Adams County, Pennsylvania
14 ZIP codes · Avg score 46/100 · Grade D · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Adams County: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
While Adams County's situation varies by ZIP, its 14 ZIP codes collectively fall below the state average - addressing specific concerns starts with checking the system that serves a given address.
How Adams County Compares
How Adams County Compares
Adams County scores 11 points below the Pennsylvania state average (57/100) and 27 points below the national average (73/100).
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Adams County, Pennsylvania
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,765, driven primarily by flood
65.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Infrastructure Overview
Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,765
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
31,646 housing units in Adams 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 Adams County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Adams 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.
Water systems serving Adams County
8 community water systems serving Adams County.
- D
- C
- D
- D
Show all 8 water systems
- D
15 total water systems serve Adams County.
Systems with the most violations in Adams County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
All ZIP Codes in Adams County
14 ZIP codes tracked in Adams County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17344 | Mc Sherrystown | 63 | C | 11 | $204K |
| 2 | 17350 | New Oxford | 42 | D | 19 (1 health) | $235K |
| 3 | 17325 | Gettysburg | 34 | F | 47 (1 health) | $279K |
| 4 | 17301 | Abbottstown | — | — | 5 (1 health) | $235K |
| 5 | 17303 | Arendtsville | — | — | $187K | |
| 6 | 17306 | Bendersville | — | — | $174K | |
| 7 | 17307 | Biglerville | — | — | 40 | $230K |
| 8 | 17310 | Cashtown | — | — | — | |
| 9 | 17316 | East Berlin | — | — | 78 (1 health) | $283K |
| 10 | 17320 | Fairfield | — | — | 16 | $283K |
| 11 | 17337 | Idaville | — | — | — | |
| 12 | 17343 | Mc Knightstown | — | — | — | |
| 13 | 17353 | Orrtanna | — | — | 14 | $248K |
| 14 | 17375 | Peach Glen | — | — | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Adams County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations - federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Water Filters for PFAS — PFAS detected in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 65.1% 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
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Adams County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Adams County in Pennsylvania covers 14 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of D (46/100) across 3 scored records.
8 of 8 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
← Back to Pennsylvania Home Safety Profile
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
What You Can Do
Adams 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
65.1% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.