Essex County, Virginia
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent water monitoring in Essex County shows 6 ZIP codes with consistently safe results.
How Essex County Compares
How Essex County Compares
Essex County scores 4 points above the Virginia state average (66/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Essex County, Virginia
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 16.3 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 18%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,347, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.344% avg pipe failure probability, 20% of ZIPs at high risk
60% 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: $4,347
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
5,520 housing units in Essex 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 Essex County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Essex 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 Essex County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
All ZIP Codes in Essex County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Essex County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22560 | Tappahannock | 84 | B | 2 | $247K |
| 2 | 22436 | Caret | 73 | B | 0 | $223K |
| 3 | 22437 | Center Cross | 73 | B | 0 | $321K |
| 4 | 22438 | Champlain | 66 | C | 0 | $223K |
| 5 | 23115 | Millers Tavern | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 6 | 22454 | Dunnsville | 60 | C | 0 | $227K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Essex 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 — 60% of homes built before 1978
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Essex County, Virginia
Overview
Essex County in Virginia covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).
1 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Virginia 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.