Essex County, New York
32 ZIP codes · Avg score 84/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04
Essex County's tap water quality puts it in the upper tier nationally; the 32 ZIP codes here record few health-based violations.
How Essex County Compares
How Essex County Compares
Essex County scores 23 points above the New York state average (61/100) and 16 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Essex 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: 13.8 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 11.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,198, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.454% avg pipe failure probability, 84% of ZIPs at high risk
70% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Essex County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 11 violations. Past 5 years: 15 total (15 health-based).
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: $1,198
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
28,323 housing units in Essex 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 Essex County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Essex 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 Essex 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 Essex County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MORIAH WD | 3,100 | 8 |
| 2 | Port Henry Water District | 1,831 | 8 |
| 3 | Chesterfield Water District | 2,300 | 6 |
| 4 | Port Kent Water District | 158 | 6 |
| 5 | Sun Valley Mobile Home Park | 50 | 6 |
39 total water systems serve Essex County.
All ZIP Codes in Essex County
32 ZIP codes tracked in Essex County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12851 | Minerva | 99 | A | 0 | $130K |
| 2 | 12879 | Newcomb | 99 | A | 0 | — |
| 3 | 12913 | Bloomingdale | 99 | A | 0 | $193K |
| 4 | 12977 | Ray Brook | 97 | A | 4 | — |
| 5 | 12883 | Ticonderoga | 95 | A | 0 | $162K |
| 6 | 12928 | Crown Point | 95 | A | 0 | $155K |
| 7 | 12936 | Essex | 95 | A | 0 | $222K |
| 8 | 12997 | Wilmington | 95 | A | 0 | $273K |
| 9 | 12950 | Lewis | 94 | A | 5 (1 health) | $146K |
| 10 | 12983 | Saranac Lake | 94 | A | 1 (1 health) | $208K |
| 11 | 12911 | Keeseville | 93 | A | 6 | — |
| 12 | 12960 | Moriah | 93 | A | 4 (2 health) | $140K |
| 13 | 12993 | Westport | 93 | A | 5 | $194K |
| 14 | 12852 | Newcomb | 90 | A | 0 | $221K |
| 15 | 12870 | Schroon Lake | 90 | A | 0 | $255K |
| 16 | 12941 | Jay | 90 | A | 4 | $200K |
| 17 | 12946 | Lake Placid | 90 | A | 0 | $444K |
| 18 | 12974 | Port Henry | 90 | A | 4 (2 health) | $155K |
| 19 | 12932 | Elizabethtown | 88 | A | 1 | $176K |
| 20 | 12942 | Keene | 88 | A | 1 | $427K |
| 21 | 12996 | Willsboro | 78 | B | 3 (3 health) | $235K |
| 22 | 12855 | North Hudson | 73 | B | 0 | $158K |
| 23 | 12964 | New Russia | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 24 | 12857 | Olmstedville | 66 | C | 0 | $188K |
| 25 | 12858 | Paradox | 66 | C | 0 | $346K |
| 26 | 12872 | Severance | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 27 | 12956 | Mineville | 66 | C | 0 | $117K |
| 28 | 12961 | Moriah Center | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 29 | 12989 | Vermontville | 66 | C | 0 | $197K |
| 30 | 12998 | Witherbee | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 31 | 12943 | Keene Valley | 65 | C | 0 | $222K |
| 32 | 12987 | Upper Jay | 60 | C | 0 | $224K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Essex County
Four sources — EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC — drive the match.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 70% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Essex County, New York
Overview
Essex County in New York covers 32 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (84/100).
11 of 32 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 9 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.