COUNTY REPORT MN

Pope County, Minnesota

7 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Pope County: 7 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.

How Pope County Compares

Pope County60/100
Minnesota avg62/100
National avg68/100

How Pope County Compares

C
County Grade
60/100
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
11
Water Systems

Pope County scores 2 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 8 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
60
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 56308 (69/100)
Lowest ZIP: 56385 (40/100)
$258K
Median Home Value
$2,114
Avg Remediation (82% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Pope 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: 13.9 (asthma 10%, diabetes 12.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,043, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.38% avg pipe failure probability, 29% of ZIPs at high risk

61.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 38.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1970
Median Build Year
61.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
38%
Pipe Failure Probability
29%
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: $1,043

Energy Code Gap $463/yr
Water / Lead $186/yr
Wildfire $171/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

20,858 housing units in Pope County

Pre-1940 13%
1940–1959 12%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 23%
2000+ 28%

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 Pope County

$258K
Median Home Value
$2,114
Est. Remediation Cost
0.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 38.4% (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 Pope County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Starbuck 1,440 8
2 Osakis 1,780 4
3 Lowry 333 4
4 Country Acres Trailer Court 100 4
5 Alexandria 15,000 3

11 total water systems serve Pope County.

All ZIP Codes in Pope County

7 ZIP codes tracked in Pope County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 56308 Alexandria 69 C 3 $308K
2 56334 Glenwood 68 C 1 $258K
3 56381 Starbuck 68 C 0 $226K
4 56349 Lowry 63 C 4 $259K
5 56323 Cyrus 62 C 0 $156K
6 56327 Farwell 53 D 0 $353K
7 56385 Villard 40 D 0 $217K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Pope County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

Pope County in Minnesota covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).

3 of 7 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 Pope County?
Pope 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 Pope County?
Pope County is served by 11 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 7 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Pope County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Pope County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,043 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Pope County?
The median home build year in Pope County is 1970. 61.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Pope County compare to Minnesota?
Pope County has an average water safety score of 60/100, which is below the Minnesota state average of 62/100.

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