Polk County, Oregon
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 91/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-07-19
ZipCheckup grade for Polk: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Covering 8 ZIP codes, Polk County earns a high grade for tap water - most systems report zero health-based violations, and the overall compliance rate comfortably exceeds federal benchmarks.
How Polk County Compares
How Polk County Compares
Polk County scores 13 points above the Oregon state average (78/100) and 23 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-07-19
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Polk County, Oregon
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.3 (asthma 12.4%, diabetes 10.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,713, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.375% avg pipe failure probability, 13% of ZIPs at high risk
49.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Polk County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2025 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 15 total (15 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: $1,713
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
34,613 housing units in Polk 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 Polk County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Polk 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 Polk County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Polk County
8 community water systems serving Polk County.
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Show all 8 water systems
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19 total water systems serve Polk County.
Systems with the most violations in Polk County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
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All ZIP Codes in Polk County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Polk County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97351 | Independence | 95 | A | 1 | $358K |
| 2 | 97344 | Falls City | 94 | A | 5 | $296K |
| 3 | 97347 | Grand Ronde | 93 | A | 27 (2 health) | $250K |
| 4 | 97361 | Monmouth | 91 | A | 9 | $407K |
| 5 | 97304 | Salem | 90 | A | 8 | $470K |
| 6 | 97396 | Willamina | 90 | A | 0 | $325K |
| 7 | 97338 | Dallas | 88 | A | 14 (2 health) | $388K |
| 8 | 97371 | Rickreall | 86 | A | 1 (1 health) | $323K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Polk County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- 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 Polk County, Oregon
Overview
Polk County in Oregon covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (91/100).
7 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 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.