Pope County, MN: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Pope County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. Pope County sits at the 77th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 77 of every 100 rated counties.

Pope County by the numbers

Pope County, Minnesota is home to about 11,495 people across 674.559 square miles. Population density there runs about 17 people per square mile. By population, Pope County is the 735th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 31st percentile by population within that zone. Geologically, Pope County is grouped into EPA Region 5 alongside 523 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Zone vs. an actual test

Pope County's predicted average sits above EPA's own action level of 4 pCi/L — the concentration at which EPA recommends fixing a home — versus a national average around 1.3 pCi/L indoors and 0.4 pCi/L outdoors. That doesn't mean every Pope County house tests high — a zone is a county-wide prediction, never a single-home reading — but it's a reason to test sooner rather than let it wait.

Testing and mitigation in Pope County

For a Pope 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 Minnesota'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. RADONZONE-10OFF at checkout knocks 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. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.