Pope County, IL radon potential

EPA's own radon map rates Pope County zone 2 - moderate potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. That puts Pope County in the 35th percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 35% of the counties EPA has rated.

Where Pope County sits nationally

Pope County, Illinois is home to about 3,703 people across 368.867 square miles. Population density there runs about 10 people per square mile. Within its own EPA zone, Pope County is bigger by population than 6% of the counties that share it. Pope County falls in EPA Radon Region 5, one of 524 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Pope County's Zone 2 prediction clears the 1.3 pCi/L national indoor average without reaching EPA's own 4 pCi/L point for recommending a fix. A county-wide moderate average, like Pope 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 Pope County

A short-term test kit is the standard first step and typically costs far less than mitigation itself. If a test comes back at or above 4 pCi/L, a radon mitigation system for a typical home runs roughly $800–$2,500 (around $1,200 for a common single-family install), driven mainly by foundation type, not by county.

Find Illinois's state radon program

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

Where Pope County's figures come from

Pope County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. If you're unsure why a low zone still deserves a test, the zone explainer covers that directly.