Worst Infrastructure: North Carolina

Out of 834 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in North Carolina, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	834
Highest risk	NaN%
Median risk	NaN%
Average risk	NaN%
State	North Carolina

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	27006	Advance	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
2	27007	Ararat	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
3	27009	Belews Creek	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
4	27011	Boonville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
5	27012	Clemmons	NC	NaN%	Unknown	82/100
6	27013	Cleveland	NC	NaN%	Unknown	80/100
7	27014	Cooleemee	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
8	27016	Danbury	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
9	27017	Dobson	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
10	27018	East Bend	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
11	27019	Germanton	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
12	27020	Hamptonville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
13	27021	King	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
14	27022	Lawsonville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
15	27023	Lewisville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
16	27024	Lowgap	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
17	27025	Madison	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
18	27027	Mayodan	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
19	27028	Mocksville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
20	27030	Mount Airy	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
21	27040	Pfafftown	NC	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
22	27041	Pilot Mountain	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
23	27042	Pine Hall	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
24	27043	Pinnacle	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
25	27045	Rural Hall	NC	NaN%	Unknown	70/100
26	27046	Sandy Ridge	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
27	27047	Siloam	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
28	27048	Stoneville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	50/100
29	27050	Tobaccoville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
30	27051	Walkertown	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
31	27052	Walnut Cove	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
32	27053	Westfield	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
33	27054	Woodleaf	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
34	27055	Yadkinville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
35	27101	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
36	27103	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
37	27104	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
38	27105	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
39	27106	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
40	27107	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
41	27109	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
42	27127	Winston Salem	NC	NaN%	Unknown	82/100
43	27201	Alamance	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
44	27202	Altamahaw	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
45	27203	Asheboro	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
46	27205	Asheboro	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
47	27207	Bear Creek	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
48	27208	Bennett	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
49	27209	Biscoe	NC	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
50	27212	Blanch	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
51	27213	Bonlee	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
52	27214	Browns Summit	NC	NaN%	Unknown	82/100
53	27215	Burlington	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
54	27217	Burlington	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
55	27229	Candor	NC	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
56	27231	Cedar Grove	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
57	27233	Climax	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
58	27235	Colfax	NC	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
59	27239	Denton	NC	NaN%	Unknown	66/100
60	27242	Eagle Springs	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
61	27243	Efland	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
62	27244	Elon	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
63	27247	Ether	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
64	27248	Franklinville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
65	27249	Gibsonville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	69/100
66	27252	Goldston	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
67	27253	Graham	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
68	27256	Gulf	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
69	27258	Haw River	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
70	27259	Highfalls	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
71	27260	High Point	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
72	27262	High Point	NC	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
73	27263	High Point	NC	NaN%	Unknown	78/100
74	27265	High Point	NC	NaN%	Unknown	80/100
75	27268	High Point	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
76	27278	Hillsborough	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
77	27281	Jackson Springs	NC	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
78	27282	Jamestown	NC	NaN%	Unknown	80/100
79	27283	Julian	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
80	27284	Kernersville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	56/100
81	27288	Eden	NC	NaN%	Unknown	56/100
82	27291	Leasburg	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
83	27292	Lexington	NC	NaN%	Unknown	72/100
84	27295	Lexington	NC	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
85	27298	Liberty	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
86	27299	Linwood	NC	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
87	27301	Mc Leansville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
88	27302	Mebane	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
89	27305	Milton	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
90	27306	Mount Gilead	NC	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
91	27310	Oak Ridge	NC	NaN%	Unknown	86/100
92	27311	Pelham	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
93	27312	Pittsboro	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
94	27313	Pleasant Garden	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
95	27314	Prospect Hill	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
96	27315	Providence	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
97	27316	Ramseur	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
98	27317	Randleman	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—
99	27320	Reidsville	NC	NaN%	Unknown	50/100
100	27325	Robbins	NC	NaN%	Unknown	—

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-08-31.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.

Worst Infrastructure: North Carolina — 2026 Rankings