COUNTY REPORT NE

Cherry County, Nebraska

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 91/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Cherry County's 8 tracked ZIP codes, safety indicators remain above the national average with few health-based violations on record.

How Cherry County Compares

Cherry County91/100
Nebraska avg65/100
National avg68/100

How Cherry County Compares

A
County Grade
91/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems

Cherry County scores 26 points above the Nebraska state average (65/100) and 23 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

A
County Grade
91
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 69201 (99/100)
Lowest ZIP: 69220 (66/100)
$132K
Median Home Value
$300
Avg Remediation (23% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cherry County, Nebraska

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: 14.3 (asthma 9.5%, diabetes 13.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,046, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.437% avg pipe failure probability, 63% of ZIPs at high risk

80.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.8% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1963
Median Build Year
80.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
44%
Pipe Failure Probability
63%
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: $1,046

Energy Code Gap $540/yr
Wildfire $263/yr
Water / Lead $244/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

2,848 housing units in Cherry County

Pre-1940 22%
1940–1959 17%
1960–1979 30%
1980–1999 16%
2000+ 16%

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 Cherry County

$132K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation Cost
0.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.8% (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 Cherry County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Wood Lake, Village of 70 4
2 Merriman, Village of 87 2
3 City of Valentine, 2,737 1
4 Cody, Village of 149 0
5 Crookston, Village of 69 0

6 total water systems serve Cherry County.

All ZIP Codes in Cherry County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Cherry County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 69201 Valentine 99 A 1 $141K
2 69211 Cody 99 A 0 $123K
3 69212 Crookston 99 A 0
4 69216 Kilgore 99 A 0
5 69218 Merriman 98 A 2 (1 health) $108K
6 69221 Wood Lake 98 A 4 (1 health)
7 69219 Nenzel 66 C 0
8 69220 Sparks 66 C 0 $244K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cherry County

Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.

Overview

Cherry County in Nebraska covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (91/100).

3 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Nebraska water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cherry County?
Cherry County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 8 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Cherry County?
Cherry County is served by 6 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cherry County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cherry County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,046 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cherry County?
The median home build year in Cherry County is 1963. 80.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cherry County compare to Nebraska?
Cherry County has an average water safety score of 91/100, which is above the Nebraska state average of 65/100.

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