St. Louis County, Minnesota
54 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-12
Although much of St. Louis County meets baseline standards, some of its 54 ZIP codes show violations that merit closer attention.
How St. Louis County Compares
How St. Louis County Compares
St. Louis County scores 5 points above the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 1 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-12
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: St. Louis County, Minnesota
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.9 (asthma 10.5%, diabetes 11.2%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,744, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.422% avg pipe failure probability, 67% of ZIPs at high risk
72.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across St. Louis County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 5 violations. Past 5 years: 11 total (11 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $1,744
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
106,198 housing units in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving St. Louis County
8 community water systems serving St. Louis County.
- B
- D
- B
- D
- D
- B
Show all 8 systems
- B
- B
26 total water systems serve St. Louis County.
Systems with the most violations in St. Louis County
5 systems with recorded EPA violations.
- D
- B
- D
- B
- B
All ZIP Codes in St. Louis County
54 ZIP codes tracked in St. Louis County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55708 | Biwabik | 83 | B | 0 | $108K |
| 2 | 55719 | Chisholm | 83 | B | 0 | $121K |
| 3 | 55771 | Orr | 83 | B | 0 | $168K |
| 4 | 55777 | Virginia | 83 | B | 0 | — |
| 5 | 55790 | Tower | 83 | B | 1 | $298K |
| 6 | 55792 | Virginia | 83 | B | 0 | $128K |
| 7 | 55796 | Winton | 83 | B | 0 | $95K |
| 8 | 55734 | Eveleth | 79 | B | 4 (1 health) | $144K |
| 9 | 55731 | Ely | 78 | B | 5 (2 health) | $203K |
| 10 | 55802 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $480K |
| 11 | 55804 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $287K |
| 12 | 55805 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $171K |
| 13 | 55806 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $157K |
| 14 | 55807 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $164K |
| 15 | 55811 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $299K |
| 16 | 55812 | Duluth | 76 | B | 0 | $302K |
| 17 | 55741 | Gilbert | 75 | B | 0 | $152K |
| 18 | 55765 | Meadowlands | 75 | B | 1 (1 health) | $186K |
| 19 | 55768 | Mountain Iron | 74 | B | 2 | $190K |
| 20 | 55801 | Duluth | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 21 | 55814 | Duluth | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 22 | 55815 | Duluth | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 23 | 55816 | Duluth | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 24 | 55705 | Aurora | 72 | B | 1 | $125K |
| 25 | 55750 | Hoyt Lakes | 72 | B | 0 | $91K |
| 26 | 55758 | Kinney | 72 | B | 0 | $109K |
| 27 | 55706 | Babbitt | 71 | B | 2 | $108K |
| 28 | 55803 | Duluth | 71 | B | 0 | $300K |
| 29 | 55808 | Duluth | 71 | B | 0 | $158K |
| 30 | 55810 | Duluth | 71 | B | 0 | $224K |
| 31 | 55713 | Buhl | 70 | B | 2 | $118K |
| 32 | 55723 | Cook | 70 | B | 0 | $177K |
| 33 | 55736 | Floodwood | 70 | B | 0 | $162K |
| 34 | 55724 | Cotton | 63 | C | 0 | $207K |
| 35 | 55733 | Esko | 63 | C | 0 | $301K |
| 36 | 55779 | Saginaw | 63 | C | 0 | $265K |
| 37 | 55602 | Brimson | 53 | D | 0 | $223K |
| 38 | 55607 | Isabella | 53 | D | 0 | $204K |
| 39 | 55702 | Alborn | 53 | D | 0 | $251K |
| 40 | 55703 | Angora | 53 | D | 0 | $173K |
| 41 | 55710 | Britt | 53 | D | 0 | $224K |
| 42 | 55717 | Canyon | 53 | D | 0 | $289K |
| 43 | 55725 | Crane Lake | 53 | D | 0 | $358K |
| 44 | 55732 | Embarrass | 53 | D | 0 | $174K |
| 45 | 55738 | Forbes | 53 | D | 0 | $145K |
| 46 | 55746 | Hibbing | 53 | D | 5 | $128K |
| 47 | 55763 | Makinen | 53 | D | 0 | $167K |
| 48 | 55766 | Melrude | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 49 | 55772 | Nett Lake | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 50 | 55781 | Side Lake | 53 | D | 0 | $366K |
| 51 | 55782 | Soudan | 53 | D | 0 | $99K |
| 52 | 55791 | Twig | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 53 | 55751 | Iron | 50 | D | 0 | $183K |
| 54 | 55747 | Hibbing | 45 | D | 5 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for St. Louis 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 Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 3 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 72.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for St. Louis County, Minnesota
Overview
St. Louis County in Minnesota covers 54 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100).
10 of 54 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations 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.