Is Itasca County, MN a radon risk area?

EPA places Itasca County in Zone 2 - Moderate Potential — a predicted county-wide average indoor radon level between 2 and 4 pCi/L, based on the geology, soil and aerial radioactivity data behind EPA's national map. That puts Itasca County in the 54th percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 54% of the counties EPA has rated.

Itasca County by the numbers

About 45,442 people live in Itasca County, Minnesota, spread over 2,667.474 square miles. That works out to roughly 17 people per square mile. Rank 363 by population within its EPA zone puts Itasca County at the 65th percentile among zone peers. Geologically, Itasca County is grouped into EPA Region 5 alongside 523 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

What this actually means for a house in Itasca County

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 Itasca County's Zone 2 prediction. A county-wide moderate average, like Itasca County's, can still hide a specific house well above or below it — testing is what actually answers the question.

Next steps for a home in Itasca County

Nothing about Itasca County's EPA zone changes the mitigation number: $800–$2,500 nationally (around $1,200 typical), set by the house's foundation rather than the county it sits in — and only relevant once a test actually clears 4 pCi/L.

Find Minnesota's state radon program

Itasca County's test kit answers today; a Airthings radon monitor keeps answering for Itasca County over time. Affiliate link, RadonZoneCheck earns a commission there, at no extra cost to you. Use code RADONZONE-10OFF at checkout for 10% off.

More on how this number was built

Itasca County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. Whatever zone Itasca County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.