Radon levels in Michigan: Low

The model predicts a population-weighted basement average of 1.6 pCi/L (model estimate) across Michigan's 83 counties - close to the US average of 1.8 pCi/L. Above-ground floors average 1.0 pCi/L.

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.

9 / 83

EPA Zone 1 counties (11%)

32 / 42

Zone 2 / Zone 3 counties

0

counties predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L

0%

of ZIP codes predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L

Test Michigan once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.6 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.

Get a short-term test kit →Or track it with a continuous monitor

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What the data says about radon in Michigan

9 of Michigan's 83 counties are EPA Zone 1 (11%), 32 are Zone 2 and 42 are Zone 3 on the EPA's county-level map. Most counties fall in Zone 3, the EPA's lowest-potential class (predicted screening average under 2 pCi/L), but 9 counties are still Zone 1. The zones were drawn once, from geology and the tests available in 1993, and the EPA itself notes that homes with elevated radon exist in all three zones.

Weighted by where people live, Michigan's predicted basement average is 1.6 pCi/L - close to the US average of 1.8 - which puts the state in the low range. Of the 83 counties with predictions, 0 are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L, 17 in the 2-4 band and 66 below 2. The highest predicted county is Branch County at 3.5 pCi/L; the lowest is Midland County at 0.9 - a 2.5 pCi/L spread that means a statewide average tells you little about any one county.

Nationally 4.2% of ZIPs are predicted at 4+ pCi/L and 48.7% at 2+; in Michigan it is 0% and 24.5% - below the national figures on both counts. No ZIP in the state is predicted above 4 on average - but averages hide individual homes, which is why the EPA still asks everyone to test.

Michigan counties by predicted radon

Sorted highest to lowest predicted basement average (model estimate). 83 counties.

CountyPredicted basementUpstairsGradeEPA zoneZIPs
Branch County3.5 pCi/L2.2ModerateEPA Zone 16
Hillsdale County3.4 pCi/L2.0ModerateEPA Zone 112
Lenawee County3.0 pCi/L1.9ModerateEPA Zone 117
Jackson County2.9 pCi/L1.9ModerateEPA Zone 117
Otsego County2.6 pCi/L1.1ModerateEPA Zone 23
St. Joseph County2.6 pCi/L1.9ModerateEPA Zone 19
Calhoun County2.4 pCi/L1.7ModerateEPA Zone 112
Cass County2.3 pCi/L1.4ModerateEPA Zone 17
Dickinson County2.3 pCi/L1.1ModerateEPA Zone 29
Kalamazoo County2.2 pCi/L1.5ModerateEPA Zone 117
Barry County2.2 pCi/L1.3ModerateEPA Zone 28
Iron County2.2 pCi/L1.2ModerateEPA Zone 23
Ionia County2.1 pCi/L1.2ModerateEPA Zone 211
Lapeer County2.1 pCi/L1.1ModerateEPA Zone 211
Shiawassee County2.0 pCi/L1.2ModerateEPA Zone 212
Livingston County2.0 pCi/L1.4ModerateEPA Zone 210
Eaton County2.0 pCi/L1.3ModerateEPA Zone 211
Washtenaw County2.0 pCi/L1.4LowEPA Zone 112
Clinton County2.0 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 210
Tuscola County2.0 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 313
Montcalm County1.9 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 215
Sanilac County1.9 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 216
Kalkaska County1.9 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 34
Monroe County1.9 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 216
Mecosta County1.8 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 37
Montmorency County1.8 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 22
Alcona County1.8 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 210
Berrien County1.8 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 319
Ogemaw County1.8 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 35
Marquette County1.8 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 210
Grand Traverse County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 34
Oscoda County1.7 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 35
Missaukee County1.7 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 34
Presque Isle County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 26
Van Buren County1.7 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 312
Crawford County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 32
Roscommon County1.7 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 34
Benzie County1.7 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 37
Osceola County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 37
Charlevoix County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 24
Clare County1.7 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 34
Oakland County1.6 pCi/L1.2LowEPA Zone 268
Manistee County1.6 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 38
Antrim County1.6 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 29
Genesee County1.6 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 222
Wexford County1.6 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 35
Leelanau County1.6 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 26
Huron County1.5 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 313
Ingham County1.5 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 216
Allegan County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 314
Isabella County1.5 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 35
Lake County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 36
Oceana County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 38
St. Clair County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 321
Emmet County1.5 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 28
Keweenaw County1.5 pCi/L1.1LowEPA Zone 21
Gratiot County1.5 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 312
Kent County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 227
Newaygo County1.5 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 36
Gogebic County1.5 pCi/L1.0LowEPA Zone 25
Saginaw County1.4 pCi/L0.6LowEPA Zone 318
Delta County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 38
Gladwin County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 34
Iosco County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 37
Luce County1.4 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 32
Alger County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 29
Mackinac County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 310
Macomb County1.4 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 336
Arenac County1.3 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 36
Baraga County1.3 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 26
Cheboygan County1.3 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 34
Menominee County1.3 pCi/L0.9LowEPA Zone 211
Ottawa County1.3 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 313
Chippewa County1.3 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 313
Ontonagon County1.2 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 35
Wayne County1.2 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 366
Bay County1.2 pCi/L0.6LowEPA Zone 39
Schoolcraft County1.2 pCi/L0.6LowEPA Zone 34
Mason County1.1 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 35
Houghton County1.1 pCi/L0.8LowEPA Zone 212
Muskegon County1.1 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 313
Alpena County1.0 pCi/L0.7LowEPA Zone 24
Midland County0.9 pCi/L0.6LowEPA Zone 35

Radon levels in Michigan cities

The 27 most-populous Michigan places among the 1,000 largest US cities (Census incorporated places and CDPs), by population. City figures are ZIP-land-weighted means of the model's ZIP predictions (model estimate).

CityPopulationPredicted basementUpstairsGradeZIPs ≥ 4
Detroit633,2181.0 pCi/L0.7Low0%
Grand Rapids196,6081.3 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Warren136,6551.1 pCi/L0.7Low0%
Sterling Heights133,3061.4 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Ann Arbor119,3812.0 pCi/L1.6Low0%
Lansing112,1151.6 pCi/L1.1Low0%
Dearborn105,8111.2 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Livonia92,1851.5 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Troy87,3391.4 pCi/L1.0Low0%
Westland82,5741.2 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Farmington Hills82,5281.7 pCi/L1.3Low0%
Flint79,6611.4 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Wyoming77,4511.6 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Rochester Hills76,0021.6 pCi/L1.0Low0%
Southfield75,6871.3 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Kalamazoo73,1262.2 pCi/L1.4Moderate0%
Novi66,3141.6 pCi/L1.3Low0%
Pontiac61,6891.7 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Taylor61,2411.3 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Dearborn Heights60,8721.3 pCi/L0.9Low0%
St. Clair Shores57,5481.1 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Royal Oak57,4521.0 pCi/L0.8Low0%
Kentwood53,9871.4 pCi/L0.9Low0%
Battle Creek52,1752.2 pCi/L1.6Moderate0%
Portage49,3022.0 pCi/L1.6Moderate0%
East Lansing48,5281.3 pCi/L1.0Low0%
Roseville46,6661.0 pCi/L0.7Low0%

Highest-radon ZIP codes in Michigan

The 10 Michigan ZIP codes with the highest predicted basement average (model estimate), out of 903 modeled. A ZIP average is still an area figure - neighboring homes routinely test several pCi/L apart.

ZIPCountyPredicted basementUpstairsGrade
49286Lenawee County3.9 pCi/L2.4Moderate
49242Hillsdale County3.7 pCi/L2.0Moderate
49250Hillsdale County3.7 pCi/L2.1Moderate
49036Branch County3.7 pCi/L2.4Moderate
49230Jackson County3.5 pCi/L2.0Moderate
49266Hillsdale County3.5 pCi/L2.1Moderate
49233Jackson County3.4 pCi/L2.0Moderate
48158Washtenaw County3.4 pCi/L2.0Moderate
49227Hillsdale County3.3 pCi/L2.0Moderate
49262Hillsdale County3.3 pCi/L2.0Moderate

Michigan radon questions

Is radon high in Michigan?
Michigan's population-weighted predicted basement average is 1.6 pCi/L, close to the US average of 1.8. 0 of its 83 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 17 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 66 are below 2. 0% of Michigan ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.
Which Michigan county has the highest radon?
Branch County has the highest predicted basement average in Michigan at 3.5 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Midland County at 0.9 pCi/L. These are area figures; individual homes in any county can test far higher.
How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in Michigan?
9 of Michigan's 83 counties (11%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 32 are Zone 2 and 42 are Zone 3. The EPA zone map dates from 1993; the predicted values on this page come from a 2001-2021 model built on millions of actual tests, so the two can disagree for a given county.
Should I test for radon in Michigan?
Yes. Even though Michigan's predicted average is below 2 pCi/L, the EPA recommends every home be tested - radon varies house to house, and 24.5% of Michigan ZIP codes are still predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher.

Michigan radon program

Michigan's radon program page is at www.michigan.gov; it lists testing and certified-mitigator guidance for the state. The EPA also keeps a directory of every state radon contact: EPA state radon contacts page. Then read how to test and what mitigation costs.