Is Orleans County, VT a radon risk area?

EPA places Orleans 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. Orleans County sits at the 50th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 50 of every 100 rated counties.

Where Orleans County sits nationally

About 27,726 people live in Orleans County, Vermont, spread over 694.553 square miles. That works out to roughly 40 people per square mile. Rank 507 by population within its EPA zone puts Orleans County at the 51st percentile among zone peers. EPA's geology-based Region 1 groups Orleans County with 58 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Neither at the 4 pCi/L action level nor down at the roughly 1.3 pCi/L national indoor norm, Orleans County's Zone 2 prediction lands in the gap between the two. Orleans 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 Orleans County tests above the action level

Nothing about Orleans 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 Vermont's state radon program

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

More on how this number was built

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