COUNTY REPORT NH

Belknap County, New Hampshire

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04

Belknap County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 20 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.

How Belknap County Compares

Belknap County67/100
New Hampshire avg64/100
National avg68/100

How Belknap County Compares

C
County Grade
67/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
35
Water Systems

Belknap County scores 3 points above the New Hampshire state average (64/100) and 1 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

C
County Grade
67
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 3247 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 3256 (33/100)
$332K
Median Home Value
$1,609
Avg Remediation (48% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Belknap County, New Hampshire

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: 12.7 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 10.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,108, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.364% avg pipe failure probability, 25% of ZIPs at high risk

60.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

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

2021
3 (3 health)
2022
2 (2 health)
2023
6 (6 health)
2024
8 (8 health)
2025
5 (5 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 24 total (24 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 30.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1986
Median Build Year
60.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
36%
Pipe Failure Probability
25%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,108

Sea Level Rise $400/yr
Flood $300/yr
Energy Code Gap $270/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

41,001 housing units in Belknap County

Pre-1940 17%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 27%
2000+ 20%

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 Belknap County

$332K
Median Home Value
$1,609
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 30.3% (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 Belknap County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Country Meadows 90 39
2 New Hampton Village Pct 600 33
3 Mansfield Woods 66 33
4 Rodgers Dev 220 20
5 Laconia Water Works 21,000 16

35 total water systems serve Belknap County.

All ZIP Codes in Belknap County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Belknap County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 3247 Laconia 83 B 1
2 3246 Laconia 78 B 1 $308K
3 3253 Meredith 78 B 6 (3 health) $445K
4 3218 Barnstead 75 B 0 $305K
5 3226 Center Harbor 75 B 0 $388K
6 3252 Lochmere 75 B 1
7 3269 Sanbornton 75 B 1 $393K
8 3249 Gilford 73 B 14 (2 health) $389K
9 3298 Tilton 71 B 2
10 3299 Tilton 71 B 2
11 3289 Winnisquam 70 B 5
12 3276 Tilton 69 C 2 $246K
13 3225 Center Barnstead 63 C 0 $309K
14 3237 Gilmanton 63 C 0 $318K
15 3282 Wentworth 63 C 0 $274K
16 3810 Alton Bay 63 C 0 $573K
17 3809 Alton 55 C 11 (3 health) $332K
18 3220 Belmont 53 D 1 $265K
19 3837 Gilmanton Iron Works 53 D 0 $366K
20 3256 New Hampton 33 F 33 (23 health) $363K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Belknap County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Belknap County in New Hampshire covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100).

13 of 20 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 31 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to New Hampshire water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Belknap County?
Belknap 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 Belknap County?
Belknap County is served by 35 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Belknap County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Belknap County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,108 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Belknap County?
The median home build year in Belknap County is 1986. 60.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Belknap County compare to New Hampshire?
Belknap County has an average water safety score of 67/100, which is above the New Hampshire state average of 64/100.

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