What EPA's radon map says about Hancock County

Hancock County is mapped as Zone 1 - Highest Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted above 4 pCi/L. Nationally that's the 85th percentile for radon potential — Hancock County outranks 85% of every county EPA has rated.

Where Hancock County sits nationally

About 28,054 people live in Hancock County, West Virginia, spread over 82.61 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Hancock County runs about 340 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Hancock County's EPA zone, it outranks 55% of them by population. Hancock County falls in EPA Radon Region 3, one of 245 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

Zone vs. an actual test

Outdoor air nationally averages about 0.4 pCi/L, indoor air about 1.3 pCi/L — Hancock County's Zone 1 prediction clears both of those and EPA's fix-it threshold besides. 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 Hancock County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

If Hancock County tests above the action level

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Hancock 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 West Virginia's state radon program

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

Hancock 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.