COUNTY REPORT MS

Kemper County, Mississippi

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 87/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-04

Water utilities serving Kemper County's 4 ZIP codes have built a consistent compliance record — the county's above-average grade reflects years of data showing low violation rates and no systemic health concerns.

How Kemper County Compares

Kemper County87/100
Mississippi avg81/100
National avg68/100

How Kemper County Compares

A
County Grade
87/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
15
Water Systems

Kemper 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: 2026-06-04

A
County Grade
87
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 39352 (98/100)
Lowest ZIP: 39328 (66/100)
$85K
Median Home Value
$300
Avg Remediation (35% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.5 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 18.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $330, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.37% avg pipe failure probability, 25% of ZIPs at high risk

66.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Kemper County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2024
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 3 total (3 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 18.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 43.7% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1981
Median Build Year
66.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
37%
Pipe Failure Probability
25%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
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: $330

Energy Code Gap $180/yr
Water / Lead $150/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

3,768 housing units in Kemper County

Pre-1940 9%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 40%
1980–1999 28%
2000+ 13%

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 Kemper County

$85K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation Cost
0.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 18.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 43.7% (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 Kemper County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 City of Poplarville 3,334 6
2 South Central Water Assn 12,260 5
3 NORTH WEST KEMPER W/A #4 1,671 5
4 City of Louisville 7,545 5
5 Town of Noxapater 1,713 5

15 total water systems serve Kemper County.

All ZIP Codes in Kemper County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Kemper County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 39352 Porterville 98 A 4 (1 health) $85K
2 39358 Scooba 95 A 2
3 39354 Preston 89 A 5 $88K
4 39328 De Kalb 66 C 0 $79K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Kemper County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Kemper 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. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to Mississippi water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Kemper County?
Kemper County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 4 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Kemper County?
Kemper County is served by 15 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Kemper County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Kemper County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $330 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Kemper County?
The median home build year in Kemper County is 1981. 66.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Kemper County compare to Mississippi?
Kemper County has an average water safety score of 87/100, which is above the Mississippi state average of 81/100.

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