Is Scott County, MN a radon risk area?

Scott County is mapped as Zone 1 - Highest Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted above 4 pCi/L. Nationally, Scott County ranks higher in radon potential than 96% of rated counties (the 96th percentile).

Where Scott County sits nationally

About 157,206 people live in Scott County, Minnesota, spread over 356.081 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Scott County runs about 441 people per square mile. Rank 132 by population within its EPA zone puts Scott County at the 88th percentile among zone peers. Scott County falls in EPA Radon Region 5, one of 524 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

What this actually means for a house in Scott County

Scott 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. 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 Scott County specifically.

Testing and mitigation in Scott County

Nothing about Scott 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 Minnesota's state radon program

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

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