COUNTY REPORT TN

Knox County, Tennessee

35 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C

ZipCheckup grade for Knox County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

For Knox County, the grade is neither top-tier nor bottom-tier; it summarizes data for 35 ZIP codes rather than measuring water at any home, and because it blends several sources, a middle result can come from very different mixes of strengths and weaknesses.

How Knox County Compares

Knox County65/100
Tennessee avg72/100
National avg73/100

How Knox County Compares

C
County Grade
65/100
Avg Safety Score
35
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems

Knox County scores 7 points below the Tennessee state average (72/100) and 8 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

C
County Grade
65
Avg Safety Score
35
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 37902 (67/100)
Lowest ZIP: 37871 (46/100)
$251K
Median Home Value
$516
Avg Remediation (0.21% of home value)

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.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.1 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 12%)

Modeled additional annual cost estimate per homeowner: $844, largest modeled factor: Flood

45% of homes built before 1980 (lead paint was banned for residential use in 1978)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.6% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 33.5% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1985
Median Build Year
45%
Pre-1980 Housing
30/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
6%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINSA infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $844

Flood $962/yr
Energy Code Gap $356/yr
Water / Lead $68/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

216,703 housing units in Knox County

Pre-1940 7%
1940–1959 13%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 29%
2000+ 26%

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

$251K
Median Home Value
$516
Est. Remediation Cost
0.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Modeled remediation costs in Knox County can be compared with the median property value; actual costs vary by property.

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

Asthma 10.6% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 33.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems mapped to Knox County ZIP codes

8 community water systems mapped to Knox County ZIP codes; EPA may list more systems serving the county.

Show all 8 water systems

14 water systems mapped to Knox County ZIP codes in our data; EPA may list more systems serving the county.

Systems with the most violations in Knox County

5 water systems with violations in EPA records.

All ZIP Codes in Knox County

35 ZIP codes tracked in Knox County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 37902 Knoxville 67 C 0 $571K
2 37912 Knoxville 67 C 0 $186K
3 37914 Knoxville 67 C 0 $204K
4 37915 Knoxville 67 C 0 $206K
5 37916 Knoxville 67 C 0 $270K
6 37917 Knoxville 67 C 0 $189K
7 37919 Knoxville 67 C 0 $453K
8 37922 Knoxville 67 C 0 $469K
9 37909 Knoxville 66 C 1 $274K
10 37918 Knoxville 66 C 3 $238K
11 37920 Knoxville 66 C 2 $231K
12 37921 Knoxville 66 C 1 $204K
13 37923 Knoxville 66 C 1 $293K
14 37931 Knoxville 66 C 1 $317K
15 37932 Knoxville 66 C 1 $431K
16 37934 Knoxville 65 C 2 $474K
17 37806 Mascot 64 C 4 $176K
18 37924 Knoxville 64 C 4 $217K
19 37938 Knoxville 64 C 4 $287K
20 37849 Powell 62 C 15 $264K
21 37721 Corryton 61 C 12 (1 health) $219K
22 37871 Strawberry Plains 46 D 6 $190K
23 37901 Knoxville — — —
24 37927 Knoxville — — —
25 37928 Knoxville — — —
26 37929 Knoxville — — —
27 37930 Knoxville — — —
28 37933 Knoxville — — —
29 37939 Knoxville — — —
30 37940 Knoxville — — —
31 37950 Knoxville — — —
32 37995 Knoxville — — —
33 37996 Knoxville — — —
34 37997 Knoxville — — —
35 37998 Knoxville — — —

Recommended Buyer Guides for Knox County

Selection follows a fixed set of rules applied to local records: signals such as PFAS detections, lead action-level exceedances on record, a large share of pre-1978 housing, EPA Radon Zone 1, or a top flood or wildfire risk each add a related guide, and when none applies, general water testing and filtration guides are shown instead.

Overview

Knox County in Tennessee covers 35 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100) across 22 scored records.

14 of 22 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 Tennessee 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 Knox County?
Knox 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 Knox County?
We map 14 public water systems to 35 ZIP codes in our data for Knox County. EPA may list more systems serving the county, so this is not a full count.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Knox County?
In ZipCheckup's cost model, the factor with the largest estimated average annual cost in Knox County is flood. Across all modeled risk factors, the estimated average additional annual cost is $844 per homeowner; actual costs vary by home.
How old are homes in Knox County?
The median home build year in Knox County is 1985. 45% of homes were built before 1980; homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and older homes may have older plumbing materials.
How does Knox County compare to Tennessee?
Knox County has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Tennessee state average of 72/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Knox County, TN: HSS 65/100; 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/county/tennessee/knox/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-tennessee-knox,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Knox County, TN: HSS 65/100; 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/tennessee/knox/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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