COUNTY REPORT NE

Merrick County, Nebraska

7 ZIP codes · Avg score 76/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-07-19

ZipCheckup grade for Merrick: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Across all 7 ZIP codes in Merrick County, tap water consistently meets or exceeds federal safety standards.

How Merrick County Compares

Merrick County76/100
Nebraska avg65/100
National avg68/100

How Merrick County Compares

B
County Grade
76/100
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Merrick County scores 11 points above the Nebraska state average (65/100) and 8 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-07-19

B
County Grade
76
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 68663 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 68872 (63/100)
$187K
Median Home Value
$1,514
Avg Remediation (81% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Merrick 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: 13.6 (asthma 9.2%, diabetes 11.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,459, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.507% avg pipe failure probability, 71% of ZIPs at high risk

75.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1961
Median Build Year
75.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
51%
Pipe Failure Probability
71%
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: $1,459

Flood $520/yr
Energy Code Gap $501/yr
Water / Lead $293/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

14,399 housing units in Merrick County

Pre-1940 13%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 31%
1980–1999 20%
2000+ 22%

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 Merrick County

$187K
Median Home Value
$1,514
Est. Remediation Cost
0.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 9.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Merrick County

5 community water systems serving Merrick County.

All ZIP Codes in Merrick County

7 ZIP codes tracked in Merrick County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 68663 Silver Creek 83 B 0 $200K
2 68826 Central City 83 B 0 $170K
3 68827 Chapman 83 B 0
4 68864 Palmer 83 B 0 $135K
5 68803 Grand Island 73 B 0 $224K
6 68816 Archer 63 C 0 $173K
7 68872 Saint Libory 63 C 0 $221K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Merrick County

Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.

Overview

Merrick County in Nebraska covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (76/100).

No EPA violations are recorded for the tracked water systems in Merrick County as of the latest reporting period.

← Back to Nebraska water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Merrick County?
Merrick County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 7 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Merrick County?
Merrick County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 7 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Merrick County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Merrick County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,459 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Merrick County?
The median home build year in Merrick County is 1961. 75.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Merrick County compare to Nebraska?
Merrick County has an average water safety score of 76/100, which is above the Nebraska state average of 65/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Merrick County, NE Water Safety: 76/100 (2026). https://zipcheckup.com/county/nebraska/merrick/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-nebraska-merrick,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Merrick County, NE Water Safety: 76/100 (2026)}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/nebraska/merrick/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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