Steele County, North Dakota
2 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Tracking 2 ZIP codes in Steele County reveals a mixed picture — tap water quality varies meaningfully by location.
How Steele County Compares
How Steele County Compares
Steele County scores 10 points above the North Dakota state average (56/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 12.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $545, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.45% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk
85% 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: $545
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
634 housing units in Steele 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 Steele County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnes Rural Water District | 4,938 | 0 |
| 2 | City of Hope | 258 | 0 |
| 3 | Dakota Rural Water District South | 1,135 | 0 |
| 4 | Dakota Rural Water District North | 1,070 | 0 |
| 5 | City of Finley | 445 | 0 |
All ZIP Codes in Steele County
2 ZIP codes tracked in Steele County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58046 | Hope | 66 | C | 0 | $161K |
| 2 | 58230 | Finley | 66 | C | 0 | $101K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Steele County
Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 85% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Overview
Steele County in North Dakota covers 2 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
No EPA violations recorded across any tracked ZIP codes in Steele County.
← Back to North Dakota 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.