COUNTY REPORT NH

Cheshire County, New Hampshire

28 ZIP codes · Avg score 64/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04

Cheshire County: 28 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.

How Cheshire County Compares

Cheshire County64/100
New Hampshire avg64/100
National avg68/100

How Cheshire County Compares

C
County Grade
64/100
Avg Safety Score
28
ZIP Codes
34
Water Systems

Cheshire County scores 0 points above the New Hampshire state average (64/100) and 4 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
64
Avg Safety Score
28
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 3435 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 3607 (53/100)
$253K
Median Home Value
$1,621
Avg Remediation (64% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cheshire 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: 12.3 (asthma 10.5%, diabetes 9.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,305, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.401% avg pipe failure probability, 58% of ZIPs at high risk

68.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2022)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 3 total (3 health-based).

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 9.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 30.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1976
Median Build Year
68.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
58%
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: $1,305

Sea Level Rise $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $395/yr
Flood $264/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

35,535 housing units in Cheshire County

Pre-1940 29%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 23%
2000+ 14%

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 Cheshire County

$253K
Median Home Value
$1,621
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 9.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 30.4% (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 Cheshire County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Walpole Water Department 1,057 7
2 N Walpole Village District/low 625 7
3 Windy Acres 180 7
4 N Walpole Village District/high 125 7
5 Connecticut River Mhp 50 7

34 total water systems serve Cheshire County.

All ZIP Codes in Cheshire County

28 ZIP codes tracked in Cheshire County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 3435 Keene 83 B 1
2 3451 Hinsdale 75 B 0 $182K
3 3455 Marlborough 75 B 0 $252K
4 3469 West Swanzey 75 B 0
5 3602 Alstead 75 B 0 $250K
6 3431 Keene 73 B 1 $234K
7 3446 Swanzey 72 B 0 $251K
8 3465 Troy 72 B 0 $234K
9 3452 Jaffrey 71 B 3 $245K
10 3470 Winchester 69 C 5 (1 health) $250K
11 3608 Walpole 69 C 7 $301K
12 3441 Ashuelot 63 C 0 $304K
13 3443 Chesterfield 63 C 0 $299K
14 3448 Gilsum 63 C 0 $217K
15 3456 Marlow 63 C 0 $283K
16 3462 Spofford 63 C 0 $314K
17 3466 West Chesterfield 63 C 0 $316K
18 3447 Fitzwilliam 58 C 0 $274K
19 3461 Rindge 58 C 0 $344K
20 3467 Westmoreland 58 C 1 $323K
21 3084 Temple 53 D 0 $362K
22 3445 Sullivan 53 D 0 $211K
23 3450 Harrisville 53 D 0 $360K
24 3457 Nelson 53 D 0 $351K
25 3601 Acworth 53 D 0 $253K
26 3604 Drewsville 53 D 0
27 3605 Lempster 53 D 0 $215K
28 3607 South Acworth 53 D 0 $231K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cheshire County

Below: editorial picks, no sponsored placements.

Overview

Cheshire County in New Hampshire covers 28 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (64/100).

6 of 28 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to New Hampshire water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Cheshire County?
Cheshire 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 Cheshire County?
Cheshire County is served by 34 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 28 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cheshire County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cheshire County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,305 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cheshire County?
The median home build year in Cheshire County is 1976. 68.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cheshire County compare to New Hampshire?
Cheshire County has an average water safety score of 64/100, which is above the New Hampshire state average of 64/100.

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