Radon levels in North Carolina: Low
The model predicts a population-weighted basement average of 1.7 pCi/L across North Carolina's 100 counties - close to the US average of 1.8 pCi/L. Above-ground floors average 0.9 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.
8 / 100
EPA Zone 1 counties (8%)
31 / 61
Zone 2 / Zone 3 counties
0
counties predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
0.3%
of ZIP codes predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L
North Carolina counties by predicted radon
Sorted highest to lowest predicted basement average. 100 counties.
| County | Predicted basement | Upstairs | Grade | EPA zone | ZIPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania County | 3.6 pCi/L | 2.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 8 |
| Cherokee County | 2.9 pCi/L | 1.7 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 3 |
| Henderson County | 2.9 pCi/L | 2.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 11 |
| Swain County | 2.8 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Watauga County | 2.8 pCi/L | 1.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| McDowell County | 2.8 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Alleghany County | 2.7 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 6 |
| Alexander County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Wilkes County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 12 |
| Cleveland County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 7 |
| Graham County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Surry County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Clay County | 2.6 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Caldwell County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Ashe County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Lincoln County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.5 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| Jackson County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 7 |
| Burke County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Haywood County | 2.5 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 6 |
| Mitchell County | 2.4 pCi/L | 0.8 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 2 |
| Yadkin County | 2.4 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| Polk County | 2.4 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Rutherford County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.2 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 7 |
| Buncombe County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 14 |
| Forsyth County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.4 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 14 |
| Macon County | 2.3 pCi/L | 1.0 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| Yancey County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 2 |
| Avery County | 2.2 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Iredell County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.1 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Catawba County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Rockingham County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 1 | 7 |
| Stokes County | 2.1 pCi/L | 1.3 | Moderate | EPA Zone 2 | 9 |
| Gaston County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.1 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 13 |
| Davidson County | 1.9 pCi/L | 0.9 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Madison County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.1 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Warren County | 1.9 pCi/L | 1.1 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 4 |
| Rowan County | 1.8 pCi/L | 0.9 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 11 |
| Caswell County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.0 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 7 |
| Franklin County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.2 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 5 |
| Vance County | 1.8 pCi/L | 1.1 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 3 |
| Davie County | 1.7 pCi/L | 0.9 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Richmond County | 1.6 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 4 |
| Cabarrus County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Stanly County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Anson County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 5 |
| Montgomery County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 5 |
| Chowan County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Lee County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Moore County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 10 |
| Granville County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 5 |
| Johnston County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 8 |
| Nash County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Union County | 1.5 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Gates County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Camden County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 3 |
| Currituck County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 15 |
| Halifax County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Bertie County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Hertford County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Northampton County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 11 |
| Pender County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Wilson County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Beaufort County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 8 |
| Pasquotank County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 1 |
| Perquimans County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Randolph County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 12 |
| Scotland County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 5 |
| Wake County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.9 | Low | EPA Zone 2 | 30 |
| Edgecombe County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Jones County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Martin County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 5 |
| Hoke County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 2 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 29 |
| Sampson County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 11 |
| Harnett County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 9 |
| Person County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Robeson County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 11 |
| Chatham County | 1.4 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 9 |
| Brunswick County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 12 |
| Onslow County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 12 |
| Orange County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.8 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Craven County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.5 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
| Duplin County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 11 |
| Guilford County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 22 |
| Pamlico County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 8 |
| Wayne County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Carteret County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 15 |
| Cumberland County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 13 |
| Greene County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 3 |
| Lenoir County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 4 |
| Pitt County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 10 |
| Columbus County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 13 |
| Bladen County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 8 |
| New Hanover County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 9 |
| Dare County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 13 |
| Tyrrell County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.7 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 1 |
| Durham County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 9 |
| Washington County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 3 |
| Hyde County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.6 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 6 |
| Alamance County | 1.3 pCi/L | 0.5 | Low | EPA Zone 3 | 7 |
North Carolina radon questions
- Is radon high in North Carolina?
- North Carolina's population-weighted predicted basement average is 1.7 pCi/L, close to the US average of 1.8. 0 of its 100 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 32 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 68 are below 2. 0.3% of North Carolina ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.
- Which North Carolina county has the highest radon?
- Transylvania County has the highest predicted basement average in North Carolina at 3.6 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Alamance County at 1.3 pCi/L. These are modeled area averages; individual homes in any county can test far higher.
- How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in North Carolina?
- 8 of North Carolina's 100 counties (8%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 31 are Zone 2 and 61 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 North Carolina?
- Yes. Even though North Carolina's predicted average is below 2 pCi/L, the EPA recommends every home be tested - radon varies house to house, and 26.2% of North Carolina ZIP codes are still predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher.
North Carolina radon program
Many states offer free or discounted test kits and keep lists of certified mitigators. Find the North Carolina radon office through the EPA state radon contacts page. Then read how to test and what mitigation costs.