Worst Infrastructure: Seattle Metro — 2026

Out of 67 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in the Seattle 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	67
Highest stress indicator	56/100
Median stress indicator	42/100
Average stress indicator	38/100

Top 67 ZIP Codes by Infrastructure Stress

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Infrastructure Stress	Stress Level	Safety Score
1	98418	Tacoma	WA	56/100	High	100/100
2	98008	Bellevue	WA	55/100	High	100/100
3	98403	Tacoma	WA	55/100	High	100/100
4	98405	Tacoma	WA	53/100	High	100/100
5	98112	Seattle	WA	52/100	High	100/100
6	98117	Seattle	WA	52/100	High	100/100
7	98408	Tacoma	WA	51/100	High	100/100
8	98199	Seattle	WA	50/100	High	100/100
9	98406	Tacoma	WA	50/100	High	100/100
10	98136	Seattle	WA	49/100	High	100/100
11	98115	Seattle	WA	48/100	High	100/100
12	98134	Seattle	WA	48/100	High	100/100
13	98166	Seattle	WA	48/100	High	100/100
14	98177	Seattle	WA	48/100	High	100/100
15	98178	Seattle	WA	47/100	High	100/100
16	98443	Tacoma	WA	47/100	High	100/100
17	98146	Seattle	WA	46/100	High	100/100
18	98155	Seattle	WA	46/100	High	100/100
19	98407	Tacoma	WA	46/100	High	100/100
20	98103	Seattle	WA	45/100	High	100/100
21	98465	Tacoma	WA	45/100	High	100/100
22	98007	Bellevue	WA	43/100	High	100/100
23	98102	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
24	98108	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
25	98116	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
26	98118	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
27	98119	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
28	98126	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
29	98168	Seattle	WA	43/100	High	100/100
30	98466	Tacoma	WA	43/100	High	100/100
31	98005	Bellevue	WA	42/100	High	100/100
32	98105	Seattle	WA	42/100	High	100/100
33	98144	Seattle	WA	42/100	High	100/100
34	98444	Tacoma	WA	42/100	High	83/100
35	98125	Seattle	WA	41/100	High	100/100
36	98201	Everett	WA	41/100	High	99/100
37	98133	Seattle	WA	40/100	Moderate	100/100
38	98404	Tacoma	WA	40/100	Moderate	100/100
39	98409	Tacoma	WA	40/100	Moderate	100/100
40	98106	Seattle	WA	39/100	Moderate	100/100
41	98122	Seattle	WA	39/100	Moderate	100/100
42	98402	Tacoma	WA	38/100	Moderate	100/100
43	98104	Seattle	WA	35/100	Moderate	100/100
44	98107	Seattle	WA	34/100	Moderate	100/100
45	98198	Seattle	WA	34/100	Moderate	99/100
46	98188	Seattle	WA	33/100	Moderate	99/100
47	98006	Bellevue	WA	32/100	Moderate	98/100
48	98203	Everett	WA	32/100	Moderate	100/100
49	98101	Seattle	WA	31/100	Moderate	100/100
50	98148	Seattle	WA	30/100	Moderate	99/100
51	98109	Seattle	WA	29/100	Moderate	100/100
52	98433	Tacoma	WA	29/100	Moderate	83/100
53	98031	Kent	WA	26/100	Moderate	98/100
54	98032	Kent	WA	26/100	Moderate	99/100
55	98446	Tacoma	WA	26/100	Moderate	82/100
56	98030	Kent	WA	25/100	Moderate	99/100
57	98445	Tacoma	WA	25/100	Moderate	82/100
58	98004	Bellevue	WA	24/100	Moderate	99/100
59	98042	Kent	WA	24/100	Moderate	82/100
60	98208	Everett	WA	24/100	Moderate	99/100
61	98121	Seattle	WA	23/100	Moderate	100/100
62	98204	Everett	WA	23/100	Moderate	100/100
63	98424	Tacoma	WA	23/100	Moderate	99/100
64	98422	Tacoma	WA	22/100	Moderate	99/100
65	98421	Tacoma	WA	19/100	Low	99/100
66	98207	Everett	WA	17/100	Low	—
67	98164	Seattle	WA	16/100	Low	—

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: 2026-10-18.

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.