Pender County, North Carolina
11 ZIP codes · Avg score 75/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Across all 11 ZIP codes in Pender County, tap water consistently meets or exceeds federal safety standards.
How Pender County Compares
How Pender County Compares
Pender County scores 2 points above the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 7 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Pender 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: 13.3 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 11.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,041, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.35% avg pipe failure probability, 18% of ZIPs at high risk
46.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Pender County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 29 total (29 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: $3,041
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
53,426 housing units in Pender 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 Pender County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Pender 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 Pender 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 Pender County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Raleigh, | 640,000 | 78 |
| 2 | Bayleaf Master | 15,585 | 78 |
| 3 | Stonehenge S/d | 1,840 | 78 |
| 4 | Vance Company Water District Phase 1 | 1,580 | 78 |
| 5 | Middlesex Water System | 1,389 | 78 |
31 total water systems serve Pender County.
All ZIP Codes in Pender County
11 ZIP codes tracked in Pender County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28478 | Willard | 90 | A | 0 | $169K |
| 2 | 27260 | High Point | 89 | A | 3 (1 health) | $112K |
| 3 | 28421 | Atkinson | 87 | A | 5 | $109K |
| 4 | 28366 | Newton Grove | 85 | A | 4 | $128K |
| 5 | 28328 | Clinton | 84 | B | 10 (1 health) | $152K |
| 6 | 28454 | Maple Hill | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $193K |
| 7 | 27621 | Raleigh | 73 | B | 78 (7 health) | — |
| 8 | 28443 | Hampstead | 73 | B | 5 | $357K |
| 9 | 28435 | Currie | 60 | C | 0 | $155K |
| 10 | 28425 | Burgaw | 55 | C | 25 (17 health) | $206K |
| 11 | 28445 | Holly Ridge | 50 | D | 0 | $333K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Pender County
Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.
- 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 Pender County, North Carolina
Overview
Pender County in North Carolina covers 11 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (75/100).
8 of 11 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 30 health-based violations have been documented.
← 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.