Is Catron County, NM a radon risk area?

Catron County is mapped as Zone 2 - Moderate Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted between 2 and 4 pCi/L. That puts Catron County in the 35th percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 35% of the counties EPA has rated.

Catron County by the numbers

About 3,795 people live in Catron County, New Mexico, spread over 6,924.187 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Catron County runs about 1 people per square mile. Rank 967 by population within its EPA zone puts Catron County at the 6th percentile among zone peers. Catron County falls in EPA Radon Region 6, one of 503 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

Zone vs. an actual test

Call it a middle case: above the 1.3 pCi/L most US homes average, below the 4 pCi/L line EPA uses to recommend mitigation — that's Catron County's Zone 2 prediction. Nothing about a Zone 2 label lowers the case for testing in Catron County — EPA recommends it in every zone, moderate included.

If Catron County tests above the action level

Nothing about Catron 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 New Mexico's state radon program

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

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