Patrick County, VA: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Patrick County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. Rank it against the rest of the country and Patrick County lands in the 81st percentile for radon potential.

Patrick County by the numbers

Patrick County, Virginia is home to about 17,308 people across 482.957 square miles. That works out to roughly 36 people per square mile. By population, Patrick County is the 610th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 43rd percentile by population within that zone. EPA's geology-based Region 3 groups Patrick County with 244 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Zone vs. an actual test

Fixing a home becomes an EPA recommendation past 4 pCi/L, and that is precisely the side of the line Patrick County's Zone 1 prediction lands on, well above the roughly 1.3 pCi/L most US homes average. 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 Patrick County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

Next steps for a home in Patrick County

For a Patrick County homeowner, the order is simple: test first, since a kit costs a small fraction of what mitigation would. Only if the result clears 4 pCi/L does a system — typically $800–$2,500, about $1,200 for a common install — become worth pricing out.

Find Virginia's state radon program

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

Where Patrick County's figures come from

Every figure on this page traces to EPA's own Map of Radon Zones and Census data, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.