Pennington County, Minnesota
3 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Pennington County ranks below average for water safety, with health-based violations recorded across multiple of its 3 ZIP codes.
How Pennington County Compares
How Pennington County Compares
Pennington County scores 9 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 15 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.4 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 11.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,603, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.403% avg pipe failure probability, 33% of ZIPs at high risk
68.3% 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: $1,603
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,845 housing units in Pennington 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 Pennington County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thief River Falls | 8,701 | 5 |
| 2 | Aaseby Court | 50 | 5 |
| 3 | Goodridge | 100 | 1 |
All ZIP Codes in Pennington County
3 ZIP codes tracked in Pennington County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56725 | Goodridge | 62 | C | 1 | $199K |
| 2 | 56701 | Thief River Falls | 56 | C | 5 (1 health) | $190K |
| 3 | 56754 | Saint Hilaire | 40 | D | 0 | $197K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Pennington 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 — 68.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Pennington County in Minnesota covers 3 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
2 of 3 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation 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.
What You Can Do
Pennington County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
68.3% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.