Columbia County, New York
61 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike better-scoring counties, Columbia County records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its 61 ZIP codes — the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Columbia County Compares
How Columbia County Compares
Columbia County scores 8 points below the New York state average (61/100) and 15 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Columbia County, New York
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.8 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 13%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,969, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.477% avg pipe failure probability, 86% of ZIPs at high risk
76.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Columbia County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 23 total (23 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,969
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
537,965 housing units in Columbia County
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 Columbia County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Columbia 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 Columbia County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Columbia County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chatham Village | 2,156 | 87 |
| 2 | COMMUNITY @ BELLS POND | 150 | 75 |
| 3 | Maple Lane Associates | 147 | 75 |
| 4 | Stockport Water District #2 (consolidated) | 2,000 | 60 |
| 5 | PHILMONT VILLAGE | 1,750 | 55 |
45 total water systems serve Columbia County.
All ZIP Codes in Columbia County
61 ZIP codes tracked in Columbia County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12125 | New Lebanon | 70 | B | 1 | $248K |
| 2 | 12075 | Ghent | 69 | C | 20 (1 health) | $385K |
| 3 | 12037 | Chatham | 67 | C | 6 | $345K |
| 4 | 12029 | Canaan | 66 | C | 2 | $375K |
| 5 | 12502 | Ancram | 66 | C | 0 | $333K |
| 6 | 12503 | Ancramdale | 66 | C | 0 | $458K |
| 7 | 12526 | Germantown | 66 | C | 19 (1 health) | $375K |
| 8 | 12544 | Mellenville | 66 | C | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 9 | 12060 | East Chatham | 65 | C | 4 | $353K |
| 10 | 12541 | Livingston | 65 | C | 24 (2 health) | — |
| 11 | 12173 | Stuyvesant | 64 | C | 9 (1 health) | $220K |
| 12 | 12565 | Philmont | 64 | C | 4 | $216K |
| 13 | 12106 | Kinderhook | 61 | C | 17 (3 health) | $278K |
| 14 | 12513 | Claverack | 61 | C | 7 (1 health) | $406K |
| 15 | 12516 | Copake | 61 | C | 7 (1 health) | $227K |
| 16 | 12593 | Copake | 61 | C | 7 (1 health) | — |
| 17 | 12195 | West Lebanon | 60 | C | 1 | — |
| 18 | 12529 | Hillsdale | 59 | C | 15 (3 health) | $388K |
| 19 | 12534 | Hudson | 58 | C | 51 (4 health) | $261K |
| 20 | 12184 | Valatie | 56 | C | 10 (3 health) | $311K |
| 21 | 10451 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $264K |
| 22 | 10452 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $263K |
| 23 | 10453 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $580K |
| 24 | 10455 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $349K |
| 25 | 10456 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $429K |
| 26 | 10457 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $337K |
| 27 | 10458 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $516K |
| 28 | 10460 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $589K |
| 29 | 10467 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $426K |
| 30 | 10468 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | $259K |
| 31 | 10474 | Bronx | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 32 | 11109 | Long Island City | 53 | D | 0 | $526K |
| 33 | 11120 | Long Island City | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 34 | 12017 | Austerlitz | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 35 | 12062 | East Nassau | 53 | D | 0 | $235K |
| 36 | 12130 | Niverville | 53 | D | 0 | $219K |
| 37 | 12132 | North Chatham | 53 | D | 0 | $311K |
| 38 | 12165 | Spencertown | 53 | D | 0 | $384K |
| 39 | 12521 | Craryville | 53 | D | 0 | $328K |
| 40 | 12523 | Elizaville | 53 | D | 0 | $332K |
| 41 | 12530 | Hollowville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 42 | 10200 | New York | 48 | D | 4 | — |
| 43 | 10454 | Bronx | 45 | D | 0 | $781K |
| 44 | 10462 | Bronx | 45 | D | 0 | $372K |
| 45 | 10463 | Bronx | 45 | D | 0 | $352K |
| 46 | 10472 | Bronx | 45 | D | 0 | $633K |
| 47 | 11102 | Astoria | 45 | D | 0 | $780K |
| 48 | 11103 | Astoria | 45 | D | 0 | $1004K |
| 49 | 11106 | Astoria | 45 | D | 0 | $639K |
| 50 | 11377 | Woodside | 45 | D | 0 | $670K |
| 51 | 12172 | Stottville | 45 | D | 0 | — |
| 52 | 10459 | Bronx | 40 | D | 0 | $590K |
| 53 | 11939 | East Marion | 40 | D | 0 | $831K |
| 54 | 11957 | Orient | 40 | D | 0 | $924K |
| 55 | 12024 | Brainard | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 56 | 12050 | Columbiaville | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 57 | 12063 | East Schodack | 40 | D | 0 | $272K |
| 58 | 12115 | Malden Bridge | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 59 | 12174 | Stuyvesant Falls | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 60 | 12490 | West Camp | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 61 | 12517 | Copake Falls | 40 | D | 0 | $425K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Columbia County
Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 76.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Columbia County, New York
Overview
Columbia County in New York covers 61 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
19 of 61 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 22 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to New York water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.
What You Can Do
Columbia County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
76.1% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.