Is radon high in Newton, Massachusetts?

Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Newton (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.5 pCi/L - about 15% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the Massachusetts average of 1.8. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Newton ranks 19 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site.

Which Newton ZIP codes have the highest radon?

Predictions for the 10 modeled ZIP codes in Newton range from 1.5 to 1.7 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 Newton?

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

What does EPA Radon Zone 1 mean for Newton?

Newton sits mainly in Middlesex County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 1 - highest potential (predicted average > 4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The newer model's city average of 1.5 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 1, 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 Newton, Massachusetts

LowEPA Zone 1

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 10 modeled ZIP codes in Newton - about 15% below the US average of 1.8, close to the Massachusetts average of 1.8. Ranked #19 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Middlesex County (its ZIPs also reach into 1 other county).

Test Newton, MA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.5 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.

1.5 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.8 ± 0.08

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.5-1.7

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

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

What this means for Newton

The typical Newton home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.5 to 1.7 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 Middlesex County as Zone 1 while the newer model predicts 1.5 pCi/L for Newton; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.

Comparable Massachusetts cities: Waltham (1.6), Lawrence (1.6), Brookline (1.5), Framingham (1.6).

ZIP codes in Newton

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
02459	28%	1.5 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
02465	12%	1.6 ± 0.05	0.8	Low
02458	11%	1.5 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
02466	9%	1.7 ± 0.08	0.8	Low
02461	9%	1.6 ± 0.07	0.8	Low
02468	9%	1.5 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
02467	8%	1.6 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
02460	8%	1.6 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
02462	4%	1.6 ± 0.04	0.8	Low
02464	3%	1.5 ± 0.05	0.7	Low

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.

Newton radon questions

Is radon high in Newton, Massachusetts?: Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Newton (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.5 pCi/L - about 15% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the Massachusetts average of 1.8. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Newton ranks 19 of 29 Massachusetts cities on this site.
Which Newton ZIP codes have the highest radon?: Predictions for the 10 modeled ZIP codes in Newton range from 1.5 to 1.7 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 Newton?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Newton's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 1 mean for Newton?: Newton sits mainly in Middlesex County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 1 - highest potential (predicted average > 4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The newer model's city average of 1.5 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 1, 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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