Hughes County, SD radon potential

EPA's own radon map rates Hughes County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. That puts Hughes County in the 81st percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 81% of the counties EPA has rated.

Hughes County by the numbers

Hughes County, South Dakota is home to about 17,526 people across 741.527 square miles. Population density there runs about 24 people per square mile. Within its own EPA zone, Hughes County is bigger by population than 43% of the counties that share it. EPA's geology-based Region 8 groups Hughes County with 290 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Hughes County's predicted average sits above EPA's own action level of 4 pCi/L — the concentration at which EPA recommends fixing a home — versus a national average around 1.3 pCi/L indoors and 0.4 pCi/L outdoors. 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 Hughes County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

Next steps for a home in Hughes 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 South Dakota's state radon program

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

Where Hughes County's figures come from

Hughes 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.