Ulster County, New York
55 ZIP codes · Avg score 52/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
State safety rankings put Ulster County near the bottom — 55 ZIP codes, below-average compliance.
How Ulster County Compares
How Ulster County Compares
Ulster County scores 9 points below the New York state average (61/100) and 16 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Ulster 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: 12.5 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 11%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,385, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.473% avg pipe failure probability, 80% of ZIPs at high risk
75.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Ulster County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 12 violations. Past 5 years: 33 total (33 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
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: $2,385
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
80,466 housing units in Ulster 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 Ulster County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Ulster 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 Ulster 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 Ulster County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Ridge Community | 325 | 91 |
| 2 | Tillson Estates Commission Assoc. | 382 | 90 |
| 3 | Hudson Valley Water Company #2 | 225 | 90 |
| 4 | Rosendale Plains Homeowners | 140 | 85 |
| 5 | Rosendale Water District | 2,200 | 79 |
81 total water systems serve Ulster County.
All ZIP Codes in Ulster County
55 ZIP codes tracked in Ulster County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12466 | Port Ewen | 70 | B | 0 | $273K |
| 2 | 12471 | Rifton | 70 | B | 0 | $226K |
| 3 | 12487 | Ulster Park | 70 | B | 0 | $273K |
| 4 | 12435 | Greenfield Park | 66 | C | 1 | $263K |
| 5 | 12486 | Tillson | 66 | C | 42 (1 health) | $299K |
| 6 | 12548 | Modena | 66 | C | 0 | $328K |
| 7 | 12449 | Lake Katrine | 64 | C | 2 (1 health) | $227K |
| 8 | 12458 | Napanoch | 62 | C | 0 | $206K |
| 9 | 12489 | Wawarsing | 62 | C | 13 | $245K |
| 10 | 12725 | Claryville | 62 | C | 6 | $320K |
| 11 | 12419 | Cottekill | 61 | C | 6 (1 health) | $304K |
| 12 | 12429 | Esopus | 61 | C | 28 (1 health) | — |
| 13 | 12443 | Hurley | 61 | C | 13 (1 health) | $325K |
| 14 | 12472 | Rosendale | 61 | C | 43 (1 health) | $284K |
| 15 | 12480 | Shandaken | 61 | C | 11 (1 health) | $296K |
| 16 | 12547 | Milton | 59 | C | 29 (6 health) | $384K |
| 17 | 12561 | New Paltz | 59 | C | 5 (1 health) | $412K |
| 18 | 12568 | Plattekill | 58 | C | 13 | — |
| 19 | 12493 | West Park | 57 | C | 28 (1 health) | — |
| 20 | 12525 | Gardiner | 57 | C | 10 (2 health) | $363K |
| 21 | 12428 | Ellenville | 56 | C | 1 | $201K |
| 22 | 12477 | Saugerties | 56 | C | 8 (1 health) | $292K |
| 23 | 12491 | West Hurley | 55 | C | 0 | $332K |
| 24 | 12528 | Highland | 54 | D | 21 (3 health) | $337K |
| 25 | 12409 | Bearsville | 53 | D | 0 | $662K |
| 26 | 12411 | Bloomington | 53 | D | 0 | $288K |
| 27 | 12417 | Connelly | 53 | D | 0 | $239K |
| 28 | 12448 | Lake Hill | 53 | D | 0 | $924K |
| 29 | 12453 | Malden On Hudson | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 30 | 12456 | Mount Marion | 53 | D | 0 | $183K |
| 31 | 12483 | Spring Glen | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 32 | 12484 | Stone Ridge | 53 | D | 0 | $442K |
| 33 | 12492 | West Kill | 53 | D | 0 | $403K |
| 34 | 12495 | Willow | 53 | D | 0 | $346K |
| 35 | 12574 | Rhinecliff | 53 | D | 0 | $589K |
| 36 | 12580 | Staatsburg | 53 | D | 0 | $377K |
| 37 | 12740 | Grahamsville | 53 | D | 0 | $279K |
| 38 | 12498 | Woodstock | 50 | D | 9 | $542K |
| 39 | 12410 | Big Indian | 45 | D | 0 | $252K |
| 40 | 12412 | Boiceville | 45 | D | 0 | $274K |
| 41 | 12416 | Chichester | 45 | D | 0 | $267K |
| 42 | 12440 | High Falls | 45 | D | 0 | $389K |
| 43 | 12494 | West Shokan | 45 | D | 0 | $362K |
| 44 | 12420 | Cragsmoor | 40 | D | 0 | $206K |
| 45 | 12433 | Glenford | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 46 | 12457 | Mount Tremper | 40 | D | 0 | $386K |
| 47 | 12464 | Phoenicia | 40 | D | 0 | $368K |
| 48 | 12475 | Ruby | 40 | D | 0 | $350K |
| 49 | 12481 | Shokan | 40 | D | 0 | $236K |
| 50 | 12763 | Mountain Dale | 40 | D | 0 | $238K |
| 51 | 12769 | Phillipsport | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 52 | 12446 | Kerhonkson | 38 | F | 35 | $274K |
| 53 | 12566 | Pine Bush | 32 | F | 22 (9 health) | $334K |
| 54 | 12402 | Kingston | 26 | F | 30 (7 health) | — |
| 55 | 12401 | Kingston | 25 | F | 30 (7 health) | $286K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Ulster 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 75.8% 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 Ulster County, New York
Overview
Ulster County in New York covers 55 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (52/100).
23 of 55 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 44 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
Ulster 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
75.8% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.