Tioga County, New York
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 54/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-04
Covering 12 ZIP codes, Tioga County falls in the bottom tier for tap water safety — health-based violations are a recurring pattern, and the county's grade signals that residents should check system-level detail for their specific address.
How Tioga County Compares
How Tioga County Compares
Tioga County scores 7 points below the New York state average (61/100) and 14 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Tioga 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: 13.3 (asthma 11%, diabetes 11.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,283, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.483% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
69.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $2,283
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
36,006 housing units in Tioga 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 Tioga County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Tioga 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 Tioga 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 Tioga County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waverly Village | 4,830 | 8 |
| 2 | Barton (t) | 300 | 8 |
| 3 | Veolia of Nichols | 613 | 6 |
| 4 | St Regis Falls Water District | 980 | 6 |
| 5 | Holly Park Terrace | 300 | 6 |
31 total water systems serve Tioga County.
All ZIP Codes in Tioga County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Tioga County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13126 | Oswego | 63 | C | 4 | $135K |
| 2 | 13734 | Barton | 63 | C | 2 | $134K |
| 3 | 13743 | Candor | 61 | C | 2 | $159K |
| 4 | 13812 | Nichols | 60 | C | 1 | $136K |
| 5 | 13811 | Newark Valley | 57 | C | 5 (2 health) | $132K |
| 6 | 14883 | Spencer | 57 | C | 3 | $192K |
| 7 | 14892 | Waverly | 54 | D | 6 | $140K |
| 8 | 13736 | Berkshire | 53 | D | 0 | $138K |
| 9 | 13732 | Apalachin | 51 | D | 1 (1 health) | $182K |
| 10 | 13827 | Owego | 51 | D | 3 (1 health) | $143K |
| 11 | 13840 | Smithboro | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 12 | 13845 | Tioga Center | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Tioga County
Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 69.3% 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
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Tioga County, New York
Overview
Tioga County in New York covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (54/100).
9 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 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
Tioga 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
69.3% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.