Is radon high in Portsmouth, Virginia?

Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Portsmouth (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.2 pCi/L - about 34% below the US average of 1.8 and about 28% below the Virginia average of 1.6. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Portsmouth ranks 16 of 21 Virginia cities on this site.

Which Portsmouth ZIP codes have the highest radon?

Predictions for the 5 modeled ZIP codes in Portsmouth range from 1.1 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 Portsmouth?

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

What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Portsmouth?

Portsmouth sits mainly in Portsmouth city, 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.

Radon levels in Portsmouth, Virginia

LowEPA Zone 3

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.2 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 5 modeled ZIP codes in Portsmouth - about 34% below the US average of 1.8, about 28% below the Virginia average of 1.6. Ranked #16 of 21 Virginia cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Portsmouth city.

Test Portsmouth, VA 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. How the numbers work.

1.2 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.6 ± 0.08

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.1-1.3

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

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

What this means for Portsmouth

The typical Portsmouth 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 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 Portsmouth city and the 2001-2021 model agree here.

Comparable Virginia cities: Centreville (1.2), Reston (1.2), Norfolk (1.2), Newport News (1.2).

ZIP codes in Portsmouth

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
23703	42%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
23701	23%	1.1 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
23704	14%	1.1 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
23707	12%	1.1 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
23702	7%	1.1 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
23709	2%	—	—	no model
23708	1%	—	—	no model

Testing help in Virginia

Virginia's radon program page is at www.vdh.virginia.gov and, when we checked it, offered discounted radon test kits. 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.

Portsmouth radon questions

Is radon high in Portsmouth, Virginia?: Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Portsmouth (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.2 pCi/L - about 34% below the US average of 1.8 and about 28% below the Virginia average of 1.6. That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Portsmouth ranks 16 of 21 Virginia cities on this site.
Which Portsmouth ZIP codes have the highest radon?: Predictions for the 5 modeled ZIP codes in Portsmouth range from 1.1 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 Portsmouth?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Portsmouth's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Portsmouth?: Portsmouth sits mainly in Portsmouth city, 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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