Benzie County, MI: EPA's radon zone, explained

Benzie County is mapped as Zone 3 - Low Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted below 2 pCi/L. Rank it against the rest of the country and Benzie County lands in the 12th percentile for radon potential.

Where Benzie County sits nationally

Benzie County, Michigan is home to about 18,520 people across 319.697 square miles. Population density there runs about 58 people per square mile. By population, Benzie County is the 653rd largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 37th percentile by population within that zone. EPA's geology-based Region 5 groups Benzie County with 523 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

What this actually means for a house in Benzie County

Well clear of both the 1.3 pCi/L national indoor average and EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, Benzie County's Zone 3 prediction is the low end of the scale. A Zone 3 label describes Benzie County's average, not any one basement or slab in it — testing is still the only way an individual homeowner actually finds out.

Testing and mitigation in Benzie County

For a Benzie 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 Benzie County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Benzie County's levels over time. RadonZoneCheck earns a commission there, at no extra cost to you. Use code RADONZONE-10OFF at checkout for 10% off.

Where Benzie County's figures come from

The methodology guide shows exactly which EPA and Census sources feed Benzie County's numbers. Whatever zone Benzie County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.