Benton County, Mississippi
4 ZIP codes · Avg score 87/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-03
Compared to state averages, Benton County scores well — its 4 ZIP codes sit above the baseline for tap water quality.
How Benton County Compares
How Benton County Compares
Benton County scores 6 points above the Mississippi state average (81/100) and 19 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 16.5 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 17.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $165, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.363% avg pipe failure probability, 25% of ZIPs at high risk
57.3% 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: $165
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
4,186 housing units in Benton 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 Benton County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shady Grove Water Association | 1,233 | 9 |
| 2 | Town of Ashland | 1,977 | 8 |
| 3 | City of Holly Springs | 9,779 | 8 |
| 4 | City of Ripley | 11,351 | 5 |
| 5 | Town of Falkner | 2,780 | 5 |
13 total water systems serve Benton County.
All ZIP Codes in Benton County
4 ZIP codes tracked in Benton County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38642 | Lamar | 95 | A | 3 (3 health) | $116K |
| 2 | 38603 | Ashland | 94 | A | 5 | $128K |
| 3 | 38633 | Hickory Flat | 94 | A | 4 | $109K |
| 4 | 38647 | Michigan City | 66 | C | 0 | $74K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Benton County
Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 57.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Overview
Benton County in Mississippi covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (87/100).
3 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Mississippi 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.