Is Avery County, NC a radon risk area?

EPA's own radon map rates Avery County zone 2 - moderate potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Avery County sits at the 45th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 45 of every 100 rated counties.

Avery County by the numbers

About 17,811 people live in Avery County, North Carolina, spread over 247.338 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Avery County runs about 72 people per square mile. Rank 665 by population within its EPA zone puts Avery County at the 36th percentile among zone peers. EPA's geology-based Region 4 groups Avery County with 735 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Zone vs. an actual test

Avery County's Zone 2 prediction clears the 1.3 pCi/L national indoor average without reaching EPA's own 4 pCi/L point for recommending a fix. A Zone 2 rating is a moderate county-wide average, not a guarantee about any one house in Avery County — testing is the only way to know an individual home's actual level.

If Avery County tests above the action level

Nothing about Avery County's EPA zone changes the mitigation number: $800–$2,500 nationally (around $1,200 typical), set by the house's foundation rather than the county it sits in — and only relevant once a test actually clears 4 pCi/L.

Find North Carolina's state radon program

Avery County's test kit answers today; a Airthings radon monitor keeps answering for Avery County over time. Affiliate link, RadonZoneCheck earns a commission there, at no extra cost to you. RADONZONE-10OFF at checkout knocks 10% off.

More on how this number was built

Avery County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. Whatever zone Avery County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.