Radon levels in Minnesota: Moderate
The model predicts a population-weighted basement average of 2.4 pCi/L across Minnesota's 87 counties - about 1.4× the US average of 1.8 pCi/L. Above-ground floors average 1.7 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.
68 / 87
EPA Zone 1 counties (78%)
19 / 0
Zone 2 / Zone 3 counties
9
counties predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
8.6%
of ZIP codes predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
Minnesota counties by predicted radon
Sorted highest to lowest predicted basement average. 87 counties.
| County | Predicted basement | Upstairs | Grade | EPA zone | ZIPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | 4.7 pCi/L | 2.6 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| Murray County | 4.4 pCi/L | 2.5 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Lincoln County | 4.3 pCi/L | 2.5 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Nobles County | 4.3 pCi/L | 2.3 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Jackson County | 4.2 pCi/L | 2.3 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Pipestone County | 4.2 pCi/L | 2.4 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Renville County | 4.1 pCi/L | 2.4 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Cottonwood County | 4.1 pCi/L | 2.4 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Lac qui Parle County | 4.0 pCi/L | 2.4 | High | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Lyon County | 4.0 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| Redwood County | 3.9 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 14 |
| Yellow Medicine County | 3.9 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Brown County | 3.9 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Polk County | 3.9 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 16 |
| Martin County | 3.8 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Chippewa County | 3.8 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Fillmore County | 3.7 pCi/L | 2.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 11 |
| Watonwan County | 3.7 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Faribault County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| Traverse County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Douglas County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Big Stone County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Freeborn County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Stevens County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Sibley County | 3.5 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Waseca County | 3.5 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Kandiyohi County | 3.5 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 11 |
| Wabasha County | 3.5 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Clay County | 3.5 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Grant County | 3.4 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Steele County | 3.4 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Houston County | 3.3 pCi/L | 2.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Dodge County | 3.3 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Norman County | 3.3 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Marshall County | 3.3 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| McLeod County | 3.2 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Goodhue County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Winona County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Nicollet County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Blue Earth County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 12 |
| Red Lake County | 3.2 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Swift County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Mahnomen County | 3.2 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Meeker County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Rice County | 3.2 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Kittson County | 3.1 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Otter Tail County | 3.1 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 20 |
| Pope County | 3.1 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Le Sueur County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| Wilkin County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Becker County | 3.0 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 9 |
| Olmsted County | 2.9 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 10 |
| Todd County | 2.9 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 11 |
| Wadena County | 2.9 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Mower County | 2.8 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 14 |
| Pennington County | 2.8 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Clearwater County | 2.7 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 6 |
| Stearns County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 19 |
| Wright County | 2.6 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 12 |
| Hubbard County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Cass County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 13 |
| Morrison County | 2.4 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Beltrami County | 2.4 pCi/L | 1.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 12 |
| Sherburne County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Roseau County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Carlton County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 11 |
| Kanabec County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Itasca County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 18 |
| Chisago County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Scott County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Benton County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Cook County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 6 |
| Pine County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 11 |
| Hennepin County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 64 |
| Carver County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 12 |
| Crow Wing County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 12 |
| Dakota County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 18 |
| Aitkin County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Mille Lacs County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 6 |
| Koochiching County | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 7 |
| Ramsey County | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 19 |
| Isanti County | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Lake of the Woods County | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.2 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Washington County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.5 | Low | EPA Zone 1 | 15 |
| Lake County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| St. Louis County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 39 |
| Anoka County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.4 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 14 |
Minnesota radon questions
- Is radon high in Minnesota?
- Minnesota's population-weighted predicted basement average is 2.4 pCi/L, about 1.4× the US average of 1.8. 9 of its 87 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 73 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 5 are below 2. 8.6% of Minnesota ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.
- Which Minnesota county has the highest radon?
- Rock County has the highest predicted basement average in Minnesota at 4.7 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Anoka County at 1.8 pCi/L. These are modeled area averages; individual homes in any county can test far higher.
- How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in Minnesota?
- 68 of Minnesota's 87 counties (78%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 19 are Zone 2 and 0 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 Minnesota?
- Yes - with some urgency. Minnesota's predicted average is in the moderate range, and 84.7% of its ZIP codes are predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher. A short-term charcoal kit or a continuous digital monitor will tell you your actual level within days.
Minnesota radon program
Many states offer free or discounted test kits and keep lists of certified mitigators. Find the Minnesota radon office through the EPA state radon contacts page. Then read how to test and what mitigation costs.