Baker County, Oregon
15 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Baker County, safety data across 15 ZIP codes suggests a fair but uneven system — violations are present and worth checking at the ZIP level.
How Baker County Compares
How Baker County Compares
Baker County scores 11 points below the Oregon state average (78/100) and 1 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Baker County, Oregon
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.7 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 13.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,049, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.39% avg pipe failure probability, 40% of ZIPs at high risk
69.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Baker County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
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: $1,049
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
8,938 housing units in Baker 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 Baker County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Baker 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 Baker 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 Baker County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Richland, | 165 | 18 |
| 2 | UNITY, CITY OF | 71 | 12 |
| 3 | City of Halfway, | 346 | 10 |
| 4 | HUNTINGTON, CITY OF | 510 | 9 |
| 5 | Baker City | 10,349 | 8 |
9 total water systems serve Baker County.
All ZIP Codes in Baker County
15 ZIP codes tracked in Baker County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97833 | Haines | 83 | B | 1 | $416K |
| 2 | 97840 | Oxbow | 82 | B | 2 | — |
| 3 | 97877 | Sumpter | 80 | B | 6 | $136K |
| 4 | 97814 | Baker City | 79 | B | 8 | $254K |
| 5 | 97884 | Unity | 78 | B | 12 (1 health) | $278K |
| 6 | 97834 | Halfway | 77 | B | 10 | $250K |
| 7 | 97870 | Richland | 76 | B | 18 (3 health) | $202K |
| 8 | 97907 | Huntington | 73 | B | 9 | $115K |
| 9 | 97908 | Ironside | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 10 | 97819 | Bridgeport | 53 | D | 0 | $116K |
| 11 | 97837 | Hereford | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 12 | 97903 | Brogan | 53 | D | 0 | $150K |
| 13 | 97905 | Durkee | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 14 | 97909 | Jamieson | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 15 | 97911 | Juntura | 53 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Baker County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 69.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Baker County, Oregon
Overview
Baker County in Oregon covers 15 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100).
8 of 15 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Oregon 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.