Is Rockingham County, VA a radon risk area?

EPA places Rockingham County in Zone 1 - Highest Potential — a predicted county-wide average indoor radon level above 4 pCi/L, based on the geology, soil and aerial radioactivity data behind EPA's national map. Nationally that's the 93rd percentile for radon potential — Rockingham County outranks 93% of every county EPA has rated.

Rockingham County by the numbers

About 87,674 people live in Rockingham County, Virginia, spread over 849.796 square miles. Population density there runs about 103 people per square mile. Rank 213 by population within its EPA zone puts Rockingham County at the 80th percentile among zone peers. Geologically, Rockingham County is grouped into EPA Region 3 alongside 244 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

What this actually means for a house in Rockingham County

Fixing a home becomes an EPA recommendation past 4 pCi/L, and that is precisely the side of the line Rockingham County's Zone 1 prediction lands on, well above the roughly 1.3 pCi/L most US homes average. EPA's guidance doesn't change because of a Zone 1 label: test the house. What changes is the reason to not put it off in Rockingham County specifically.

Next steps for a home in Rockingham County

Nothing about Rockingham County's EPA zone changes the mitigation number: $800–$2,500 nationally (around $1,200 typical), set by the house's foundation rather than the county it sits in — and only relevant once a test actually clears 4 pCi/L.

Find Virginia's state radon program

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

Rockingham 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.