Is McDowell County, NC a radon risk area?

EPA places McDowell 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. Rank it against the rest of the country and McDowell County lands in the 54th percentile for radon potential.

How McDowell County compares

About 45,269 people live in McDowell County, North Carolina, spread over 439.954 square miles. That works out to roughly 103 people per square mile. Rank 365 by population within its EPA zone puts McDowell County at the 65th percentile among zone peers. Geologically, McDowell County is grouped into EPA Region 4 alongside 735 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

What this actually means for a house in McDowell County

McDowell County's predicted average falls between EPA's 4 pCi/L action level and the national indoor average of about 1.3 pCi/L (outdoor air runs roughly 0.4 pCi/L). McDowell County's Zone 2 rating sits in the middle nationally; EPA's guidance is unchanged by that — test every home regardless of its zone.

If McDowell County tests above the action level

Nothing about McDowell 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 North Carolina's state radon program

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

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.