Worst ZIP Codes for Lead in Water in North Carolina ...

Out of 573 ZIP codes with data in North Carolina, these are the highest-ranked areas for lead (mg/l). See also: National Worst ZIP Codes for Lead in Water | All North Carolina Rankings

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	573
Highest value	372.5 ppb
Median value	4.0 ppb
State	North Carolina

Top 100 Worst ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Lead (mg/L)	Safety Score
1	27873	Saratoga	NC	372.5 ppb	66/100
2	27019	Germanton	NC	280.0 ppb	65/100
3	28025	Concord	NC	119.0 ppb	81/100
4	28026	Concord	NC	119.0 ppb	87/100
5	28027	Concord	NC	119.0 ppb	81/100
6	28124	Mount Pleasant	NC	119.0 ppb	73/100
7	28138	Rockwell	NC	119.0 ppb	87/100
8	27520	Clayton	NC	77.0 ppb	79/100
9	27527	Clayton	NC	77.0 ppb	84/100
10	27528	Clayton	NC	77.0 ppb	85/100
11	28018	Bostic	NC	63.0 ppb	52/100
12	28040	Ellenboro	NC	63.0 ppb	45/100
13	28338	Ellerbe	NC	37.0 ppb	69/100
14	27536	Henderson	NC	30.0 ppb	43/100
15	27537	Henderson	NC	30.0 ppb	43/100
16	28606	Boomer	NC	27.0 ppb	50/100
17	28041	Faith	NC	26.0 ppb	65/100
18	28103	Marshville	NC	24.0 ppb	62/100
19	28459	Shallotte	NC	22.0 ppb	54/100
20	28470	Shallotte	NC	22.0 ppb	59/100
21	27229	Candor	NC	19.0 ppb	45/100
22	28466	Wallace	NC	18.2 ppb	54/100
23	27525	Franklinton	NC	17.0 ppb	64/100
24	27596	Youngsville	NC	17.0 ppb	68/100
25	28320	Bladenboro	NC	16.7 ppb	59/100
26	28456	Riegelwood	NC	15.5 ppb	68/100
27	28023	China Grove	NC	15.0 ppb	67/100
28	28090	Lawndale	NC	15.0 ppb	58/100
29	28144	Salisbury	NC	15.0 ppb	64/100
30	28145	Salisbury	NC	15.0 ppb	69/100
31	28146	Salisbury	NC	15.0 ppb	64/100
32	28147	Salisbury	NC	15.0 ppb	69/100
33	28150	Shelby	NC	15.0 ppb	52/100
34	28151	Shelby	NC	15.0 ppb	49/100
35	28152	Shelby	NC	15.0 ppb	52/100
36	28789	Whittier	NC	15.0 ppb	57/100
37	27884	Stokes	NC	13.0 ppb	68/100
38	27886	Tarboro	NC	13.0 ppb	45/100
39	28906	Murphy	NC	12.5 ppb	45/100
40	28395	Wade	NC	12.0 ppb	77/100
41	28429	Castle Hayne	NC	12.0 ppb	67/100
42	27248	Franklinville	NC	11.0 ppb	77/100
43	27851	Lucama	NC	11.0 ppb	68/100
44	28167	Union Mills	NC	11.0 ppb	58/100
45	28773	Saluda	NC	11.0 ppb	63/100
46	28581	Stacy	NC	10.5 ppb	71/100
47	28037	Denver	NC	10.0 ppb	69/100
48	28515	Bayboro	NC	10.0 ppb	67/100
49	28668	Roaring Gap	NC	9.6 ppb	59/100
50	27379	Yanceyville	NC	9.5 ppb	53/100
51	27017	Dobson	NC	9.0 ppb	69/100
52	27053	Westfield	NC	9.0 ppb	72/100
53	27921	Camden	NC	9.0 ppb	73/100
54	28365	Mount Olive	NC	9.0 ppb	79/100
55	27565	Oxford	NC	8.7 ppb	80/100
56	27569	Princeton	NC	8.7 ppb	76/100
57	27546	Lillington	NC	8.5 ppb	80/100
58	28469	Ocean Isle Beach	NC	8.5 ppb	66/100
59	28472	Whiteville	NC	8.4 ppb	71/100
60	27018	East Bend	NC	8.0 ppb	71/100
61	27577	Smithfield	NC	8.0 ppb	77/100
62	27807	Bailey	NC	8.0 ppb	85/100
63	27837	Grimesland	NC	8.0 ppb	83/100
64	28114	Mooresboro	NC	8.0 ppb	71/100
65	28364	Maxton	NC	8.0 ppb	74/100
66	28390	Spring Lake	NC	8.0 ppb	77/100
67	27591	Wendell	NC	7.4 ppb	76/100
68	27016	Danbury	NC	7.2 ppb	78/100
69	27239	Denton	NC	7.0 ppb	82/100
70	27962	Plymouth	NC	7.0 ppb	78/100
71	27970	Roper	NC	7.0 ppb	79/100
72	28012	Belmont	NC	7.0 ppb	70/100
73	28398	Warsaw	NC	7.0 ppb	85/100
74	28454	Maple Hill	NC	7.0 ppb	76/100
75	28501	Kinston	NC	7.0 ppb	67/100
76	28502	Kinston	NC	7.0 ppb	82/100
77	28503	Kinston	NC	7.0 ppb	82/100
78	28504	Kinston	NC	7.0 ppb	67/100
79	28572	Pink Hill	NC	7.0 ppb	83/100
80	28646	Linville	NC	7.0 ppb	71/100
81	28717	Cashiers	NC	7.0 ppb	77/100
82	28771	Robbinsville	NC	7.0 ppb	74/100
83	27846	Jamesville	NC	6.5 ppb	91/100
84	27582	Stovall	NC	6.4 ppb	93/100
85	28110	Monroe	NC	6.4 ppb	86/100
86	28111	Monroe	NC	6.4 ppb	91/100
87	28112	Monroe	NC	6.4 ppb	91/100
88	27052	Walnut Cove	NC	6.2 ppb	71/100
89	27320	Reidsville	NC	6.1 ppb	61/100
90	27322	Reidsville	NC	6.1 ppb	55/100
91	27323	Reidsville	NC	6.1 ppb	86/100
92	27055	Yadkinville	NC	6.0 ppb	80/100
93	27870	Roanoke Rapids	NC	6.0 ppb	88/100
94	27938	Gatesville	NC	6.0 ppb	83/100
95	28337	Elizabethtown	NC	6.0 ppb	88/100
96	28523	Cove City	NC	6.0 ppb	93/100
97	28540	Jacksonville	NC	6.0 ppb	74/100
98	28541	Jacksonville	NC	6.0 ppb	89/100
99	28546	Jacksonville	NC	6.0 ppb	79/100
100	28628	Glen Alpine	NC	6.0 ppb	75/100

Methodology

Lead rankings are based on the 90th percentile lead testing value (PB90) reported by water systems under the Lead and Copper Rule. When CCR data is unavailable, EPA SDWIS lead sampling data is used. The EPA action level for lead is 15 ppb (0.015 mg/L). There is no safe level of lead exposure.

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 a dangerous lead level in water?

The EPA action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1 ppb for school drinking water. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children.

How is lead measured in water?

Water systems collect samples from homes with known lead service lines or lead solder. The 90th percentile value (PB90) means 90% of samples tested below that level. If PB90 exceeds 15 ppb, the system must take corrective action.