Bergen County, NJ: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Bergen County zone 2 - moderate potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Bergen County sits at the 65th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 65 of every 100 rated counties.

How Bergen County compares

Bergen County, New Jersey is home to about 978,641 people across 232.797 square miles. That works out to roughly 4,204 people per square mile. By population, Bergen County is the 18th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 98th percentile by population within that zone. EPA's geology-based Region 2 groups Bergen County with 82 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Neither at the 4 pCi/L action level nor down at the roughly 1.3 pCi/L national indoor norm, Bergen County's Zone 2 prediction lands in the gap between the two. Middle-of-the-pack doesn't mean risk-free for any one Bergen County address — a moderate county average still leaves individual homes to test either side of it.

If Bergen County tests above the action level

For a Bergen 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 New Jersey's state radon program

For Bergen County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Bergen 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 Bergen County's figures come from

Bergen County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.