Summers County, WV: EPA's radon zone, explained

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

Where Summers County sits nationally

Summers County, West Virginia is home to about 11,544 people across 360.594 square miles. Population density there runs about 32 people per square mile. By population, Summers County is the 732nd largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 31st percentile by population within that zone. Geologically, Summers County is grouped into EPA Region 3 alongside 244 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Summers 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 Summers County will test well under the action level, and EPA's guidance is to test regardless of zone.

If Summers County tests above the action level

For a Summers 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 West Virginia's state radon program

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

Where Summers County's figures come from

Every figure on this page traces to EPA's own Map of Radon Zones and Census data, documented in the methodology guide. Whatever zone Summers County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.