Radon levels in Onondaga County, New York

LowEPA Zone 1

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.6 pCi/L (model estimate) across 38 ZIP codes - close to the US average of 1.8, about 1.2× the New York average of 1.4. Ranked #43 of 62 New York counties.

Test Onondaga County, NY 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.

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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.

1.6 ± 0.10

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.9 ± 0.07

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.0-3.0

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for Onondaga

The typical Onondaga County home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That is the best case an area can show - but it describes the average house, and the ZIP-level predictions within the county still span 1.0 to 3.0 pCi/L.

Note that the EPA classifies Onondaga County as Zone 1 while the newer model predicts 1.6 pCi/L. The zone map predates two decades of test data; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both. County figures weight each ZIP by its 2010 Census population, so they describe where people live rather than empty land.

Comparable New York counties: Orleans County (1.6), Jefferson County (1.5), Montgomery County (1.6), Wayne County (1.6). The state's highest is Schuyler County at 2.8 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in Onondaga County

Predicted basement and upstairs means by ZIP (model estimate). ZIPs whose land is mostly in this county.

ZIPBasementUpstairsGrade
130271.6 ± 0.070.9Low
130901.3 ± 0.080.8Low
132101.4 ± 0.080.7Low
132081.0 ± 0.140.6Low
130881.1 ± 0.090.8Low
132121.1 ± 0.080.8Low
132041.2 ± 0.070.6Low
132051.5 ± 0.150.7Low
130391.2 ± 0.070.8Low
132061.3 ± 0.080.7Low
132031.2 ± 0.060.6Low
131042.1 ± 0.091.3Moderate
130312.6 ± 0.101.1Moderate
132192.0 ± 0.091.0Moderate
132152.3 ± 0.131.5Moderate
130571.1 ± 0.100.8Low
132072.3 ± 0.150.8Moderate
132091.7 ± 0.090.9Low
130662.1 ± 0.131.0Moderate
130411.0 ± 0.140.8Low
130782.5 ± 0.141.8Moderate
132241.8 ± 0.100.9Low
132141.8 ± 0.091.0Low
131522.1 ± 0.091.7Moderate
130291.2 ± 0.210.8Low
132111.0 ± 0.090.7Low
131082.3 ± 0.081.5Moderate
132021.1 ± 0.080.5Low
131593.0 ± 0.101.7Moderate
130842.9 ± 0.061.8Moderate
130801.7 ± 0.060.8Low
131161.2 ± 0.130.8Low
130601.8 ± 0.051.0Low
131102.7 ± 0.061.6Moderate
131641.6 ± 0.050.8Low
131202.2 ± 0.061.3Moderate
131121.6 ± 0.060.9Low
130632.7 ± 0.061.8Moderate

If your test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher

Mitigation is a routine job: a fan-driven pipe that vents soil gas from under the slab to above the roofline, typically $800-$2,500 installed (typical range; local quotes vary). Use certified professionals: EPA find-a-professional. Read the full mitigation guide.

Onondaga County radon questions

Is radon high in Onondaga County, New York?
Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.6 pCi/L in Onondaga County (close to the US average of 1.8 and about 1.2× the New York average of 1.4). That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Ranked 43 of 62 New York counties.
Should I test for radon in Onondaga County?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Onondaga County already range from 1.0 to 3.0 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 1 mean for Onondaga County?
Zone 1 - highest potential (predicted average > 4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and classifies whole counties. The newer model's predicted average of 1.6 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 1, which is common - the EPA itself says high-radon homes exist in every zone. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
How much does radon mitigation cost in Onondaga County?
A standard active sub-slab depressurization system typically runs $800-$2,500 installed nationally; New York quotes vary with foundation type (slab, crawlspace, basement), home size and local labor. Get two or three bids from certified mitigators listed by your state radon program or the EPA's find-a-professional page.

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