Worst ZIP Codes for Homebuyers — Hidden Risks 2026

Out of 41,396 ZIP codes with data across all 50 states, these are the highest-ranked areas for purchase risk. Each ZIP links to a full safety report with water quality, lead, radon, and flood data.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	41,396
Highest value	85/100
Median value	35/100

Top 100 Worst ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Purchase Risk	Safety Score
1	43791	White Cottage	OH	85/100	32/100
2	24981	Talcott	WV	84/100	44/100
3	14061	Farnham	NY	83/100	61/100
4	12414	Catskill	NY	80/100	43/100
5	18950	Point Pleasant	PA	80/100	44/100
6	17763	Ralston	PA	79/100	52/100
7	25962	Rainelle	WV	79/100	35/100
8	11224	Brooklyn	NY	77/100	47/100
9	12489	Wawarsing	NY	77/100	62/100
10	70112	New Orleans	LA	77/100	64/100
11	13755	Downsville	NY	76/100	56/100
12	13859	Wells Bridge	NY	76/100	69/100
13	06371	Old Lyme	CT	75/100	40/100
14	08638	Trenton	NJ	75/100	45/100
15	11235	Brooklyn	NY	75/100	47/100
16	14785	Stow	NY	75/100	61/100
17	17020	Duncannon	PA	75/100	26/100
18	17056	Mexico	PA	75/100	55/100
19	26147	Grantsville	WV	75/100	48/100
20	26261	Richwood	WV	75/100	36/100
21	26419	Pine Grove	WV	75/100	44/100
22	61089	Winslow	IL	75/100	41/100
23	61602	Peoria	IL	75/100	32/100
24	93244	Lemon Cove	CA	75/100	41/100
25	08850	Milltown	NJ	74/100	56/100
26	10914	Blooming Grove	NY	74/100	40/100
27	12430	Fleischmanns	NY	74/100	41/100
28	13838	Sidney	NY	74/100	41/100
29	17859	Orangeville	PA	74/100	26/100
30	24801	Welch	WV	74/100	55/100
31	25601	Logan	WV	74/100	58/100
32	08064	New Lisbon	NJ	73/100	75/100
33	08401	Atlantic City	NJ	73/100	74/100
34	08618	Trenton	NJ	73/100	45/100
35	08882	South River	NJ	73/100	47/100
36	12068	Fonda	NY	73/100	47/100
37	12407	Ashland	NY	73/100	58/100
38	12480	Shandaken	NY	73/100	61/100
39	21866	Tylerton	MD	73/100	67/100
40	26070	Wellsburg	WV	73/100	46/100
41	28801	Asheville	NC	73/100	25/100
42	44902	Mansfield	OH	73/100	61/100
43	71410	Calvin	LA	73/100	70/100
44	77457	Matagorda	TX	73/100	55/100
45	92339	Forest Falls	CA	73/100	45/100
46	07035	Lincoln Park	NJ	72/100	36/100
47	08530	Lambertville	NJ	72/100	54/100
48	11229	Brooklyn	NY	72/100	52/100
49	11231	Brooklyn	NY	72/100	52/100
50	11232	Brooklyn	NY	72/100	57/100
51	12468	Prattsville	NY	72/100	58/100
52	13615	Brownville	NY	72/100	52/100
53	13802	Maine	NY	72/100	62/100
54	13849	Unadilla	NY	72/100	58/100
55	14770	Portville	NY	72/100	56/100
56	15223	Pittsburgh	PA	72/100	54/100
57	15863	Stump Creek	PA	72/100	73/100
58	16853	Milesburg	PA	72/100	47/100
59	17048	Lykens	PA	72/100	46/100
60	17764	Renovo	PA	72/100	50/100
61	17771	Trout Run	PA	72/100	31/100
62	25661	Williamson	WV	72/100	68/100
63	26425	Rowlesburg	WV	72/100	58/100
64	28641	Jonas Ridge	NC	72/100	82/100
65	52801	Davenport	IA	72/100	49/100
66	61104	Rockford	IL	72/100	28/100
67	67651	Natoma	KS	72/100	56/100
68	68440	Steele City	NE	72/100	24/100
69	70116	New Orleans	LA	72/100	64/100
70	95690	Walnut Grove	CA	72/100	75/100
71	12305	Schenectady	NY	71/100	70/100
72	12758	Livingston Manor	NY	71/100	51/100
73	12771	Port Jervis	NY	71/100	47/100
74	13903	Binghamton	NY	71/100	47/100
75	13905	Binghamton	NY	71/100	47/100
76	15853	Ridgway	PA	71/100	60/100
77	17043	Lemoyne	PA	71/100	50/100
78	18657	Tunkhannock	PA	71/100	44/100
79	24970	Ronceverte	WV	71/100	45/100
80	26003	Wheeling	WV	71/100	45/100
81	26040	Mcmechen	WV	71/100	56/100
82	26155	New Martinsville	WV	71/100	48/100
83	26271	Hendricks	WV	71/100	69/100
84	26722	Green Spring	WV	71/100	61/100
85	56523	Climax	MN	71/100	59/100
86	66963	Randall	KS	71/100	33/100
87	70113	New Orleans	LA	71/100	64/100
88	70340	Amelia	LA	71/100	68/100
89	71223	Bonita	LA	71/100	65/100
90	71357	Newellton	LA	71/100	60/100
91	07734	Keansburg	NJ	70/100	46/100
92	08559	Stockton	NJ	70/100	51/100
93	12401	Kingston	NY	70/100	25/100
94	12791	Youngsville	NY	70/100	61/100
95	13475	Van Hornesville	NY	70/100	89/100
96	13827	Owego	NY	70/100	51/100
97	13856	Walton	NY	70/100	46/100
98	13904	Binghamton	NY	70/100	52/100
99	14136	Silver Creek	NY	70/100	56/100
100	17751	Mill Hall	PA	70/100	46/100

Rankings by State

State	ZIP Codes Ranked
Texas	2,651
California	2,630
New York	2,186
Pennsylvania	2,184
Illinois	1,583
Florida	1,484
Ohio	1,435
Virginia	1,228
Michigan	1,167
Missouri	1,161
North Carolina	1,085
Iowa	1,058
Minnesota	1,009
Indiana	980
Georgia	964
Kentucky	947
Wisconsin	898
West Virginia	855
Alabama	819
Tennessee	787
Oklahoma	771
Kansas	749
New Jersey	726
Washington	726
Arkansas	708
Louisiana	704
Massachusetts	695
Colorado	658
Nebraska	621
Maryland	615
Arizona	553
South Carolina	534
Mississippi	532
Maine	485
Oregon	482
Connecticut	433
New Mexico	428
North Dakota	407
Montana	405
South Dakota	392
Utah	347
Idaho	324
Vermont	308
District of Columbia	286
New Hampshire	282
Alaska	272
Nevada	254
Wyoming	195
Hawaii	137
Delaware	97
Rhode Island	90

Methodology

The Home Purchase Risk Score combines environmental hazards that create unexpected costs for homebuyers: water system violations requiring filtration, lead service lines requiring replacement, radon requiring mitigation systems, flood zones requiring insurance, and aging infrastructure requiring upgrades. These are factors that standard home inspections may not fully capture.

Data sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), FEMA National Flood Insurance Program, EPA radon zone maps, EIA electricity rates, and Consumer Confidence Reports. Last updated: 2026-06-04.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Home Purchase Risk Score?

This score (0-100) estimates the hidden environmental costs a homebuyer may face: water filtration needs, lead pipe replacement, radon mitigation, flood insurance, and infrastructure upgrades. Higher scores mean more potential unexpected expenses after purchase.

What should homebuyers do in high-risk ZIP codes?

Request a water quality test, check for lead service lines with the utility, test for radon before closing, verify FEMA flood zone designation, and factor in potential remediation costs ($5,000-$30,000+) to your budget.