Radon levels in Appleton, Wisconsin
ModerateEPA Zone 2Predicted long-term basement average of 2.3 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 4 modeled ZIP codes in Appleton - about 1.3× the US average of 1.8, close to the Wisconsin average of 2.0. Ranked #5 of 15 Wisconsin cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Outagamie County (its ZIPs also reach into 1 other county).
Test Appleton, WI - the EPA says "consider fixing" in this range
The predicted basement average here is 2.3 pCi/L, in the 2-4 pCi/L band where the EPA recommends considering mitigation. Plenty of individual homes in a moderate area test above 4. Start with a short-term test; if it comes back at 2 or higher, follow up with a long-term test or a continuous monitor.
Already tested at 4 pCi/L or higher? Find a certified mitigation professional (EPA). A mitigation system typically runs $800-$2,500 installed.
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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.
2.3 ± 0.09
pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)
1.3 ± 0.07
pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean
2.1-2.5
range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city
0%
of Appleton ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (100% ≥ 2)
Measured radon tests in Outagamie County (Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1995-2016)
Actual results from home radon tests reported to the state, separate from the model estimate above. Coverage: 1995-2016.
- Measured mean
- 5.0 pCi/L
- Results ≥ 4 pCi/L
- 49.8%
- Results ≥ 2 pCi/L
- 72.5%
- Sample
- 3,762 tests
| Figure | Model (predicted) | State tests (measured) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean, pCi/L | 2.3 basement | 5.0 |
| Share ≥ 4 pCi/L | not a model output | 49.8% |
The measured mean runs 2.7 pCi/L above the model because state test data is voluntary and skews toward basements, winter, and homeowners who already suspected a problem, while the model estimates the long-term average across all homes.
Source: Wisconsin Indoor Radon Test Results (Wisconsin Radon Map Service, layer 3), Wisconsin Department of Health Services. No license statement on the public feature service. Method and download.
What this means for Appleton
The typical Appleton home is predicted in the 2-4 pCi/L band. The EPA's guidance for this range is to consider fixing, because there is no known safe level and a meaningful minority of homes in a moderate area will test above 4.
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 (2) for Outagamie and the 2001-2021 model agree here.
Comparable Wisconsin cities: Eau Claire (2.4), Oshkosh (2.5), La Crosse (2.1), Kenosha (2.0).
ZIP codes in Appleton
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.
Testing help in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's radon program page is at www.dhs.wisconsin.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.
Appleton radon questions
- Is radon high in Appleton, Wisconsin?
- Moderate. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Appleton (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 2.3 pCi/L - about 1.3× the US average of 1.8 and close to the Wisconsin average of 2.0. That is in the 2-4 pCi/L range where the EPA says to consider fixing. Appleton ranks 5 of 15 Wisconsin cities on this site.
- What do actual radon tests show around Appleton?
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services publishes results for Outagamie County (not the city alone) covering 1995-2016 (3,762 tests): an average of 5.0 pCi/L, 49.8% 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 Appleton is 2.3 pCi/L.
- Which Appleton ZIP codes have the highest radon?
- Predictions for the 4 modeled ZIP codes in Appleton range from 2.1 to 2.5 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 100% 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 Appleton?
- Yes, soon. With a predicted basement average of 2.3 pCi/L, a meaningful share of Appleton homes will test above the 4 pCi/L action level. Start with a short-term kit; if it reads 2 or higher, confirm with a long-term test or a continuous monitor before paying for mitigation.
- What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Appleton?
- Appleton sits mainly in Outagamie 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 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone for the city. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
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