What EPA's radon map says about Centre County

EPA's own radon map rates Centre County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. Centre County sits at the 96th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 96 of every 100 rated counties.

How Centre County compares

About 159,805 people live in Centre County, Pennsylvania, spread over 1,107.259 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Centre County runs about 144 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Centre County's EPA zone, it outranks 88% of them by population. Geologically, Centre County is grouped into EPA Region 3 alongside 244 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Centre 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. A Zone 1 rating means testing is worth doing sooner rather than later, but it is still county-wide average, not a reading for any single house — some homes in Centre County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

Testing and mitigation in Centre County

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Centre 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 Pennsylvania's state radon program

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

More on how this number was built

The methodology guide shows exactly which EPA and Census sources feed Centre County's numbers. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.