Wilkes County, North Carolina
12 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Monitoring figures for Wilkes County indicate average water quality overall — some ZIP codes among the 12 tracked have recorded health-based violations, while others operate cleanly, making individual ZIP-level data the most actionable reference point.
How Wilkes County Compares
How Wilkes County Compares
Wilkes 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: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Wilkes 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: 15 (asthma 10.9%, diabetes 13.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $619, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.328% avg pipe failure probability
57.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $619
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
28,705 housing units in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge Water Association | 8,486 | 7 |
| 2 | Moravian Falls Water System | 3,455 | 4 |
| 3 | Alexander Company Wtr District | 13,064 | 4 |
| 4 | WILKESBORO, TOWN OF | 3,643 | 4 |
| 5 | RONDA, TOWN OF | 938 | 3 |
8 total water systems serve Wilkes County.
All ZIP Codes in Wilkes County
12 ZIP codes tracked in Wilkes County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28670 | Ronda | 80 | B | 3 | $161K |
| 2 | 28624 | Ferguson | 75 | B | 0 | — |
| 3 | 28654 | Moravian Falls | 74 | B | 4 (1 health) | $234K |
| 4 | 28635 | Hays | 71 | B | 2 (1 health) | $142K |
| 5 | 28651 | Millers Creek | 71 | B | 2 (1 health) | $182K |
| 6 | 28697 | Wilkesboro | 70 | B | 0 | $191K |
| 7 | 28649 | Mc Grady | 63 | C | 0 | $122K |
| 8 | 28665 | Purlear | 63 | C | 0 | $166K |
| 9 | 28659 | North Wilkesboro | 55 | C | 0 | $152K |
| 10 | 28656 | North Wilkesboro | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 11 | 28669 | Roaring River | 53 | D | 0 | $138K |
| 12 | 28606 | Boomer | 50 | D | 0 | $79K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Wilkes 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.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 57.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Wilkes County, North Carolina
Overview
Wilkes County in North Carolina covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).
4 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 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.