Radon levels in Nevada: Low
The model predicts a population-weighted basement average of 1.9 pCi/L (model estimate) across Nevada's 17 counties - close to the US average of 1.8 pCi/L. Above-ground floors average 1.1 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 / 17
EPA Zone 1 counties (53%)
7 / 1
Zone 2 / Zone 3 counties
0
counties predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
0%
of ZIP codes predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
Test Nevada once anyway - radon varies house to house
The predicted basement average here is 1.9 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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What the data says about radon in Nevada
9 of Nevada's 17 counties are EPA Zone 1 (53%), 7 are Zone 2 and 1 is Zone 3 on the EPA's county-level map. Zone 1 - the highest-potential class, predicted screening average above 4 pCi/L - is the most common designation in Nevada. 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, Nevada's predicted basement average is 1.9 pCi/L - close to the US average of 1.8 - which puts the state in the low range. Of the 17 counties with predictions, 0 are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L, 15 in the 2-4 band and 2 below 2. The highest predicted county is White Pine County at 3.0 pCi/L; the lowest is Clark County at 1.8 - a 1.3 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 Nevada it is 0% and 51.4% - below the US share at the action level but near it at 2 pCi/L. With more than half of ZIPs above 2, a test is worth doing before any purchase or renovation here.
Nevada counties by predicted radon
Sorted highest to lowest predicted basement average (model estimate). 17 counties.
| County | Predicted basement | Upstairs | Grade | EPA zone | ZIPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Pine County | 3.0 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Pershing County | 3.0 pCi/L | 2.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 2 |
| Mineral County | 2.9 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 2 |
| Elko County | 2.8 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 8 |
| Lander County | 2.7 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 2 |
| Douglas County | 2.7 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Eureka County | 2.7 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Humboldt County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| Esmeralda County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Lincoln County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 4 |
| Carson City | 2.4 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Lyon County | 2.4 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 5 |
| Churchill County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.6 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Washoe County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 23 |
| Nye County | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 8 |
| Storey County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.1 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Clark County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 67 |
Radon levels in Nevada cities
The 10 most-populous Nevada 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).
| City | Population | Predicted basement | Upstairs | Grade | ZIPs ≥ 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 660,929 | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | 0% |
| Henderson | 337,305 | 1.7 pCi/L | 1.4 | Low | 0% |
| North Las Vegas | 284,771 | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | 0% |
| Reno | 274,915 | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | 0% |
| Paradise | 223,167 | 1.7 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | 0% |
| Sunrise Manor | 189,372 | 1.8 pCi/L | 0.9 | Low | 0% |
| Spring Valley | 178,395 | 1.7 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | 0% |
| Sparks | 110,323 | 2.0 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | 0% |
| Enterprise | 108,481 | 1.7 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | 0% |
| Carson | 58,036 | 2.5 pCi/L | 2.3 | Moderate | 0% |
Highest-radon ZIP codes in Nevada
The 10 Nevada ZIP codes with the highest predicted basement average (model estimate), out of 148 modeled. A ZIP average is still an area figure - neighboring homes routinely test several pCi/L apart.
| ZIP | County | Predicted basement | Upstairs | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89815 | Elko County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 89460 | Douglas County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 89301 | White Pine County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate |
| 89310 | Lander County | 3.1 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate |
| 89419 | Pershing County | 3.1 pCi/L | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 89835 | Elko County | 3.0 pCi/L | 1.9 | Moderate |
| 89447 | Lyon County | 3.0 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 89425 | Humboldt County | 3.0 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate |
| 89834 | Elko County | 2.9 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate |
| 89415 | Mineral County | 2.9 pCi/L | 2.0 | Moderate |
Nevada radon questions
- Is radon high in Nevada?
- Nevada's population-weighted predicted basement average is 1.9 pCi/L, close to the US average of 1.8. 0 of its 17 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 15 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 2 are below 2. 0% of Nevada ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.
- Which Nevada county has the highest radon?
- White Pine County has the highest predicted basement average in Nevada at 3.0 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Clark County at 1.8 pCi/L. These are area figures; individual homes in any county can test far higher.
- How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in Nevada?
- 9 of Nevada's 17 counties (53%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 7 are Zone 2 and 1 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 Nevada?
- Yes. Even though Nevada's predicted average is below 2 pCi/L, the EPA recommends every home be tested - radon varies house to house, and 51.4% of Nevada ZIP codes are still predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher.
Nevada radon program
Nevada's radon program page is at extension.unr.edu and, when we checked it, offered low-cost radon test kits. 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.