What EPA's radon map says about Emmet County

Emmet County is mapped as Zone 1 - Highest Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted above 4 pCi/L. Rank it against the rest of the country and Emmet County lands in the 75th percentile for radon potential.

How Emmet County compares

About 9,162 people live in Emmet County, Iowa, spread over 395.89 square miles. That works out to roughly 23 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Emmet County's EPA zone, it outranks 26% of them by population. Geologically, Emmet County is grouped into EPA Region 7 alongside 411 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Where the national indoor average runs about 1.3 pCi/L, Emmet County's Zone 1 rating puts its predicted county average above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level itself. EPA's guidance doesn't change because of a Zone 1 label: test the house. What changes is the reason to not put it off in Emmet County specifically.

If Emmet County tests above the action level

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Emmet 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 Iowa's state radon program

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

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