COUNTY REPORT NC

Surry County, North Carolina

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Covering 8 ZIP codes, Surry County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.

How Surry County Compares

Surry County65/100
North Carolina avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Surry County Compares

C
County Grade
65/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
17
Water Systems

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

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
65
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 28621 (82/100)
Lowest ZIP: 28676 (53/100)
$168K
Median Home Value
$925
Avg Remediation (55% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Surry 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 11.2%, diabetes 13.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $623, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.363% avg pipe failure probability, 17% of ZIPs at high risk

57.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2024–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2024
5 (5 health)
2025
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 5 violations. Past 5 years: 6 total (6 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 11.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.9% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1980
Median Build Year
57.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
36%
Pipe Failure Probability
17%
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: $623

Energy Code Gap $304/yr
Flood $225/yr
Water / Lead $94/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

32,645 housing units in Surry County

Pre-1940 9%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 33%
2000+ 15%

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 Surry County

$168K
Median Home Value
$925
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.9% (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 Surry County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Dobson, Town of 2,615 6
2 Pilot Mountain, Town of 1,976 5
3 City of King, 23,370 5
4 Willow Creek S/d 135 5
5 Springfield Water Supply 74 5

17 total water systems serve Surry County.

All ZIP Codes in Surry County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Surry County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 28621 Elkin 82 B 2 $148K
2 27030 Mount Airy 72 B 2 $153K
3 27041 Pilot Mountain 71 B 5 (1 health) $215K
4 27017 Dobson 69 C 4 (1 health) $139K
5 27049 Toast 63 C 0
6 27024 Lowgap 53 D 0 $182K
7 27031 White Plains 53 D 0
8 28676 State Road 53 D 0 $227K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Surry County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

Surry County in North Carolina covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).

4 of 8 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 Surry County?
Surry County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Surry County?
Surry County is served by 17 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Surry County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Surry County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $623 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Surry County?
The median home build year in Surry County is 1980. 57.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Surry County compare to North Carolina?
Surry County has an average water safety score of 65/100, which is below the North Carolina state average of 73/100.

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