What EPA's radon map says about Pickens County

EPA places Pickens 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. Nationally that's the 45th percentile for radon potential — Pickens County outranks 45% of every county EPA has rated.

How Pickens County compares

About 18,508 people live in Pickens County, Alabama, spread over 881.387 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Pickens County runs about 21 people per square mile. Among counties sharing Pickens County's EPA zone, it outranks 37% of them by population. Geologically, Pickens County is grouped into EPA Region 4 alongside 735 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Zone vs. an actual test

Pickens 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). A Zone 2 rating is a moderate county-wide average, not a guarantee about any one house in Pickens County — testing is the only way to know an individual home's actual level.

Next steps for a home in Pickens County

Mitigation cost doesn't depend on Pickens County's zone — it depends on the house's foundation. A typical system runs $800–$2,500 (about $1,200 typical), and testing first is what tells you whether that's needed at all.

Find Alabama's state radon program

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

The methodology guide shows exactly which EPA and Census sources feed Pickens County's numbers. If you're unsure why a low zone still deserves a test, the zone explainer covers that directly.