Wayne County, NE: EPA's radon zone, explained

EPA's own radon map rates Wayne County zone 1 - highest potential, predicting a county-wide average indoor level above 4 pCi/L. Wayne County sits at the 76th percentile nationally for radon potential — above 76 of every 100 rated counties.

Wayne County by the numbers

Wayne County, Nebraska is home to about 9,870 people across 442.916 square miles. Averaged across its land area, Wayne County runs about 22 people per square mile. By population, Wayne County is the 765th largest of every county sharing its EPA zone — the 28th percentile by population within that zone. Wayne County falls in EPA Radon Region 7, one of 412 counties nationally EPA assigns to that same geologic province.

Zone vs. an actual test

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

Next steps for a home in Wayne County

For a Wayne 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 Nebraska's state radon program

For Wayne County, an ongoing number beats a one-time test - a Airthings radon monitor tracks Wayne 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 Wayne 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. The guide to what a radon zone actually means covers why testing matters in every zone, not just Zone 1.