Graham County, North Carolina
4 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Graham County earns a high water safety grade — 4 ZIP codes tracked, virtually all compliant.
How Graham County Compares
How Graham County Compares
Graham County scores 2 points below the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 3 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.3 (asthma 11%, diabetes 12.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $818, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.3% avg pipe failure probability
49.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2024–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Graham County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 3 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 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
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $818
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,333 housing units in Graham 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 Graham County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Graham 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 Graham 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 Graham County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robbinsville, Town of | 2,916 | 5 |
| 2 | Cross Creek S/d | 117 | 5 |
| 3 | Santeetlah Shores | 58 | 5 |
| 4 | Tobacco Branch Village | 163 | 1 |
| 5 | Nantahala Outdoor--flint Ridge | 46 | 1 |
8 total water systems serve Graham County.
All ZIP Codes in Graham County
4 ZIP codes tracked in Graham County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28702 | Almond | 75 | B | 1 | $316K |
| 2 | 28771 | Robbinsville | 74 | B | 5 | $154K |
| 3 | 28733 | Fontana Dam | 72 | B | 0 | $270K |
| 4 | 28783 | Tuckasegee | 63 | C | 0 | $265K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Graham County
Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Overview
Graham County in North Carolina covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100).
2 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to North Carolina 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.