COUNTY REPORT MT

Lake County, Montana

11 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Lake County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Although much of Lake County meets baseline standards, some of its 11 ZIP codes show violations that merit closer attention.

How Lake County Compares

Lake County63/100
Montana avg65/100
National avg73/100

How Lake County Compares

C
County Grade
63/100
Avg Safety Score
11
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Lake County scores 2 points below the Montana state average (65/100) and 10 points below the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

C
County Grade
63
Avg Safety Score
11
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 59860 (63/100)
Lowest ZIP: 59860 (63/100)
$380K
Median Home Value
$1,391
Avg Remediation (37% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Lake County, Montana

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14 (asthma 12%, diabetes 12.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $917, driven primarily by wildfire

55.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 12% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 33% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1986
Median Build Year
55.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
40/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
36%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $917

Wildfire $300/yr
Energy Code Gap $278/yr
Flood $200/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

11,657 housing units in Lake County

Pre-1940 8%
1940–1959 9%
1960–1979 26%
1980–1999 31%
2000+ 24%

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 Lake County

$380K
Median Home Value
$1,391
Est. Remediation Cost
0.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 12% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 33% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Lake County

5 community water systems serving Lake County.

Systems with the most violations in Lake County

4 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Lake County

11 ZIP codes tracked in Lake County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 59860 Polson 63 C 9 (2 health) $386K
2 59821 Arlee $380K
3 59824 Charlo 3 $325K
4 59855 Pablo $127K
5 59863 Ravalli
6 59865 Saint Ignatius $310K
7 59910 Big Arm $606K
8 59914 Dayton $938K
9 59915 Elmo
10 59929 Proctor $253K
11 59931 Rollins $1016K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Lake County

Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.

Overview

Lake County in Montana covers 11 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100) across 1 scored records.

2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Montana Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Lake County?
Lake County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Lake County?
Lake County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 11 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Lake County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Lake County is wildfire. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $917 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Lake County?
The median home build year in Lake County is 1986. 55.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Lake County compare to Montana?
Lake County has an average Home Safety Score of 63/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Montana state average of 65/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Lake County, MT: HSS 63/100; 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/montana/lake/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-montana-lake,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Lake County, MT: HSS 63/100; 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/montana/lake/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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