Jefferson County, Ohio
15 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Spanning 15 ZIP codes, Jefferson County carries a low water safety grade — health-based violations appear in a significant share of areas.
How Jefferson County Compares
How Jefferson County Compares
Jefferson County scores 7 points below the Ohio state average (60/100) and 15 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Jefferson County, Ohio
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.9 (asthma 11.7%, diabetes 15.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,024, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.475% avg pipe failure probability, 93% of ZIPs at high risk
84.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2024–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Jefferson County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 17 violations. Past 5 years: 24 total (24 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: $2,024
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
28,358 housing units in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County
Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STEUBENVILLE, CITY OF | 17,000 | 35 |
| 2 | Dillonvale | 665 | 34 |
| 3 | Brilliant Water and Sewer | 2,000 | 33 |
| 4 | Jefferson Company W and S District- a | 3,028 | 33 |
| 5 | Jefferson Company W and S District - M | 13,983 | 26 |
16 total water systems serve Jefferson County.
All ZIP Codes in Jefferson County
15 ZIP codes tracked in Jefferson County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43953 | Steubenville | 65 | C | 12 (2 health) | $140K |
| 2 | 43913 | Brilliant | 64 | C | 7 (1 health) | $70K |
| 3 | 43963 | Tiltonsville | 64 | C | 2 | $99K |
| 4 | 43964 | Toronto | 61 | C | 2 (1 health) | $122K |
| 5 | 43952 | Steubenville | 60 | C | 12 (2 health) | $122K |
| 6 | 43938 | Mingo Junction | 58 | C | 9 | $97K |
| 7 | 43943 | Rayland | 54 | D | 17 (3 health) | $113K |
| 8 | 43944 | Richmond | 53 | D | 0 | $176K |
| 9 | 43961 | Stratton | 53 | D | 0 | $51K |
| 10 | 43901 | Adena | 50 | D | 8 | $108K |
| 11 | 43926 | Empire | 45 | D | 0 | $56K |
| 12 | 43932 | Irondale | 45 | D | 0 | $157K |
| 13 | 43917 | Dillonvale | 40 | D | 0 | $102K |
| 14 | 43941 | Piney Fork | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 15 | 43948 | Smithfield | 40 | D | 0 | $79K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Jefferson 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 — 84.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- 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 Jefferson County, Ohio
Overview
Jefferson County in Ohio covers 15 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
8 of 15 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 9 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Ohio 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.
What You Can Do
Jefferson County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
84.7% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.