Is radon high in Virginia?

Virginia's population-weighted predicted basement average is 1.6 pCi/L, close to the US average of 1.8. 0 of its 112 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 48 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 64 are below 2. 0.1% of Virginia ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.

Which Virginia county has the highest radon?

Wythe County has the highest predicted basement average in Virginia at 3.3 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Fredericksburg city at 1.0 pCi/L. These are modeled area averages; individual homes in any county can test far higher.

How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in Virginia?

62 of Virginia's 133 counties (47%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 28 are Zone 2 and 43 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 Virginia?

Yes. Even though Virginia's predicted average is below 2 pCi/L, the EPA recommends every home be tested - radon varies house to house, and 41.4% of Virginia ZIP codes are still predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher.

Radon levels in Virginia: Low

The model predicts a population-weighted basement average of 1.6 pCi/L across Virginia's 112 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.

62 / 133

EPA Zone 1 counties (47%)

28 / 43

Zone 2 / Zone 3 counties

counties predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L

0.1%

of ZIP codes predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L

Virginia counties by predicted radon

Sorted highest to lowest predicted basement average. 133 counties.

County	Predicted basement	Upstairs	Grade	EPA zone	ZIPs
Wythe County	3.3 pCi/L	1.6	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	8
Russell County	3.3 pCi/L	1.7	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Tazewell County	3.2 pCi/L	1.6	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	9
Smyth County	3.1 pCi/L	1.3	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	5
Washington County	3.1 pCi/L	1.9	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	7
Giles County	3.1 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	9
Page County	3.1 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	4
Shenandoah County	3.0 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	12
Frederick County	3.0 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	9
Alleghany County	3.0 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	2
Pulaski County	3.0 pCi/L	1.6	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	5
Rockbridge County	3.0 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	10
Lee County	2.9 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	8
Scott County	2.9 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	7
Bland County	2.8 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	4
Botetourt County	2.8 pCi/L	1.6	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Highland County	2.8 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Augusta County	2.7 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	20
Patrick County	2.7 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	7
Bristol city	2.7 pCi/L	2.0	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	1
Carroll County	2.6 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	8
Craig County	2.6 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	2
Clarke County	2.6 pCi/L	1.8	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	5
Winchester city	2.6 pCi/L	1.9	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	1
Bath County	2.6 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	3
Rockingham County	2.6 pCi/L	1.7	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	18
Grayson County	2.5 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	7
Warren County	2.5 pCi/L	1.7	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	3
Dickenson County	2.4 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	8
Wise County	2.4 pCi/L	1.3	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	7
Henry County	2.4 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	8
Floyd County	2.4 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	5
Buchanan County	2.3 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	11
Montgomery County	2.3 pCi/L	1.3	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Campbell County	2.2 pCi/L	1.3	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	9
Lynchburg city	2.2 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	1
Nelson County	2.2 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	11
Appomattox County	2.2 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	3
Nottoway County	2.2 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	3
Roanoke city	2.2 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Louisa County	2.1 pCi/L	1.5	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	4
Amelia County	2.1 pCi/L	1.6	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	2
Pittsylvania County	2.1 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	15
Amherst County	2.1 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	3
Brunswick County	2.1 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	12
Franklin County	2.0 pCi/L	1.1	Moderate	EPA Zone 2	10
Buckingham County	2.0 pCi/L	1.2	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	8
Orange County	2.0 pCi/L	1.4	Moderate	EPA Zone 1	6
Mecklenburg County	2.0 pCi/L	1.3	Low	EPA Zone 2	10
Roanoke County	2.0 pCi/L	1.3	Low	EPA Zone 1	6
Greene County	2.0 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	3
Madison County	1.9 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	13
James City County	1.9 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	3
Rappahannock County	1.9 pCi/L	1.2	Low	EPA Zone 2	8
Fluvanna County	1.9 pCi/L	1.6	Low	EPA Zone 1	5
Powhatan County	1.9 pCi/L	1.4	Low	EPA Zone 1	1
Cumberland County	1.9 pCi/L	1.2	Low	EPA Zone 1	3
Prince Edward County	1.9 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	5
Albemarle County	1.9 pCi/L	1.2	Low	EPA Zone 2	14
Lunenburg County	1.8 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	4
Bedford County	1.8 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	13
Culpeper County	1.8 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	11
Halifax County	1.8 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 2	10
Goochland County	1.8 pCi/L	1.5	Low	EPA Zone 1	9
Charlotte County	1.7 pCi/L	0.9	Low	EPA Zone 2	8
Dinwiddie County	1.7 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 1	9
Essex County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	7
Fauquier County	1.6 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 2	14
Spotsylvania County	1.6 pCi/L	1.2	Low	EPA Zone 1	5
New Kent County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	5
Chesterfield County	1.6 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 1	13
Charles City County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	1
King George County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	2
King William County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	4
Hanover County	1.6 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 3	9
Richmond County	1.6 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	2
Caroline County	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
Gloucester County	1.5 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	3
Surry County	1.5 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	4
Poquoson city	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	1
Isle of Wight County	1.5 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	5
Middlesex County	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	11
Westmoreland County	1.5 pCi/L	0.9	Low	EPA Zone 3	4
Lancaster County	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	4
Southampton County	1.5 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	9
Northumberland County	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
York County	1.5 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	4
Sussex County	1.5 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	5
Stafford County	1.4 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 1	5
King and Queen County	1.4 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	11
Suffolk city	1.4 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	7
Mathews County	1.4 pCi/L	0.8	Low	EPA Zone 3	14
Prince George County	1.4 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	5
Henrico County	1.4 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 3	12
Richmond city	1.4 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
Chesapeake city	1.4 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
Greensville County	1.4 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	2
Accomack County	1.4 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	23
Northampton County	1.4 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
Loudoun County	1.3 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 2	17
Prince William County	1.3 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 2	14
Falls Church city	1.3 pCi/L	1.0	Low	EPA Zone 1	1
Virginia Beach city	1.3 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	9
Hampton city	1.3 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	7
Newport News city	1.2 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	7
Fairfax County	1.2 pCi/L	0.9	Low	EPA Zone 1	42
Manassas city	1.2 pCi/L	1.1	Low	EPA Zone 1	1
Portsmouth city	1.1 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	5
Norfolk city	1.1 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	13
Arlington County	1.1 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 2	9
Alexandria city	1.0 pCi/L	0.6	Low	EPA Zone 3	6
Fredericksburg city	1.0 pCi/L	0.7	Low	EPA Zone 3	1
Buena Vista city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Charlottesville city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 2	0
Colonial Heights city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0
Covington city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Danville city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Emporia city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0
Fairfax city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Franklin city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0
Galax city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 2	0
Harrisonburg city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Hopewell city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0
Lexington city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Manassas Park city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Martinsville city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0
Norton city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 2	0
Petersburg city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Radford city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Salem city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Staunton city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Waynesboro city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 1	0
Williamsburg city	n/a	-	zone only	EPA Zone 3	0

Virginia radon questions

Is radon high in Virginia?: Virginia's population-weighted predicted basement average is 1.6 pCi/L, close to the US average of 1.8. 0 of its 112 modeled counties are predicted at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, 48 are in the 2-4 "consider fixing" range and 64 are below 2. 0.1% of Virginia ZIP codes are predicted at 4 or higher.
Which Virginia county has the highest radon?: Wythe County has the highest predicted basement average in Virginia at 3.3 pCi/L (EPA Zone 1). The lowest is Fredericksburg city at 1.0 pCi/L. These are modeled area averages; individual homes in any county can test far higher.
How many EPA Zone 1 counties are in Virginia?: 62 of Virginia's 133 counties (47%) are EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 28 are Zone 2 and 43 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 Virginia?: Yes. Even though Virginia's predicted average is below 2 pCi/L, the EPA recommends every home be tested - radon varies house to house, and 41.4% of Virginia ZIP codes are still predicted at 2 pCi/L or higher.

Virginia radon program

Many states offer free or discounted test kits and keep lists of certified mitigators. Find the Virginia radon office through the EPA state radon contacts page. Then read how to test and what mitigation costs.