Prairie County, AR: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Prairie County zone 3 - low potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level below 2 pCi/L. Rank it against the rest of the country and Prairie County lands in the 5th percentile for radon potential.

Prairie County by the numbers

Prairie County, Arkansas is home to about 7,935 people across 647.516 square miles. That works out to roughly 12 people per square mile. By population, Prairie County is the 880th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 15th percentile by population within that zone. Geologically, Prairie County is grouped into EPA Region 6 alongside 502 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Prairie County's Zone 3 prediction undercuts the roughly 1.3 pCi/L most US homes average, nowhere near EPA's 4 pCi/L threshold for recommending mitigation. A Zone 3 rating means Prairie County's county-wide average is predicted low, but EPA is explicit that a meaningful share of homes in low-potential zones still test above the action level — a low zone is not a reason to skip testing.

Testing and mitigation in Prairie County

For a Prairie 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 Arkansas's state radon program

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

Where Prairie County's figures come from

The methodology guide shows exactly which EPA and Census sources feed Prairie County's numbers. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.