COUNTY REPORT NC

Lincoln County, North Carolina

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 76/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04

Water utilities serving Lincoln County's 6 ZIP codes have built a consistent compliance record — the county's above-average grade reflects years of data showing low violation rates and no systemic health concerns.

How Lincoln County Compares

Lincoln County76/100
North Carolina avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Lincoln County Compares

B
County Grade
76/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
21
Water Systems

Lincoln County scores 3 points above the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 8 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
76
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 28650 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 28037 (69/100)
$221K
Median Home Value
$1,750
Avg Remediation (79% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Lincoln 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: 13.3 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 11.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $540, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.31% avg pipe failure probability

47.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Lincoln County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
1 (1 health)
2024
6 (6 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 6 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.6% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1986
Median Build Year
47.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
31%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
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: $540

Energy Code Gap $240/yr
Flood $200/yr
Water / Lead $100/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

38,848 housing units in Lincoln County

Pre-1940 6%
1940–1959 10%
1960–1979 19%
1980–1999 34%
2000+ 32%

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 Lincoln County

$221K
Median Home Value
$1,750
Est. Remediation Cost
0.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.6% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35% (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 Lincoln County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Lincoln County Wtp 49,693 11
2 City of Lincolnton, 15,839 10
3 Hill-n-dale-lincoln View S/d 320 10
4 Long Shoals Water System 196 10
5 Country Crossing S/d 191 10

21 total water systems serve Lincoln County.

All ZIP Codes in Lincoln County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Lincoln County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 28650 Maiden 83 B 0 $210K
2 28092 Lincolnton 79 B 5 $221K
3 28093 Lincolnton 79 B 5
4 28168 Vale 75 B 1 $176K
5 28006 Alexis 72 B 1 $242K
6 28037 Denver 69 C 5 (2 health) $456K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Lincoln County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Lincoln County in North Carolina covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (76/100).

5 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 Lincoln County?
Lincoln County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Lincoln County?
Lincoln County is served by 21 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Lincoln County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Lincoln County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $540 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Lincoln County?
The median home build year in Lincoln County is 1986. 47.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Lincoln County compare to North Carolina?
Lincoln County has an average water safety score of 76/100, which is above the North Carolina state average of 73/100.

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