Radon levels in Burlington, Vermont
LowEPA Zone 3Predicted long-term basement average of 1.2 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 2 modeled ZIP codes in Burlington - about 32% below the US average of 1.8, about 28% below the Vermont average of 1.7. Ranked #1 of 1 Vermont cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Chittenden County.
Test Burlington, VT once anyway - radon varies house to house
The predicted basement average here is 1.2 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. Measured state test results are shown separately below, labeled with their source and years. How the numbers work.
1.2 ± 0.06
pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)
0.7 ± 0.08
pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean
1.2-1.3
range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city
0%
of Burlington ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (0% ≥ 2)
Measured radon tests in Chittenden County (Vermont Department of Health, 1994-2025)
Actual results from home radon tests reported to the state, separate from the model estimate above. Coverage: 1994-2025.
- Results ≥ 4 pCi/L
- 10.2%
- Sample
- 8,191 residences tested
| Figure | Model (predicted) | State tests (measured) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean, pCi/L | 1.4 basement | - |
| Share ≥ 4 pCi/L | not a model output | 10.2% |
The model and the state test data land within a few tenths of a pCi/L of each other here; the model estimates a long-term basement average while the tests are voluntary, mostly short-term results.
Source: VT Data - Radon Tests by Town, Vermont Department of Health, Environmental Public Health Tracking. Public Vermont Department of Health data. Method and download.
What this means for Burlington
The typical Burlington 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 1.3 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). The 1993 EPA zone (3) for Chittenden and the 2001-2021 model agree here.
Comparable Vermont cities: New York (1.1), Buffalo (0.7), Yonkers (1.3), Rochester (1.2).
ZIP codes in Burlington
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05401 | 59% | 1.3 ± 0.07 | 0.7 | Low |
| 05408 | 39% | 1.2 ± 0.05 | 0.7 | Low |
| 05405 | 2% | — | — | no model |
Testing help in Vermont
Vermont's radon program page is at www.healthvermont.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.
Burlington radon questions
- Is radon high in Burlington, Vermont?
- Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Burlington (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.2 pCi/L - about 32% below the US average of 1.8 and about 28% below the Vermont average of 1.7. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Burlington ranks 1 of 1 Vermont cities on this site.
- What do actual radon tests show around Burlington?
- Vermont Department of Health publishes results for Chittenden County (not the city alone) covering 1994-2025 (8,191 tested residences): 10.2% of results at or above the 4 pCi/L action level. These are voluntary home tests, so they skew toward basements and toward homes where radon was suspected; the model's predicted basement average for Burlington is 1.2 pCi/L.
- Which Burlington ZIP codes have the highest radon?
- Predictions for the 2 modeled ZIP codes in Burlington range from 1.2 to 1.3 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 Burlington?
- Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Burlington's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
- What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Burlington?
- Burlington sits mainly in Chittenden County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 3 - low potential (< 2 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone for the city. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
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