COUNTY REPORT NJ

Salem County, New Jersey

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Tracking 12 ZIP codes in Salem County reveals a mixed picture — tap water quality varies meaningfully by location.

How Salem County Compares

Salem County65/100
New Jersey avg58/100
National avg68/100

How Salem County Compares

C
County Grade
65/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Salem County scores 7 points above the New Jersey state average (58/100) and 3 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
65
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 8038 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 8079 (50/100)
$233K
Median Home Value
$1,883
Avg Remediation (81% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Salem County, New Jersey

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: 13.2 (asthma 10%, diabetes 11.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,730, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.487% avg pipe failure probability, 91% of ZIPs at high risk

75.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2023
2 (2 health)
2024
6 (6 health)
2025
6 (6 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 6 violations. Past 5 years: 14 total (14 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% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 34.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1965
Median Build Year
75.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
49%
Pipe Failure Probability
91%
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: $4,730

Sea Level Rise $2,500/yr
Flood $917/yr
Energy Code Gap $503/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

33,764 housing units in Salem County

Pre-1940 19%
1940–1959 20%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 19%

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 Salem County

$233K
Median Home Value
$1,883
Est. Remediation Cost
0.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 34.3% (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 Salem County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 BIG OAK REHAB 259 19
2 Elmer Boro W Department 1,385 19
3 WOODSTOWN WATER DEPARTMENT 4,455 7
4 Bancroft Neuro Health Center 142 7
5 Auburn Village Water Sup 200 5

9 total water systems serve Salem County.

All ZIP Codes in Salem County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Salem County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 8038 Hancocks Bridge 83 B 0 $176K
2 8067 Pedricktown 76 B 5 $313K
3 8318 Elmer 69 C 19 (6 health) $271K
4 8069 Penns Grove 68 C 1 $184K
5 8070 Pennsville 66 C 4 $194K
6 8098 Woodstown 66 C 7 $298K
7 8001 Alloway 63 C 0 $282K
8 8023 Deepwater 63 C 0 $176K
9 8072 Quinton 63 C 0
10 8085 Swedesboro 55 C 0 $351K
11 8313 Deerfield Street 53 D 0
12 8079 Salem 50 D 0 $180K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Salem County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Salem County in New Jersey covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).

5 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 6 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to New Jersey water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Salem County?
Salem 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 Salem County?
Salem County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Salem County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Salem County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $4,730 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Salem County?
The median home build year in Salem County is 1965. 75.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Salem County compare to New Jersey?
Salem County has an average water safety score of 65/100, which is above the New Jersey state average of 58/100.

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