Is radon high in Raleigh, North Carolina?

Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Raleigh (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.5 pCi/L - about 19% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the North Carolina average of 1.7. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Raleigh ranks 9 of 26 North Carolina cities on this site.

Which Raleigh ZIP codes have the highest radon?

Predictions for the 15 modeled ZIP codes in Raleigh range from 1.2 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 Raleigh?

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

What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Raleigh?

Raleigh sits mainly in Wake 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 1.5 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 Raleigh, North Carolina

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 15 modeled ZIP codes in Raleigh - about 19% below the US average of 1.8, close to the North Carolina average of 1.7. Ranked #9 of 26 North Carolina cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Wake County.

Test Raleigh, NC 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)

1.0 ± 0.09

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.2-1.7

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

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

What this means for Raleigh

The typical Raleigh home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.2 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 Wake County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.5 pCi/L for Raleigh; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both.

Comparable North Carolina cities: Huntersville (1.5), Concord (1.4), Rocky Mount (1.4), Wilson (1.4).

ZIP codes in Raleigh

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
27610	15%	1.7 ± 0.05	1.5	Low
27612	10%	1.3 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
27607	10%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
27616	9%	1.7 ± 0.07	1.3	Low
27615	8%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
27604	8%	1.6 ± 0.05	1.3	Low
27609	8%	1.4 ± 0.05	1.1	Low
27606	7%	1.4 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
27617	5%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
27603	5%	1.4 ± 0.05	0.7	Low
27614	5%	1.6 ± 0.06	1.1	Low
27613	5%	1.2 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
27608	2%	1.4 ± 0.07	0.8	Low
27601	1%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
27605	1%	1.3 ± 0.05	0.9	Low
27695	<1%	—	—	no model
27697	<1%	—	—	no model

Testing help in North Carolina

We link only state program pages we could verify, and North Carolina'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.

Raleigh radon questions

Is radon high in Raleigh, North Carolina?: Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Raleigh (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.5 pCi/L - about 19% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the North Carolina average of 1.7. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Raleigh ranks 9 of 26 North Carolina cities on this site.
Which Raleigh ZIP codes have the highest radon?: Predictions for the 15 modeled ZIP codes in Raleigh range from 1.2 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 Raleigh?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Raleigh's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Raleigh?: Raleigh sits mainly in Wake 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 1.5 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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