COUNTY REPORT WI

Bayfield County, Wisconsin

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 68/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Bayfield County: 12 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.

How Bayfield County Compares

Bayfield County68/100
Wisconsin avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Bayfield County Compares

C
County Grade
68/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Bayfield County scores 2 points above the Wisconsin state average (66/100) and 0 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
68
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 54814 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 54844 (53/100)
$236K
Median Home Value
$1,108
Avg Remediation (47% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Bayfield County, Wisconsin

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: 14.7 (asthma 10.9%, diabetes 13.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,163, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.34% avg pipe failure probability

53.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2023
3 (3 health)
2024
6 (6 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 6 violations. Past 5 years: 9 total (9 health-based).

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.9% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.4% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1984
Median Build Year
53.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
34%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,163

Sea Level Rise $367/yr
Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Wildfire $200/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

12,022 housing units in Bayfield County

Pre-1940 16%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 21%
1980–1999 27%
2000+ 25%

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 Bayfield County

$236K
Median Home Value
$1,108
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.9% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.4% (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 5 systems in Bayfield County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 IRON RIVER SANITARY DISTRICT 600 11
2 Washburn Waterworks 2,280 3
3 PORT WING SANITARY DISTRICT 400 2
4 Bayfield Waterworks 488 1
5 Waterford on the Bay 45 1

7 total water systems serve Bayfield County.

All ZIP Codes in Bayfield County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Bayfield County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 54814 Bayfield 83 B 1 $236K
2 54832 Drummond 83 B 0 $228K
3 54847 Iron River 82 B 11 (1 health) $254K
4 54891 Washburn 82 B 3 (1 health) $201K
5 54865 Port Wing 79 B 2 $169K
6 54821 Cable 63 C 0 $274K
7 54850 La Pointe 63 C 0 $272K
8 54856 Mason 63 C 0 $183K
9 54820 Brule 53 D 0 $236K
10 54827 Cornucopia 53 D 0 $250K
11 54839 Grand View 53 D 0 $169K
12 54844 Herbster 53 D 0 $247K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Bayfield County

Strictly editorial — no paid placements influence which guides appear; the selection draws on NSF certifications and EPA detection records for water systems serving this county.

Overview

Bayfield County in Wisconsin covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (68/100).

4 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Wisconsin water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Bayfield County?
Bayfield 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 Bayfield County?
Bayfield County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Bayfield County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Bayfield County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,163 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Bayfield County?
The median home build year in Bayfield County is 1984. 53.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Bayfield County compare to Wisconsin?
Bayfield County has an average water safety score of 68/100, which is above the Wisconsin state average of 66/100.

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