COUNTY REPORT TN

Decatur County, Tennessee

5 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Although county size varies, Decatur County's 5 ZIP codes share reliably safe tap water records and above-average compliance scores.

How Decatur County Compares

Decatur County71/100
Tennessee avg69/100
National avg68/100

How Decatur County Compares

B
County Grade
71/100
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Decatur County scores 2 points above the Tennessee state average (69/100) and 3 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
71
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 38374 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 38328 (53/100)
$142K
Median Home Value
$1,360
Avg Remediation (96% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Decatur County, Tennessee

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

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 17.6 (asthma 11.4%, diabetes 17.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $704, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.282% avg pipe failure probability

49.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 42.2% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1988
Median Build Year
49.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
28%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $704

Energy Code Gap $324/yr
Flood $320/yr
Water / Lead $60/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

6,839 housing units in Decatur County

Pre-1940 4%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 30%
1980–1999 32%
2000+ 23%

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 Decatur County

$142K
Median Home Value
$1,360
Est. Remediation Cost
1.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Decatur 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 Decatur County residents

Asthma 11.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 42.2% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Decatur County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 North U.dep. of Decatur/benton Company 3,818 16
2 LEXINGTON WATER SYSTEMS 26,322 11
3 Perryville Utility District 3,127 11
4 Woodlawn Shores Water Department 635 9
5 PARSONS WATER DEPARTMENT 4,303 7

9 total water systems serve Decatur County.

All ZIP Codes in Decatur County

5 ZIP codes tracked in Decatur County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 38374 Scotts Hill 83 B 1 $148K
2 38380 Sugar Tree 76 B 9 $144K
3 38329 Decaturville 72 B 3 $141K
4 38363 Parsons 71 B 7 $106K
5 38328 Darden 53 D 0 $142K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Decatur County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

Decatur County in Tennessee covers 5 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100).

4 of 5 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Tennessee water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Decatur County?
Decatur County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 5 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Decatur County?
Decatur County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 5 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Decatur County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Decatur County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $704 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Decatur County?
The median home build year in Decatur County is 1988. 49.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Decatur County compare to Tennessee?
Decatur County has an average water safety score of 71/100, which is above the Tennessee state average of 69/100.

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