Lake County, Minnesota
7 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Lake County shows moderate water quality across its 7 ZIP codes — some areas carry violations worth monitoring.
How Lake County Compares
How Lake County Compares
Lake County scores 1 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Lake County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.8 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 12.6%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,240, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.367% avg pipe failure probability, 43% of ZIPs at high risk
59.1% 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: $1,240
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
7,019 housing units in Lake 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 Lake County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lake 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 Lake County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 3 systems in Lake County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Bay | 1,826 | 7 |
| 2 | Beaver Bay | 130 | 4 |
| 3 | Two Harbors | 3,698 | 1 |
All ZIP Codes in Lake County
7 ZIP codes tracked in Lake County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55616 | Two Harbors | 81 | B | 1 | $237K |
| 2 | 55614 | Silver Bay | 69 | C | 3 | $173K |
| 3 | 55613 | Schroeder | 63 | C | 0 | $293K |
| 4 | 55603 | Finland | 53 | D | 0 | $196K |
| 5 | 55609 | Knife River | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 6 | 55615 | Tofte | 53 | D | 0 | $235K |
| 7 | 55601 | Beaver Bay | 52 | D | 4 | $233K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lake County
Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 59.1% of homes built before 1978
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lake County, Minnesota
Overview
Lake County in Minnesota covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).
3 of 7 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.