Steele County, Minnesota
4 ZIP codes · Avg score 59/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Steele County shows moderate water quality across its 4 ZIP codes — some areas carry violations worth monitoring.
How Steele County Compares
How Steele County Compares
Steele County scores 3 points below the Minnesota state average (62/100) and 9 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.8 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 10.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,165, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.425% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk
72.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Steele County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2025 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 6 total (6 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: $1,165
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
14,351 housing units in Steele 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 Steele County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Steele 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 Steele County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Steele County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blooming Prairie | 1,987 | 5 |
| 2 | Ellendale | 636 | 5 |
| 3 | Thompson Oaks | 51 | 5 |
| 4 | Hope Water Cooperative | 50 | 5 |
| 5 | Medford | 1,200 | 0 |
7 total water systems serve Steele County.
All ZIP Codes in Steele County
4 ZIP codes tracked in Steele County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55049 | Medford | 70 | B | 0 | $233K |
| 2 | 56026 | Ellendale | 65 | C | 5 (1 health) | $221K |
| 3 | 55060 | Owatonna | 60 | C | 0 | $239K |
| 4 | 56046 | Hope | 40 | D | 0 | $103K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Steele County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 72.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Steele County in Minnesota covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (59/100).
1 of 4 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.