2026 Rankings

Worst Infrastructure: Portland Metro — 2026

Last updated: October 15, 2026

53 ZIP codes ranked by Infrastructure Stress Indicator #1: ZIP 98663 (Vancouver, WA) - 51/100

Out of 53 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in the Portland metro area, these areas have the highest modeled infrastructure stress indicator values, computed from area-level data on infrastructure age, funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. The indicator is not a measured failure probability or forecast.

Statistic Value
ZIP codes ranked 53
Highest stress indicator 51/100
Median stress indicator 35/100
Average stress indicator 34/100

Top 53 ZIP Codes by Infrastructure Stress

Rank ZIP Code City State Infrastructure Stress Stress Level Safety Score
1 98663 Vancouver WA 51/100 High 50/100
2 97267 Portland OR 49/100 High 84/100
3 98660 Vancouver WA 48/100 High 50/100
4 97213 Portland OR 46/100 High 83/100
5 97202 Portland OR 45/100 High 77/100
6 97206 Portland OR 45/100 High 76/100
7 97212 Portland OR 45/100 High 83/100
8 97204 Portland OR 43/100 High 83/100
9 97211 Portland OR 43/100 High 83/100
10 97215 Portland OR 43/100 High 83/100
11 97222 Portland OR 43/100 High 74/100
12 97214 Portland OR 42/100 High 83/100
13 97231 Portland OR 42/100 High 73/100
14 97217 Portland OR 41/100 High 83/100
15 97218 Portland OR 40/100 Moderate 83/100
16 97219 Portland OR 40/100 Moderate 79/100
17 98661 Vancouver WA 40/100 Moderate 50/100
18 98664 Vancouver WA 40/100 Moderate 50/100
19 97221 Portland OR 39/100 Moderate 82/100
20 97203 Portland OR 38/100 Moderate 83/100
21 97210 Portland OR 38/100 Moderate 83/100
22 97220 Portland OR 38/100 Moderate 83/100
23 97005 Beaverton OR 37/100 Moderate 82/100
24 97205 Portland OR 37/100 Moderate 83/100
25 97225 Portland OR 37/100 Moderate 82/100
26 97008 Beaverton OR 36/100 Moderate 82/100
27 97232 Portland OR 35/100 Moderate 83/100
28 97227 Portland OR 34/100 Moderate 83/100
29 97123 Hillsboro OR 33/100 Moderate 67/100
30 97216 Portland OR 33/100 Moderate 83/100
31 97230 Portland OR 33/100 Moderate 81/100
32 97266 Portland OR 33/100 Moderate 83/100
33 97030 Gresham OR 32/100 Moderate 78/100
34 97233 Portland OR 32/100 Moderate 83/100
35 97201 Portland OR 31/100 Moderate 83/100
36 97223 Portland OR 31/100 Moderate 82/100
37 97236 Portland OR 30/100 Moderate 66/100
38 97239 Portland OR 30/100 Moderate 83/100
39 97080 Gresham OR 28/100 Moderate 78/100
40 98665 Vancouver WA 26/100 Moderate 50/100
41 97003 Beaverton OR 25/100 Moderate 83/100
42 97209 Portland OR 25/100 Moderate 83/100
43 97006 Beaverton OR 23/100 Moderate 83/100
44 97007 Beaverton OR 23/100 Moderate 82/100
45 97224 Portland OR 23/100 Moderate 82/100
46 98662 Vancouver WA 23/100 Moderate 50/100
47 98683 Vancouver WA 23/100 Moderate 46/100
48 97124 Hillsboro OR 21/100 Moderate 81/100
49 98684 Vancouver WA 21/100 Moderate 48/100
50 98685 Vancouver WA 21/100 Moderate 50/100
51 98686 Vancouver WA 21/100 Moderate 50/100
52 97229 Portland OR 20/100 Low 83/100
53 98682 Vancouver WA 20/100 Low 48/100

Methodology

Infrastructure stress rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA 2023) — state-level 20-year infrastructure need per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) available Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and testing results. The combined value is a normalized 0-100 comparative stress indicator, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-10-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the infrastructure stress indicator mean?

The indicator summarizes infrastructure funding gaps, housing age, violation history, and lead indicators on a 0-100 scale. It is a comparative heuristic, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast of a water-main break.

How is infrastructure stress calculated?

The indicator combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure need per capita (EPA DWINSA 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system compliance history (EPA SDWIS), and available lead indicators.

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Ask your water utility or health department about testing your tap water, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. If you use a filter, choose one certified under NSF/ANSI 53 for the specific contaminant, such as lead. Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high stress mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure stress is a screening indicator of long-term vulnerability, not a measurement of current contamination or a prediction of failure. For current conditions, check utility notices and the latest Consumer Confidence Report, and test your tap for contaminants of concern.

Explore More Rankings

How this ranking is calculated, data sources, and limitations: Rankings Methodology →


Related Rankings

Water Safety 2026 EPA violations and water quality scores Lead Risk 2026 Lead service-line indicators and system-level action-level exceedances Infrastructure 2026 Aging pipes, system age and remediation costs
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on EPA, FEMA, and federal agency data. They reflect historical patterns and risk indicators, not necessarily current conditions. For the most current information, contact your local water utility or request a Consumer Confidence Report.

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