COUNTY REPORT WI

Marathon County, Wisconsin

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 51/100 · Grade D · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Marathon County: D.

Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.

Across Marathon County's 20 ZIP codes, EPA data shows a below-average compliance pattern - health-based violations are documented in several areas, and independent testing is a reasonable step for concerned households.

How Marathon County Compares

Marathon County51/100
Wisconsin avg70/100
National avg73/100

How Marathon County Compares

D
County Grade
51/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems

Marathon County scores 19 points below the Wisconsin state average (70/100) and 22 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:

D
County Grade
51
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 54455 (64/100)
Lowest ZIP: 54474 (45/100)
$194K
Median Home Value
$1,975
Avg Remediation (102% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Marathon 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: 12.9 (asthma 10.2%, diabetes 10.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $825, driven primarily by flood

63.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2023
1 (1 health)
2024
12 (12 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 12 violations. Past 5 years: 13 total (13 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 10.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1976
Median Build Year
63.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
42/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
56%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
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: $825

Flood $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $318/yr
Water / Lead $206/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

59,086 housing units in Marathon County

Pre-1940 17%
1940–1959 15%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 24%
2000+ 20%

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 Marathon County

$194K
Median Home Value
$1,975
Est. Remediation Cost
1.0%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 10.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

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

Water systems serving Marathon County

8 community water systems serving Marathon County.

Show all 8 water systems

18 total water systems serve Marathon County.

Systems with the most violations in Marathon County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Marathon County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Marathon County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 54455 Mosinee 64 C 3 (1 health) $227K
2 54401 Wausau 50 D 0 $186K
3 54403 Wausau 50 D 1 $179K
4 54476 Schofield 47 D 4 (1 health) $211K
5 54474 Rothschild 45 D 6 (2 health) $184K
6 54402 Wausau
7 54408 Aniwa $159K
8 54411 Athens 4 $211K
9 54414 Birnamwood $186K
10 54417 Brokaw
11 54421 Colby 16 (4 health) $179K
12 54426 Edgar 9 (3 health) $205K
13 54427 Eland $176K
14 54429 Elderon
15 54432 Galloway
16 54440 Hatley $201K
17 54448 Marathon 5 (2 health) $239K
18 54471 Ringle 1 $275K
19 54479 Spencer 3 (1 health) $175K
20 54484 Stratford 4 (1 health) $234K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Marathon County

Four sources - EPA, NSF, FEMA, CDC - drive the match.

Overview

Marathon County in Wisconsin covers 20 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of D (51/100) across 5 scored records.

11 of 12 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Wisconsin Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

What You Can Do

Marathon County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

63.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Marathon County?
Marathon County receives a grade of D. 8 of 20 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Marathon County?
Marathon County is served by 18 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Marathon County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Marathon County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $825 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Marathon County?
The median home build year in Marathon County is 1976. 63.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Marathon County compare to Wisconsin?
Marathon County has an average Home Safety Score of 51/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Wisconsin state average of 70/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Marathon County, WI: HSS 51/100; 10 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/wisconsin/marathon/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-wisconsin-marathon,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Marathon County, WI: HSS 51/100; 10 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/wisconsin/marathon/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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