Traverse County, MN: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA places Traverse 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. Nationally that's the 69th percentile for radon potential — Traverse County outranks 69% of every county EPA has rated.

How Traverse County compares

Traverse County, Minnesota is home to about 3,134 people across 573.872 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Traverse County runs about 5 people per square mile. By population, Traverse County is the 977th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 8th percentile by population within that zone. Traverse County falls in EPA Radon Region 5, one of 524 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

Why the zone isn't the answer by itself

Fixing a home becomes an EPA recommendation past 4 pCi/L, and that is precisely the side of the line Traverse County's Zone 1 prediction lands on, well above the roughly 1.3 pCi/L most US homes average. That doesn't mean every Traverse County house tests high — a zone is a county-wide prediction, never a single-home reading — but it's a reason to test sooner rather than let it wait.

If Traverse County tests above the action level

For a Traverse 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 Minnesota's state radon program

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

Where Traverse County's figures come from

Traverse County's zone, rank and region all trace back to named EPA and Census sources — the methodology guide lists exactly which ones. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.