Is Saunders County, NE a radon risk area?

EPA places Saunders 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. Saunders County sits at the 83rd percentile nationally for radon potential — above 83 of every 100 rated counties.

Saunders County by the numbers

About 23,406 people live in Saunders County, Nebraska, spread over 748.703 square miles. That works out to roughly 31 people per square mile. Rank 531 by population within its EPA zone puts Saunders County at the 50th percentile among zone peers. Saunders County falls in EPA Radon Region 7, one of 412 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

What this actually means for a house in Saunders County

Saunders 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. A Zone 1 rating means testing is worth doing sooner rather than later, but it is still county-wide average, not a reading for any single house — some homes in Saunders County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

Next steps for a home in Saunders County

Nothing about Saunders 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 Nebraska's state radon program

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

Saunders County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. Whatever zone Saunders County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.