What EPA's radon map says about Buckingham County

EPA places Buckingham County in Zone 1 - Highest Potential — a predicted county-wide average indoor radon level above 4 pCi/L, based on the geology, soil and aerial radioactivity data behind EPA's national map. Rank it against the rest of the country and Buckingham County lands in the 80th percentile for radon potential.

Where Buckingham County sits nationally

About 17,115 people live in Buckingham County, Virginia, spread over 579.623 square miles. That works out to roughly 30 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Buckingham County's EPA zone, it outranks 42% of them by population. EPA's geology-based Region 3 groups Buckingham County with 244 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Buckingham County's predicted average sits above EPA's own action level of 4 pCi/L — the concentration at which EPA recommends fixing a home — versus a national average around 1.3 pCi/L indoors and 0.4 pCi/L outdoors. That doesn't mean every Buckingham County house tests high — a zone is a county-wide prediction, never a single-home reading — but it's a reason to test sooner rather than let it wait.

If Buckingham County tests above the action level

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Buckingham County's zone — it depends on the house's foundation. A typical system runs $800–$2,500 (about $1,200 typical), and testing first is what tells you whether that's needed at all.

Find Virginia's state radon program

Buckingham County's test kit answers today; a Airthings radon monitor keeps answering for Buckingham 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

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