Hidalgo County, NM: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Hidalgo County zone 2 - moderate potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Nationally that's the 35th percentile for radon potential — Hidalgo County outranks 35% of every county EPA has rated.

Where Hidalgo County sits nationally

Hidalgo County, New Mexico is home to about 3,966 people across 3,438.551 square miles. That works out to roughly 1 people per square mile. By population, Hidalgo County is the 962nd largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 7th percentile by population within that zone. EPA's geology-based Region 6 groups Hidalgo County with 502 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

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 Hidalgo County's Zone 2 prediction. Hidalgo County's Zone 2 rating sits in the middle nationally; EPA's guidance is unchanged by that — test every home regardless of its zone.

Next steps for a home in Hidalgo County

For a Hidalgo County homeowner, the order is simple: test first, since a kit costs a small fraction of what mitigation would. Only if the result clears 4 pCi/L does a system — typically $800–$2,500, about $1,200 for a common install — become worth pricing out.

Find New Mexico's state radon program

For Hidalgo County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Hidalgo County's levels over time. RadonZoneCheck earns a commission there, at no extra cost to you. RADONZONE-10OFF at checkout knocks 10% off.

Where Hidalgo County's figures come from

Every figure on this page traces to EPA's own Map of Radon Zones and Census data, documented in the methodology guide. If you're unsure why a low zone still deserves a test, the zone explainer covers that directly.