COUNTY REPORT NC

Macon County, North Carolina

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

5 ZIP codes · Avg score 79/100 · Grade B

ZipCheckup grade for Macon County: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Macon County earns an A or B, the top two of ZipCheckup's five grades, based on the average composite Home Safety Score of its scored ZIP codes. That composite can draw on drinking water records, radon zones, PFAS monitoring and air quality data, so a strong grade summarizes several sources and is not a reading from anyone's tap. Scores also vary from one ZIP code to another, and the 5 ZIP reports listed for the county show where each one stands.

How Macon County Compares

Macon County79/100

North Carolina avg78/100

National avg73/100

How Macon County Compares

County Grade

79/100

Avg Safety Score

ZIP Codes

Water Systems

Macon County scores 1 points above the North Carolina state average (78/100) and 6 points above 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

Franklin

Best ZIP: 28734 (81/100)

Highlands

Lowest ZIP: 28741 (77/100)

$335K

Median Home Value

$400

Avg Remediation (0.12% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Macon 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: 15.3 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 14.2%)

Modeled additional annual cost estimate per homeowner: $1,136, largest modeled factor: Flood

38% of homes built before 1980 (lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.6% (national: 8.9%)

Diabetes 14.2% (national: 10.5%)

Obesity 35.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1983

Median Build Year

38%

Pre-1980 Housing

36/100

Infrastructure Stress Indicator

20%

ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress

Low

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: $1,136

Flood $700/yr

Wildfire $300/yr

Energy Code Gap $270/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

26,526 housing units in Macon County

Pre-1940 3%

1940–1959 9%

1960–1979 26%

1980–1999 39%

2000+ 23%

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 Macon County

$335K

Median Home Value

$400

Est. Remediation Cost

0.1%

of Home Value

Remediation as % of home value low burden

Modeled remediation costs in Macon 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 Macon County residents

Asthma 10.6% (US avg: 8.9%)

Diabetes 14.2% (US avg: 11%)

Obesity 35.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems mapped to Macon County ZIP codes

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

Franklin, Town of
Serves ~9,650 people 3 violations

B
Highlands, Town of
Serves ~6,614 people 7 violations

B
Mill Creek Estates Property Owners Asso.
Serves ~676 people 1 violation

B
Wildcat Cliffs Country Club
Serves ~445 people 4 violations

B
Sassafras Gap Employee Village
Serves ~107 people 1 violation

B
Heritage Hills
Serves ~74 people 1 violation

B

Show all 8 water systems

Highgate S/d
Serves ~62 people 2 violations

B
The Gardens at Cat Creek
Serves ~40 people 1 violation

B

Systems with the most violations in Macon County

5 water systems with violations in EPA records.

Highlands, Town of
Serves ~6,614 people 7 violations

B
Wildcat Cliffs Country Club
Serves ~445 people 4 violations

B
Franklin, Town of
Serves ~9,650 people 3 violations

B
Highgate S/d
Serves ~62 people 2 violations

B
Mill Creek Estates Property Owners Asso.
Serves ~676 people 1 violation

B

All ZIP Codes in Macon County

5 ZIP codes tracked in Macon County.

#	ZIP Code	City	Safety Score	Grade	Violations	Home Value
1	28734	Franklin	81	B	6 (2 health)	$204K
2	28741	Highlands	77	B	14 (4 health)	$596K
3	28744	Franklin	—	—		—
4	28763	Otto	—	—	3 (2 health)	$253K
5	28775	Scaly Mountain	—	—		$418K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Macon County

Up to five guides, picked by rule.

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 Macon County, North Carolina

💧

Water Quality

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

🏠

Home Affordability

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

$400 avg remediation

🌊

Flood Risk

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

Overview

Macon County in North Carolina covers 5 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of B (79/100) across 2 scored records.

3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 6 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 Macon County?

Macon County receives an average Home Safety grade of B from its scored ZIP records (5 ZIP codes tracked); this is a composite index, not a tap-water test.

How many water systems serve Macon County?

We map 8 public water systems to 5 ZIP codes in our data for Macon County. EPA may list more systems serving the county, so this is not a full count.

What is the biggest environmental risk in Macon County?

In ZipCheckup's cost model, the factor with the largest estimated average annual cost in Macon County is flood. Across all modeled risk factors, the estimated average additional annual cost is $1,136 per homeowner; actual costs vary by home.

How old are homes in Macon County?

The median home build year in Macon County is 1983. 38% 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 Macon County compare to North Carolina?

Macon County has an average Home Safety Score of 79/100 under model 4.0.0, which is at or above 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 →