Is Elk County, KS a radon risk area?

Elk 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. Elk County sits at the 34th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 34 of every 100 rated counties.

Where Elk County sits nationally

About 2,436 people live in Elk County, Kansas, spread over 644.264 square miles. Population density there runs about 4 people per square mile. Rank 995 by population within its EPA zone puts Elk County at the 4th percentile among zone peers. EPA's geology-based Region 7 groups Elk County with 411 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Zone vs. an actual test

Elk County's Zone 2 prediction clears the 1.3 pCi/L national indoor average without reaching EPA's own 4 pCi/L point for recommending a fix. Middle-of-the-pack doesn't mean risk-free for any one Elk County address — a moderate county average still leaves individual homes to test either side of it.

Testing and mitigation in Elk County

Nothing about Elk 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 Kansas's state radon program

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

Elk 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.