Radon in McDowell County, North Carolina
McDowell County, North Carolina, is in EPA radon Zone 2: predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L (moderate potential). Radon laboratories reported 537 building tests here for 2008 to 2017: median 2.7 pCi/L, with 37.5% at or above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level (North Carolina 22.5%, US 36.5%).
Radon test results in McDowell County
| Test results | Period | Tests | Typical result | 4 pCi/L or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon testing laboratories | 2008-2017 | 537 | median 2.7 pCi/L | 37.5% |
| North Carolina radon program | 2021 | 28 | median 2.0 pCi/L | 35.2% |
| North Carolina, all counties (labs) | 2008-2017 | 43,945 | n/a | 22.5% |
| United States (labs) | 2008-2017 | 1,408,802 | n/a | 36.5% |
Test results describe buildings whose owners chose to test and whose results reached the lab or agency, not a random sample; small counts swing widely. State and US shares are computed from county counts and percents. The laboratory data comes from national radon testing laboratories and supplements EPA's zone map.
Radon in nearby counties
| County | EPA zone | Lab tests | 4 pCi/L or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County, NC | Zone 2 | 585 | 28.3% |
| Yancey County, NC | Zone 2 | 195 | 31% |
| Rutherford County, NC | Zone 2 | 317 | 25.6% |
| Mitchell County, NC | Zone 1 | 282 | 28.6% |
| Buncombe County, NC | Zone 1 | 3,901 | 29% |
| Avery County, NC | Zone 2 | 105 | 38.8% |
The six counties with the nearest centers.
What to do about radon in McDowell County
Test the building. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L, and says there is no known safe level of exposure. North Carolina's state radon program can point you to testers and test kits.
Buying here? The Environmental Records Report lists this county's radon zone and test results with the flood zone, mapped faults, power lines and federal contamination records near the address.
Radon in McDowell County: questions
What is the radon level in McDowell County?
The median of the 537 laboratory tests reported for McDowell County (2008 to 2017) was 2.7 pCi/L, and 37.5% of them were at or above 4 pCi/L. These are results of tested buildings; a single home can be far above or below them.
Is McDowell County in radon Zone 1?
No. EPA's 1993 map puts McDowell County in Zone 2 (predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L (moderate potential)). EPA says homes in every zone can have high radon and should be tested.
How does radon in McDowell County compare with North Carolina?
37.5% of laboratory tests in McDowell County were at or above 4 pCi/L for 2008 to 2017, against 22.5% across North Carolina (43,945 tests) and 36.5% nationally. 8 of North Carolina's 100 counties are in Zone 1.
Should I test for radon in McDowell County?
Yes. EPA recommends testing every home whatever its zone: "This map should not be used to determine if individual homes need to be tested." Fix the home at 4 pCi/L or more and consider a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L; EPA says there is no known safe level of radon exposure.
More for McDowell County
- McDowell loan limitsThis year's FHFA conforming, FHA and VA county loan limits for 1 to 4 unit homes, from FHFA's and HUD's official files.
- McDowell fair market rentHUD Fair Market Rents for studios to 4 bedrooms, the voucher payment standard range and the change from last year.
- McDowell property tax rateEffective property tax rate from Census survey data: median taxes paid against median home value, ranked in the state.
- Environmental records reportSuperfund, hazardous waste, leaking tank and brownfield sites near any McDowell address, with distances and a site map. A records search, not a Phase I.
- Superfund sites in North CarolinaEvery EPA Superfund site in North Carolina with its status, county and a map, refreshed nightly from federal records.
- USDA eligibility map: North CarolinaHow much of each North Carolina county is in a USDA-eligible rural area, the towns mapped ineligible, and a free address check.
- Opportunity zones in North CarolinaEvery designated Opportunity Zone tract in North Carolina by county, from the IRS list, and the tracts eligible for the 2027 round.
- Census tract lookupThe census tract of any McDowell address with its FFIEC income level and HUD Qualified Census Tract and DDA status.
Other free hazard lookups
- Fault lines near an addressUSGS-mapped earthquake faults within 5 miles, their age and slip rate, and the USGS seismic hazard value.
- Power lines near an addressHigh-voltage transmission lines within 1 mile from federal maps, with voltage and distance.
- Flood zone lookupThe FEMA flood zone mapped at any US address. Not an official flood zone determination.
- Superfund sites near an addressThe nearest EPA Superfund (NPL) sites and their status.
All of these, plus wetlands, FEMA hazard ratings and the federal contamination lists, are in the Environmental Records Report for any US address ($29).
Radon in every North Carolina county · Radon map of every state
Data compiled 2026-10-20. County FIPS 37111. County-level screening information, not a radon measurement of any building.