COUNTY REPORT TX

Cameron County, Texas

22 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Cameron County: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

In current tracking cycles, Cameron County - spanning 22 ZIP codes - records above-average water quality outcomes; the county's compliance history over recent years shows few departures from federal standards.

How Cameron County Compares

Cameron County70/100
Texas avg83/100
National avg73/100

How Cameron County Compares

B
County Grade
70/100
Avg Safety Score
22
ZIP Codes
20
Water Systems

Cameron County scores 13 points below the Texas state average (83/100) and 3 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 Last verified:

B
County Grade
70
Avg Safety Score
22
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 78597 (91/100)
Lowest ZIP: 78586 (58/100)
$129K
Median Home Value
$2,110
Avg Remediation (163% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Cameron County, Texas

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: 13.2 (asthma 8.7%, diabetes 18.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,800, driven primarily by flood

45.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↓ Improving trend

EPA violation counts by year across Cameron County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
23 (23 health)
2022
43 (43 health)
2024
16 (16 health)
2025
36 (36 health)

Peak year: 2022 with 43 violations. Past 5 years: 118 total (118 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 8.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 18.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1985
Median Build Year
45.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
35/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
24%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

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

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,800

Flood $1,870/yr
Sea Level Rise $1,500/yr
Wildfire $300/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

155,637 housing units in Cameron County

Pre-1940 2%
1940–1959 8%
1960–1979 21%
1980–1999 34%
2000+ 35%

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 Cameron County

$129K
Median Home Value
$2,110
Est. Remediation Cost
1.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 8.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 18.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Cameron County

8 community water systems serving Cameron County.

Show all 8 water systems

20 total water systems serve Cameron County.

Systems with the most violations in Cameron County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Cameron County

22 ZIP codes tracked in Cameron County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 78597 South Padre Island 91 A 1 $509K
2 78547 Garciasville 86 A 7 (1 health)
3 78521 Brownsville 75 B 0 $91K
4 78578 Port Isabel 75 B 1 $194K
5 78526 Brownsville 74 B 1 (1 health) $158K
6 78566 Los Fresnos 74 B 3 (1 health) $138K
7 78520 Brownsville 71 B 8 (7 health) $129K
8 78575 Olmito 71 B 8 (7 health) $220K
9 78550 Harlingen 58 C 55 (15 health) $121K
10 78552 Harlingen 58 C 59 (17 health) $155K
11 78559 La Feria 58 C 44 (14 health) $100K
12 78583 Rio Hondo 58 C 35 (12 health) $148K
13 78586 San Benito 58 C 44 (19 health) $83K
14 78522 Brownsville
15 78523 Brownsville
16 78535 Combes 14 (3 health) $68K
17 78551 Harlingen
18 78553 Harlingen
19 78567 Los Indios 7 (6 health) $61K
20 78568 Lozano
21 78592 Santa Maria 7 (6 health)
22 78593 Santa Rosa 37 (8 health) $67K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Cameron 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.

Overview

Cameron County in Texas covers 22 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100) across 13 scored records.

16 of 17 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 31 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Texas 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 Cameron County?
Cameron County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 22 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Cameron County?
Cameron County is served by 20 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 22 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Cameron County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Cameron County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,800 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Cameron County?
The median home build year in Cameron County is 1985. 45.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Cameron County compare to Texas?
Cameron County has an average Home Safety Score of 70/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Texas state average of 83/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Cameron County, TX: HSS 70/100; 31 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/texas/cameron/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-texas-cameron,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Cameron County, TX: HSS 70/100; 31 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/texas/cameron/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

Get safety alerts for Cameron, Texas

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.