COUNTY REPORT NC

Catawba County, North Carolina

Name: Home Safety Data for Catawba County, North Carolina
Creator: ZipCheckup
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 68/100 · Grade C

ZipCheckup grade for Catawba County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Catawba County receives a C, the middle grade on the A-F scale, with 9 ZIP codes tracked.

How Catawba County Compares

Catawba County68/100

North Carolina avg78/100

National avg73/100

How Catawba County Compares

County Grade

68/100

Avg Safety Score

ZIP Codes

Water Systems

Catawba County scores 10 points below the North Carolina state average (78/100) and 5 points below the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData

County Grade

Avg Safety Score

ZIP Codes

Sherrills Ford

Best ZIP: 28673 (82/100)

Newton

Lowest ZIP: 28658 (50/100)

$219K

Median Home Value

$514

Avg Remediation (0.24% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Catawba 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: 13.6 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 12.1%)

Modeled additional annual cost estimate per homeowner: $1,230, largest modeled factor: Flood

45% of homes built before 1980 (lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.7% (national: 8.9%)

Diabetes 12.1% (national: 10.5%)

Obesity 37.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1983

Median Build Year

45%

Pre-1980 Housing

34/100

Infrastructure Stress Indicator

22%

ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress

Moderate

Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINSA infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,230

Flood $867/yr

Energy Code Gap $315/yr

Water / Lead $94/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

69,271 housing units in Catawba County

Pre-1940 5%

1940–1959 12%

1960–1979 28%

1980–1999 34%

2000+ 21%

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 Catawba County

$219K

Median Home Value

$514

Est. Remediation Cost

0.2%

of Home Value

Remediation as % of home value low burden

Modeled remediation costs in Catawba County can be compared with the median property value; actual costs vary by property.

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 Catawba County residents

Asthma 10.7% (US avg: 8.9%)

Diabetes 12.1% (US avg: 11%)

Obesity 37.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems mapped to Catawba County ZIP codes

8 community water systems mapped to Catawba County ZIP codes; EPA may list more systems serving the county.

City of Hickory
Serves ~71,393 people

D
Lincoln County Wtp
Serves ~49,693 people 2 violations

B
City of Newton,
Serves ~18,407 people 40 violations

D
City of Conover,
Serves ~15,347 people

D
Alexander Company Wtr District
Serves ~13,064 people 1 violation

B
Icard Township Water Corporation
Serves ~7,821 people 3 violations

C

Show all 8 water systems

Maiden, Town of
Serves ~5,563 people

D
Longview, Town of
Serves ~5,244 people

C

17 water systems mapped to Catawba County ZIP codes in our data; EPA may list more systems serving the county.

Systems with the most violations in Catawba County

5 water systems with violations in EPA records.

City of Newton,
Serves ~18,407 people 40 violations

D
Icard Township Water Corporation
Serves ~7,821 people 3 violations

C
Lincoln County Wtp
Serves ~49,693 people 2 violations

B
Alexander Company Wtr District
Serves ~13,064 people 1 violation

B
Pebble Bay
Serves ~587 people 1 violation

B

All ZIP Codes in Catawba County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Catawba County.

#	ZIP Code	City	Safety Score	Grade	Violations	Home Value
1	28673	Sherrills Ford	82	B	3 (1 health)	$447K
2	28601	Hickory	75	B	15 (2 health)	$236K
3	28609	Catawba	70	B	40	$229K
4	28613	Conover	68	C	47	$208K
5	28602	Hickory	67	C	51 (2 health)	$180K
6	28610	Claremont	67	C	49 (1 health)	$159K
7	28658	Newton	50	D	55 (1 health)	$193K
8	28603	Hickory	—	—		—
9	28682	Terrell	—	—	0	$595K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Catawba County

The mix of guides changes from county to county.

Water Filters Certified for PFAS Reduction — PFAS detected in 5 ZIP codes
Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
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 Catawba County, North Carolina

💧

Water Quality

EPA violations, contaminant trends, and enforcement actions across the county

⚠️

Lead Risk

Lead exposure scores, housing age analysis, and LCR testing trends

🏠

Home Affordability

Remediation costs vs. home values, equity trap analysis by ZIP

$514 avg remediation

🌊

Flood Risk

NFIP claim history and recorded rated-zone context across the county, plus FEMA property-map guidance

Overview

Catawba County in North Carolina covers 9 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (68/100) across 7 scored records.

7 of 8 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to North Carolina Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Catawba County?

Catawba County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.

How many water systems serve Catawba County?

We map 17 public water systems to 9 ZIP codes in our data for Catawba County. EPA may list more systems serving the county, so this is not a full count.

What is the biggest environmental risk in Catawba County?

In ZipCheckup's cost model, the factor with the largest estimated average annual cost in Catawba County is flood. Across all modeled risk factors, the estimated average additional annual cost is $1,230 per homeowner; actual costs vary by home.

How old are homes in Catawba County?

The median home build year in Catawba County is 1983. 45% of homes were built before 1980; homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and older homes may have older plumbing materials.

How does Catawba County compare to North Carolina?

Catawba County has an average Home Safety Score of 68/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the North Carolina state average of 78/100.

Explore More

Flood Risk Rankings 2026 Lead Risk Rankings 2026 Water Safety Rankings 2026 Home Safety Rankings 2026 Water Filter Matcher Find the right filter for your water Home Safety Score Full safety breakdown by ZIP

North Carolina State Overview →