Taylor County, IA: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Taylor County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. That puts Taylor County in the 72nd percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 72% of the counties EPA has rated.

Where Taylor County sits nationally

Taylor County, Iowa is home to about 5,825 people across 531.902 square miles. That works out to roughly 11 people per square mile. By population, Taylor County is the 888th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 17th percentile by population within that zone. Geologically, Taylor County is grouped into EPA Region 7 alongside 411 other counties that share its rock and soil setting.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Taylor County carries a Zone 1 label because its predicted average clears 4 pCi/L outright — three-plus times the 0.4 pCi/L typical outdoors and above the 1.3 pCi/L most homes see. Being in Zone 1 raises the odds Taylor 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.

Testing and mitigation in Taylor County

For a Taylor 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 Iowa's state radon program

For Taylor County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor County carries, the zone explainer covers what it does and doesn't tell you about any one house.