Tama County, IA radon potential

Tama County is mapped as Zone 1 - Highest Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted above 4 pCi/L. That puts Tama County in the 80th percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 80% of the counties EPA has rated.

How Tama County compares

Tama County, Iowa is home to about 16,738 people across 721.011 square miles. Population density there runs about 23 people per square mile. Within its own EPA zone, Tama County is bigger by population than 42% of the counties that share it. EPA's geology-based Region 7 groups Tama County with 411 other counties nationally sharing its underlying rock and soil profile.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Where the national indoor average runs about 1.3 pCi/L, Tama County's Zone 1 rating puts its predicted county average above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level itself. Being in Zone 1 raises the odds Tama County homes test above the action level, but it does not mean any specific house does — EPA recommends every home be tested, in every zone, because the only way to know is to test.

If Tama County tests above the action level

A short-term test kit is the standard first step and typically costs far less than mitigation itself. If a test comes back at or above 4 pCi/L, a radon mitigation system for a typical home runs roughly $800–$2,500 (around $1,200 for a common single-family install), driven mainly by foundation type, not by county.

Find Iowa's state radon program

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

Where Tama 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 Tama County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.