Radon levels in Catalina Foothills, Arizona

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.7 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 3 modeled ZIP codes in Catalina Foothills - close to the US average of 1.8, close to the Arizona average of 1.7. Ranked #18 of 27 Arizona cities on this site. Most of the census-designated place lies in Pima County.

Test Catalina Foothills, AZ once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.7 pCi/L, below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold. That's good news for the area - but the EPA still recommends every home be tested, because foundation cracks, soil pockets and ventilation make one house very different from its neighbor. One inexpensive kit settles it.

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Predicted (model estimate). The pCi/L figures on this page are long-term area averages from a peer-reviewed national model built on millions of real radon tests (2001-2021). They describe the typical home in this area - not your home, which can be several times higher or lower. The EPA radon zone is a separate, 1993 county-level classification. How the numbers work.

1.7 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

1.0 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.7-1.8

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

0%

of Catalina Foothills ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (0% ≥ 2)

What this means for Catalina Foothills

The typical Catalina Foothills home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.7 to 1.8 pCi/L.

The city figure is not a separate estimate: it is the mean of the model's ZIP-code predictions, weighted by the share of the census-designated place's land in each ZIP (Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). Note that the EPA classifies Pima County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.7 pCi/L for Catalina Foothills; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.

Comparable Arizona cities: Gilbert (1.7), Tucson (1.7), Avondale (1.7), Phoenix (1.7).

ZIP codes in Catalina Foothills

ZIPs that overlap the census-designated place, largest share of its land first. Predicted basement and upstairs means are model estimates; ZIPs the model does not cover show a dash.

ZIPShare of cityBasementUpstairsGrade
8571854%1.8 ± 0.061.0Low
8575042%1.7 ± 0.050.9Low
857154%1.8 ± 0.061.0Low

Testing help in Arizona

Arizona's radon program page is at www.azdhs.gov; it lists testing and certified-mitigator guidance. EPA state radon contacts page. If a test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher, mitigation typically costs $800-$2,500 installed; use EPA find-a-professional and read the mitigation guide.

Catalina Foothills radon questions

Is radon high in Catalina Foothills, Arizona?
Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Catalina Foothills (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.7 pCi/L - close to the US average of 1.8 and close to the Arizona average of 1.7. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Catalina Foothills ranks 18 of 27 Arizona cities on this site.
Which Catalina Foothills ZIP codes have the highest radon?
Predictions for the 3 modeled ZIP codes in Catalina Foothills range from 1.7 to 1.8 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 0% at or above 2. The city is fairly uniform, so the city-wide number is a reasonable guide for any neighborhood.
Should I test for radon in Catalina Foothills?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Catalina Foothills's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Catalina Foothills?
Catalina Foothills sits mainly in Pima County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 2 - moderate potential (2-4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The newer model's city average of 1.7 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 2, which is common - the EPA itself says high-radon homes exist in every zone. Neither replaces a test of your own home.

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