COUNTY REPORT NC

Bladen County, North Carolina

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 77/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04

Covering 6 ZIP codes, Bladen County earns a high grade for tap water — most systems report zero health-based violations, and the overall compliance rate comfortably exceeds federal benchmarks.

How Bladen County Compares

Bladen County77/100
North Carolina avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Bladen County Compares

B
County Grade
77/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems

Bladen County scores 4 points above the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 9 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

B
County Grade
77
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 28337 (88/100)
Lowest ZIP: 28320 (59/100)
$123K
Median Home Value
$2,450
Avg Remediation (199% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Bladen County, North Carolina

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: 16.1 (asthma 11.6%, diabetes 16.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,572, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.345% avg pipe failure probability, 33% of ZIPs at high risk

55.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.6% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 41.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1987
Median Build Year
55.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
35%
Pipe Failure Probability
33%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,572

Flood $700/yr
Sea Level Rise $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $330/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

13,191 housing units in Bladen County

Pre-1940 5%
1940–1959 16%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 34%
2000+ 16%

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 Bladen County

$123K
Median Home Value
$2,450
Est. Remediation Cost
2.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.6% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 41.3% (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 Bladen County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Bladen Company Wtr District-west Bladen 14,408 8
2 Dublin, Town of 603 7
3 Bladenboro, Town of 3,175 5
4 Clarkton, Town of 1,233 1
5 Elizabethtown, Town of 5,311 0

6 total water systems serve Bladen County.

All ZIP Codes in Bladen County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Bladen County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 28337 Elizabethtown 88 A 0 $180K
2 28332 Dublin 87 A 2 (1 health) $110K
3 28433 Clarkton 82 B 1 $152K
4 28392 Tar Heel 73 B 0 $108K
5 28399 White Oak 73 B 0 $136K
6 28320 Bladenboro 59 C 5 (1 health) $103K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Bladen County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Bladen County in North Carolina covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (77/100).

3 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to North Carolina water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Bladen County?
Bladen County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Bladen County?
Bladen County is served by 6 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Bladen County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Bladen County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,572 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Bladen County?
The median home build year in Bladen County is 1987. 55.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Bladen County compare to North Carolina?
Bladen County has an average water safety score of 77/100, which is above the North Carolina state average of 73/100.

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