Houston County, MN radon potential

Houston 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 Houston County lands in the 81st percentile for radon potential.

Where Houston County sits nationally

Houston County, Minnesota is home to about 18,352 people across 552.115 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Houston County runs about 33 people per square mile. Within its own EPA zone, Houston County is bigger by population than 44% of the counties that share it. Houston County falls in EPA Radon Region 5, one of 524 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

What this actually means for a house in Houston County

Houston County carries a Zone 1 label because its predicted average clears 4 pCi/L outright — three-plus times the 0.4 pCi/L typical outdoors and above the 1.3 pCi/L most homes see. 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 Houston County specifically.

Testing and mitigation in Houston County

A short-term test kit is the standard first step and typically costs far less than mitigation itself. If a test comes back at or above 4 pCi/L, a radon mitigation system for a typical home runs roughly $800–$2,500 (around $1,200 for a common single-family install), driven mainly by foundation type, not by county.

Find Minnesota's state radon program

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

Where Houston County's figures come from

Houston County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. If you're unsure why a low zone still deserves a test, the zone explainer covers that directly.