Chittenden County, Vermont
28 ZIP codes · Avg score 87/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-03
Tracking 28 ZIP codes in Chittenden County shows a water safety record well above the national median — violations are isolated exceptions, not recurring patterns.
How Chittenden County Compares
How Chittenden County Compares
Chittenden County scores 16 points above the Vermont state average (71/100) and 19 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Chittenden County, Vermont
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 9.6 (asthma 10.9%, diabetes 6.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $768, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.399% avg pipe failure probability, 42% of ZIPs at high risk
61.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2024–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Chittenden County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 3 violations. Past 5 years: 4 total (4 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $768
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
74,854 housing units in Chittenden 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 Chittenden County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Chittenden 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 Chittenden 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 Chittenden County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malletts Bay Water Company | 533 | 51 |
| 2 | Colchester Water System | 11,299 | 50 |
| 3 | Hillcrest Mhp Inc. | 615 | 45 |
| 4 | Colchester Fire District 2 | 8,300 | 42 |
| 5 | Westbury Park | 663 | 42 |
47 total water systems serve Chittenden County.
All ZIP Codes in Chittenden County
28 ZIP codes tracked in Chittenden County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5439 | Colchester | 98 | A | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 2 | 5449 | Colchester | 98 | A | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 5405 | Burlington | 95 | A | 3 | — |
| 4 | 5406 | Burlington | 95 | A | 3 | — |
| 5 | 5451 | Essex | 95 | A | 2 | — |
| 6 | 5453 | Essex Junction | 95 | A | 2 | — |
| 7 | 5445 | Charlotte | 94 | A | 3 | $660K |
| 8 | 5461 | Hinesburg | 94 | A | 2 | $451K |
| 9 | 5404 | Winooski | 93 | A | 1 | $351K |
| 10 | 5465 | Jericho | 92 | A | 4 | $461K |
| 11 | 5482 | Shelburne | 92 | A | 3 | $516K |
| 12 | 5494 | Westford | 92 | A | 3 | $368K |
| 13 | 5495 | Williston | 92 | A | 3 | $432K |
| 14 | 5401 | Burlington | 91 | A | 3 | $463K |
| 15 | 5402 | Burlington | 91 | A | 3 | — |
| 16 | 5452 | Essex Junction | 91 | A | 2 | $404K |
| 17 | 5489 | Underhill | 87 | A | 1 | $407K |
| 18 | 5408 | Burlington | 86 | A | 3 | $369K |
| 19 | 5468 | Milton | 86 | A | 4 (1 health) | $341K |
| 20 | 5446 | Colchester | 84 | B | 14 (1 health) | $357K |
| 21 | 5477 | Richmond | 84 | B | 2 | $404K |
| 22 | 5407 | South Burlington | 82 | B | 4 | — |
| 23 | 5403 | South Burlington | 81 | B | 4 | $399K |
| 24 | 5462 | Huntington | 78 | B | 7 (3 health) | $314K |
| 25 | 5473 | North Ferrisburgh | 73 | B | 0 | $380K |
| 26 | 5490 | Underhill Center | 73 | B | 0 | — |
| 27 | 5666 | North Montpelier | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 28 | 5466 | Jonesville | 65 | C | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Chittenden 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 61.2% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- 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 Chittenden County, Vermont
Overview
Chittenden County in Vermont covers 28 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (87/100).
24 of 28 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 7 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Vermont 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.