COUNTY REPORT PA

Elk County, Pennsylvania

15 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Elk County: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Homeowners across Elk County's 15 ZIP codes live with water safety scores that generally beat state and national averages.

How Elk County Compares

Elk County71/100
Pennsylvania avg57/100
National avg73/100

How Elk County Compares

B
County Grade
71/100
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Elk County scores 14 points above the Pennsylvania state average (57/100) and 2 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:

B
County Grade
71
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 15857 (80/100)
Lowest ZIP: 15853 (67/100)
$120K
Median Home Value
$1,776
Avg Remediation (148% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Elk County, Pennsylvania

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,832, driven primarily by flood

76.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Elk County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
2 (2 health)
2023
4 (4 health)
2024
5 (5 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 5 violations. Past 5 years: 13 total (13 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.

Infrastructure Overview

1963
Median Build Year
76.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
55/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
92%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
High
Lead Pipe Risk

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: $1,832

Flood $691/yr
Energy Code Gap $498/yr
Water / Lead $346/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

17,953 housing units in Elk County

Pre-1940 24%
1940–1959 25%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 9%

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 Elk County

$120K
Median Home Value
$1,776
Est. Remediation Cost
1.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Elk 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 Elk County

7 community water systems serving Elk County.

Show all 7 water systems

Systems with the most violations in Elk County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Elk County

15 ZIP codes tracked in Elk County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 15857 Saint Marys 80 B 11 $145K
2 15823 Brockport 67 C 87 $141K
3 15853 Ridgway 67 C 105 (1 health) $108K
4 15821 Benezett 118 (4 health) $153K
5 15822 Brandy Camp
6 15827 Byrnedale $77K
7 15831 Dagus Mines
8 15841 Force $48K
9 15845 Johnsonburg 170 (3 health) $75K
10 15846 Kersey 87 $160K
11 15860 Sigel 73 $148K
12 15868 Weedville 202 (4 health) $132K
13 15870 Wilcox $107K
14 16728 De Young
15 16734 James City $54K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Elk County

Independent picks. EPA-grounded. Matched here.

Overview

Elk County in Pennsylvania covers 15 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100) across 3 scored records.

8 of 8 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Pennsylvania Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Elk County?
Elk County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 15 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Elk County?
Elk County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 15 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Elk County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Elk County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,832 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Elk County?
The median home build year in Elk County is 1963. 76.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Elk County compare to Pennsylvania?
Elk County has an average Home Safety Score of 71/100 under model 4.0.0, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 57/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Elk County, PA: HSS 71/100; PFAS Found in Water. https://zipcheckup.com/county/pennsylvania/elk/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-pennsylvania-elk,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Elk County, PA: HSS 71/100; PFAS Found in Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/pennsylvania/elk/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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