COUNTY REPORT WI

Iron County, Wisconsin

9 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Iron County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 9 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.

How Iron County Compares

Iron County66/100
Wisconsin avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Iron County Compares

C
County Grade
66/100
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

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

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

C
County Grade
66
Avg Safety Score
9
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 54536 (82/100)
Lowest ZIP: 54565 (53/100)
$125K
Median Home Value
$600
Avg Remediation (48% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Iron 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: 15 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 14.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $781, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.413% avg pipe failure probability, 56% of ZIPs at high risk

70.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.5% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1971
Median Build Year
70.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
56%
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: $781

Energy Code Gap $390/yr
Water / Lead $289/yr
Underground Tanks $80/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

8,410 housing units in Iron County

Pre-1940 18%
1940–1959 16%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 24%
2000+ 18%

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 Iron County

$125K
Median Home Value
$600
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.5% (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 Iron County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Hurley Waterworks 1,515 6
2 MONTREAL WATERWORKS 887 6
3 MERCER SANITARY DISTRICT 760 2
4 Iron Belt Waterworks 211 1

All ZIP Codes in Iron County

9 ZIP codes tracked in Iron County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 54536 Iron Belt 82 B 1 (1 health) $65K
2 54547 Mercer 82 B 2 $279K
3 54550 Montreal 82 B 3 (1 health) $107K
4 54534 Hurley 80 B 3 $109K
5 54525 Gile 53 D 0 $94K
6 54545 Manitowish Waters 53 D 0 $648K
7 54557 Presque Isle 53 D 0 $409K
8 54559 Saxon 53 D 0 $163K
9 54565 Upson 53 D 0 $125K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Iron County

Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.

Overview

Iron County in Wisconsin covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).

4 of 9 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 Iron County?
Iron 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 Iron County?
Iron County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 9 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Iron County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Iron County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $781 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Iron County?
The median home build year in Iron County is 1971. 70.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Iron County compare to Wisconsin?
Iron County has an average water safety score of 66/100, which is above the Wisconsin state average of 66/100.

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