COUNTY REPORT TN

Unicoi County, Tennessee

2 ZIP codes · Avg score 78/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04

In current tracking cycles, Unicoi County — spanning 2 ZIP codes — records above-average water quality outcomes; the county's compliance history over recent years shows few departures from federal standards.

How Unicoi County Compares

Unicoi County78/100
Tennessee avg69/100
National avg68/100

How Unicoi County Compares

B
County Grade
78/100
Avg Safety Score
2
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

Unicoi County scores 9 points above the Tennessee state average (69/100) and 10 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

B
County Grade
78
Avg Safety Score
2
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 37650 (78/100)
Lowest ZIP: 37692 (78/100)
$178K
Median Home Value
$2,200
Avg Remediation (124% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.9 (asthma 11.1%, diabetes 16.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,480, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.3% avg pipe failure probability

59% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1979
Median Build Year
59%
Pre-1978 Housing
30%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
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: $1,480

Flood $1,000/yr
Energy Code Gap $405/yr
Water / Lead $75/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

8,575 housing units in Unicoi County

Pre-1940 12%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 27%
2000+ 15%

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 Unicoi County

$178K
Median Home Value
$2,200
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 11.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.3% (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 4 systems in Unicoi County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Erwin Utilities Authority 12,236 0
2 Johnson City Water Department 105,057 0
3 Jonesborough Water Department 33,069 0
4 Unicoi Utility District 4,527 0

All ZIP Codes in Unicoi County

2 ZIP codes tracked in Unicoi County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 37650 Erwin 78 B 0 $156K
2 37692 Unicoi 78 B 0 $200K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Unicoi County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Unicoi County in Tennessee covers 2 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (78/100).

No EPA violations recorded across any tracked ZIP codes in Unicoi County.

← Back to Tennessee water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Unicoi County?
Unicoi County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 2 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Unicoi County?
Unicoi County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 2 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Unicoi County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Unicoi County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,480 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Unicoi County?
The median home build year in Unicoi County is 1979. 59% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Unicoi County compare to Tennessee?
Unicoi County has an average water safety score of 78/100, which is above the Tennessee state average of 69/100.

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