What EPA's radon map says about Burke County

EPA places Burke 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. Rank it against the rest of the country and Burke County lands in the 59th percentile for radon potential.

Burke County by the numbers

About 88,545 people live in Burke County, North Carolina, spread over 506.237 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Burke County runs about 175 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Burke County's EPA zone, it outranks 78% of them by population. Geologically, Burke County is grouped into EPA Region 4 alongside 735 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

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, Burke County's Zone 2 prediction lands in the gap between the two. Nothing about a Zone 2 label lowers the case for testing in Burke County — EPA recommends it in every zone, moderate included.

Testing and mitigation in Burke County

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Burke 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 North Carolina's state radon program

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

More on how this number was built

Burke County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. If you're unsure why a low zone still deserves a test, the zone explainer covers that directly.