County, Minnesota

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.5 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 13.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $660, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.345% avg pipe failure probability, 9% of ZIPs at high risk

57.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.8% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1978
Median Build Year
57.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
35%
Pipe Failure Probability
9%
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: $660

Energy Code Gap $368/yr
Water / Lead $113/yr
Flood $100/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

7,334 housing units in Koochiching County

Pre-1940 13%
1940–1959 19%
1960–1979 32%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 14%

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 Koochiching County

$162K
Median Home Value
$900
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.8% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Koochiching County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Littlefork 542 3
2 Big Falls 192 0
3 International Falls 5,637 0
4 Ranier 565 0
5 Northome 156 0

All ZIP Codes in Koochiching County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Koochiching County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 56627 Big Falls 83 B 0 $63K
2 56653 Littlefork 80 B 3 $146K
3 56649 International Falls 78 B 0 $144K
4 56668 Ranier 72 B 0 $181K
5 56669 Kabetogama 63 C 0 $238K
6 56681 Squaw Lake 63 C 0 $177K
7 56654 Loman 53 D 0 $138K
8 56658 Margie 53 D 0
9 56659 Max 53 D 0 $342K
10 56660 Mizpah 53 D 0 $153K
11 56679 South International Falls 53 D 0
12 56688 Wirt 53 D 0 $172K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Koochiching County

Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.

Overview

Koochiching County in Minnesota covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100).

1 of 12 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 Koochiching County?
Koochiching 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 Koochiching County?
Koochiching County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Koochiching County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Koochiching County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $660 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Koochiching County?
The median home build year in Koochiching County is 1978. 57.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Koochiching County compare to Minnesota?
Koochiching County has an average water safety score of 63/100, which is above the Minnesota state average of 62/100.

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