Is Van Buren County, MI a radon risk area?

Van Buren County is mapped as Zone 3 - Low Potential by EPA — meaning the county-wide average indoor level is predicted below 2 pCi/L. That puts Van Buren County in the 25th percentile nationally for radon potential — higher than 25% of the counties EPA has rated.

Where Van Buren County sits nationally

About 76,129 people live in Van Buren County, Michigan, spread over 607.797 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Van Buren County runs about 125 people per square mile. Rank 259 by population within its EPA zone puts Van Buren County at the 75th percentile among zone peers. Van Buren 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

At Zone 3, Van Buren County's predicted county average is under the national indoor average (~1.3 pCi/L) and well below EPA's 4 pCi/L action level — outdoor air nationally runs about 0.4 pCi/L for comparison. Even at Zone 3, Van Buren County homes are not guaranteed a low reading — zone is a county-wide average, and EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.

If Van Buren County tests above the action level

Nothing about Van Buren 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 Michigan's state radon program

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

Van Buren 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.