Radon levels in Ann Arbor, Michigan
LowEPA Zone 1Predicted long-term basement average of 2.0 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 4 modeled ZIP codes in Ann Arbor - close to the US average of 1.8, about 1.2× the Michigan average of 1.6. Ranked #4 of 27 Michigan cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Washtenaw County.
Test Ann Arbor, MI once anyway - radon varies house to house
The predicted basement average here is 2.0 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.
2.0 ± 0.08
pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)
1.6 ± 0.06
pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean
1.6-2.2
range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city
0%
of Ann Arbor ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (50% ≥ 2)
What this means for Ann Arbor
The typical Ann Arbor home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.6 to 2.2 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 Washtenaw County as Zone 1 while the newer model predicts 2.0 pCi/L for Ann Arbor; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.
Comparable Michigan cities: Portage (2.0), Battle Creek (2.2), Kalamazoo (2.2), Farmington Hills (1.7).
ZIP codes in Ann Arbor
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48103 | 30% | 2.1 ± 0.07 | 1.7 | Moderate |
| 48105 | 27% | 1.9 ± 0.08 | 1.5 | Low |
| 48104 | 26% | 2.2 ± 0.07 | 1.5 | Moderate |
| 48108 | 12% | 1.6 ± 0.10 | 1.4 | Low |
| 48109 | 5% | — | — | no model |
Testing help in Michigan
Michigan's radon program page is at www.michigan.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.
Ann Arbor radon questions
- Is radon high in Ann Arbor, Michigan?
- Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Ann Arbor (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 2.0 pCi/L - close to the US average of 1.8 and about 1.2× the Michigan average of 1.6. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Ann Arbor ranks 4 of 27 Michigan cities on this site.
- Which Ann Arbor ZIP codes have the highest radon?
- Predictions for the 4 modeled ZIP codes in Ann Arbor range from 1.6 to 2.2 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 50% 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 Ann Arbor?
- Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Ann Arbor's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
- What does EPA Radon Zone 1 mean for Ann Arbor?
- Ann Arbor sits mainly in Washtenaw 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 2.0 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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