Catawba County, North Carolina
9 ZIP codes · Avg score 68/100 · Grade C · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Catawba County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For most households in Catawba County, the 9 tracked ZIP codes show adequate but uneven water quality.
How Catawba County Compares
How Catawba County Compares
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 Last verified:
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.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.6 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 12.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,427, driven primarily by flood
47.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Catawba County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 14 total (14 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
Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,427
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
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
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Catawba 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 Catawba County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Catawba County
8 community water systems serving Catawba County.
- D
- B
- D
- D
- B
- C
Show all 8 water systems
- D
- C
17 total water systems serve Catawba County.
Systems with the most violations in Catawba County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
- D
- C
- B
- B
- 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
Four sources - EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC - drive the match.
- Best Water Filters for PFAS — 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
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.