COUNTY REPORT TN

Grainger County, Tennessee

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 57/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

In recent monitoring cycles, Grainger County's 4 ZIP codes show a split record — several have documented water safety violations.

How Grainger County Compares

Grainger County57/100
Tennessee avg69/100
National avg68/100

How Grainger County Compares

C
County Grade
57/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems

Grainger County scores 12 points below the Tennessee state average (69/100) and 11 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
57
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 37861 (68/100)
Lowest ZIP: 37881 (40/100)
$146K
Median Home Value
$2,175
Avg Remediation (149% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.6 (asthma 11.1%, diabetes 15.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $408, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.27% avg pipe failure probability

47.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 41.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1985
Median Build Year
47.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
27%
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: $408

Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Flood $100/yr
Water / Lead $38/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

10,406 housing units in Grainger County

Pre-1940 7%
1940–1959 9%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 41%
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 Grainger County

$146K
Median Home Value
$2,175
Est. Remediation Cost
1.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 41.2% (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 Grainger County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Bean Station Utility District 10,378 4
2 Rutledge Water System 2,102 1
3 LUTTRELL-BLAINE-CORRYTON U.D. 10,529 1
4 Sneedville U.d. 2,607 0
5 First U.d. of Hawkins Company #2 695 0

6 total water systems serve Grainger County.

All ZIP Codes in Grainger County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Grainger County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 37861 Rutledge 68 C 1 $202K
2 37708 Bean Station 65 C 3 $162K
3 37888 Washburn 53 D 0 $130K
4 37881 Thorn Hill 40 D 0 $124K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Grainger County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

Grainger County in Tennessee covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (57/100).

2 of 4 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 Grainger County?
Grainger County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Grainger County?
Grainger County is served by 6 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Grainger County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Grainger County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $408 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Grainger County?
The median home build year in Grainger County is 1985. 47.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Grainger County compare to Tennessee?
Grainger County has an average water safety score of 57/100, which is below the Tennessee state average of 69/100.

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