Knox County, Tennessee
36 ZIP codes · Avg score 64/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Knox County, safety data across 36 ZIP codes suggests a fair but uneven system — violations are present and worth checking at the ZIP level.
How Knox County Compares
How Knox County Compares
Knox County scores 5 points below the Tennessee state average (69/100) and 4 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Knox County, Tennessee
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.2 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 12.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $829, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.279% avg pipe failure probability, 3% of ZIPs at high risk
51.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
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: $829
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
224,740 housing units in Knox 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 Knox County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Knox 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 Knox County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Knox County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Knox U.d. | 27,941 | 2 |
| 2 | Hallsdale-powell U.d. | 84,315 | 2 |
| 3 | LUTTRELL-BLAINE-CORRYTON U.D. | 10,529 | 2 |
| 4 | Maynardville Water Department | 7,940 | 2 |
| 5 | Anderson County Water Authority | 25,700 | 0 |
17 total water systems serve Knox County.
All ZIP Codes in Knox County
36 ZIP codes tracked in Knox County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37901 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | — |
| 2 | 37902 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $571K |
| 3 | 37909 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $274K |
| 4 | 37916 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $270K |
| 5 | 37921 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $204K |
| 6 | 37924 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $217K |
| 7 | 37932 | Knoxville | 70 | B | 0 | $431K |
| 8 | 37915 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | $206K |
| 9 | 37927 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 10 | 37928 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 11 | 37929 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 12 | 37930 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 13 | 37933 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 14 | 37939 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 15 | 37940 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 16 | 37950 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 17 | 37995 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 18 | 37996 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 19 | 37997 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 20 | 37998 | Knoxville | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 21 | 37912 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $186K |
| 22 | 37914 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $204K |
| 23 | 37919 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $453K |
| 24 | 37920 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $231K |
| 25 | 37922 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $469K |
| 26 | 37923 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $293K |
| 27 | 37931 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $317K |
| 28 | 37934 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $474K |
| 29 | 37938 | Knoxville | 65 | C | 0 | $287K |
| 30 | 37721 | Corryton | 64 | C | 2 | $219K |
| 31 | 37917 | Knoxville | 60 | C | 0 | $189K |
| 32 | 37918 | Knoxville | 60 | C | 0 | $238K |
| 33 | 37754 | Heiskell | 53 | D | 0 | $187K |
| 34 | 37865 | Seymour | 53 | D | 0 | $277K |
| 35 | 37849 | Powell | 45 | D | 0 | $264K |
| 36 | 37806 | Mascot | 40 | D | 0 | $176K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Knox County
Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 51.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- 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 Knox County, Tennessee
Overview
Knox County in Tennessee covers 36 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (64/100).
1 of 36 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Tennessee 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.