Alpena County, MI: EPA's radon zone, explained
EPA places Alpena County in Zone 2 - Moderate Potential — a predicted county-wide average indoor radon level between 2 and 4 pCi/L, based on the geology, soil and aerial radioactivity data behind EPA's national map. Nationally, Alpena County ranks higher in radon potential than 50% of rated counties (the 50th percentile).
Where Alpena County sits nationally
Alpena County, Michigan is home to about 28,903 people across 571.899 square miles. Population density there runs about 51 people per square mile. By population, Alpena County is the 495th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 52nd percentile by population within that zone. EPA's geology-based Region 5 groups Alpena County with 523 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.
What this actually means for a house in Alpena County
Neither at the 4 pCi/L action level nor down at the roughly 1.3 pCi/L national indoor norm, Alpena County's Zone 2 prediction lands in the gap between the two. A Zone 2 rating is a moderate county-wide average, not a guarantee about any one house in Alpena County — testing is the only way to know an individual home's actual level.
Next steps for a home in Alpena County
For a Alpena County homeowner, the order is simple: test first, since a kit costs a small fraction of what mitigation would. Only if the result clears 4 pCi/L does a system — typically $800–$2,500, about $1,200 for a common install — become worth pricing out.
Find Michigan's state radon program
For Alpena County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Alpena County's levels over time. RadonZoneCheck earns a commission there, at no extra cost to you. Code RADONZONE-10OFF takes 10% off at checkout.
Where Alpena County's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly which EPA and Census sources feed Alpena County's numbers. Whatever zone Alpena County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.