Golden Valley County, Montana
2 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
While Golden Valley County avoids the worst tiers, a portion of its 2 ZIP codes have logged violations.
How Golden Valley County Compares
How Golden Valley County Compares
Golden Valley County scores 12 points above the Montana state average (55/100) and 1 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.8 (asthma 11.3%, diabetes 14.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $800, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.4% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk
66% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Golden Valley County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 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: $800
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
544 housing units in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
All ZIP Codes in Golden Valley County
2 ZIP codes tracked in Golden Valley County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 59074 | Ryegate | 81 | B | 7 (2 health) | $132K |
| 2 | 59046 | Lavina | 53 | D | 0 | $279K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Golden Valley 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 66% of homes built before 1978
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Overview
Golden Valley County in Montana covers 2 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100).
1 of 2 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Montana 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.