Is radon high in New Bedford, Massachusetts?

Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across New Bedford (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.4 pCi/L - about 20% below the US average of 1.8 and about 19% below the Massachusetts average of 1.8. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. New Bedford ranks 21 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site.

Which New Bedford ZIP codes have the highest radon?

Predictions for the 5 modeled ZIP codes in New Bedford range from 1.1 to 2.4 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 20% at or above 2. That spread is why the ZIP table below matters more than the city-wide number.

Should I test for radon in New Bedford?

Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; New Bedford's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.

What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for New Bedford?

New Bedford sits mainly in Bristol 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 1.4 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.

Radon levels in New Bedford, Massachusetts

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.4 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 5 modeled ZIP codes in New Bedford - about 20% below the US average of 1.8, about 19% below the Massachusetts average of 1.8. Ranked #21 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Bristol County.

Test New Bedford, MA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.4 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.

1.4 ± 0.05

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.8 ± 0.07

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.1-2.4

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

of New Bedford ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (20% ≥ 2)

What this means for New Bedford

The typical New Bedford home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.1 to 2.4 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 city's land in each ZIP (Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). Note that the EPA classifies Bristol County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.4 pCi/L for New Bedford; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.

Comparable Massachusetts cities: Brookline (1.5), Malden (1.4), Newton (1.5), Cambridge (1.3).

ZIP codes in New Bedford

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

ZIP	Share of city	Basement	Upstairs	Grade
02745	47%	1.6 ± 0.05	0.9	Low
02740	29%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
02746	14%	1.1 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
02744	7%	1.2 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
02747	3%	2.4 ± 0.08	1.1	Moderate

Testing help in Massachusetts

We link only state program pages we could verify, and Massachusetts's did not respond when we checked, so start from the 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.

New Bedford radon questions

Is radon high in New Bedford, Massachusetts?: Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across New Bedford (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.4 pCi/L - about 20% below the US average of 1.8 and about 19% below the Massachusetts average of 1.8. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. New Bedford ranks 21 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site.
Which New Bedford ZIP codes have the highest radon?: Predictions for the 5 modeled ZIP codes in New Bedford range from 1.1 to 2.4 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 20% at or above 2. That spread is why the ZIP table below matters more than the city-wide number.
Should I test for radon in New Bedford?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; New Bedford's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for New Bedford?: New Bedford sits mainly in Bristol 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 1.4 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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