Skip to content
RADON411

Locations and reports

Radon Levels in Jackson County, Alabama

EPA puts Jackson County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 17.5% of its 223 reported radon tests (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) were at or above 4 pCi/L. Homes with elevated levels occur in all three zones, so only a test measures yours.

Data checked By Radon411Methodology

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    17.5%

    4.4 pts below AL

    Jackson
    17.5%
    Alabama
    21.9%

    223 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    1.5pCi/L

    Below action level

    Jackson
    1.5 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    223

    9th of 27 by tests

    Jackson
    223
    Madison
    5,178

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 1

    Highest potential

    1. Zone 1
    2. 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts over 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Alabama

    11 of 27

    Middle half

    Jackson
    17.5%
    Colbert
    36.2%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Jackson County

Starts at Jackson County's median, 1.5 pCi/L

1.5pCi/L

EPA’s own thresholds; the figures are the area’s, never this home’s.

EPA’s reading of 1.5 pCi/L

Below 2 pCi/L

  1. Under 20 to 1.9 pCi/L
  2. 2 to 4consider a fix
  3. 4 and aboveEPA says fix it

This result is below 2 pCi/L, the level at which EPA says a fix should be considered. Jackson County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this reading

The data

Jackson County, At a glance

Jackson County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Jackson County in and predicts an average indoor of greater than 4 pCi/L (greater than 150 Bq/m³) across the county. That is one forecast for the whole county, not a reading of any address in it; homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: High across 85% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Jackson County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Jackson County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 58%2 to 4 pCi/L: 24%4 pCi/L and above: 18%

Of 223 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Jackson County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L13058.3%
2 to 4 pCi/L5424.2%
4 pCi/L and above3917.5%
What these figures count

These are the 223 tests reported to CDC for Jackson County over 2008 to 2017 (laboratory totals), many from homes being sold or already suspected of a problem: they describe the county's reported tests, not this house.

Measured: CDC tracking data. Figure above: 2008 to 2017, laboratory. Measured data period: 2005 to 2017 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Jackson County, Compared

Jackson County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Jackson County's 223 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 1.5 pCi/L and a maximum of 48.0 pCi/L, and 17.5% reached 4 pCi/L. Alabama as a whole (65 Alabama counties, pooled) comes to 21.9%: 4.4 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 11th of 27 Alabama counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Colbert County reported the highest share (36.2%) and Baldwin County the lowest (0.0%).

Below the action level, 130 tests (58.3%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 54.3% statewide, and 54 tests (24.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 23.8% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Jackson County went from 299 tests (2005 to 2014) to 223 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 18.7% to 17.5%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Jackson County in Zone 1, a predicted county average above 4 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 85% of the county's land high radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 13.2% in DeKalb County to 28.4% in Marion County, TN, with Marshall County and DeKalb County below Jackson County.

Jackson County against Alabama, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Jackson County
Jackson County22317.5%1.5 pCi/LThis county
Alabama, pooled65 counties, pooled12,56921.9%Not pooled+4.4 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+18.2 points
Colbert Countyhighest in the state87136.2%2.7 pCi/L+18.7 points
Baldwin Countylowest in the state310.0%1.0 pCi/L−17.5 points
Marion County, TNborders it7428.4%1.6 pCi/L+10.9 points
Franklin County, TNborders it26625.6%2.1 pCi/L+8.1 points
Madison County, ALborders it5,17825.2%1.9 pCi/L+7.7 points
Dade County, GAborders it1717.6%1.5 pCi/L+0.1 points
Marshall County, ALborders it19915.1%1.3 pCi/L−2.4 points
DeKalb County, ALborders it6813.2%0.9 pCi/L−4.3 points
Where Jackson County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Alabama and the United States
ResultJackson County testsJackson County shareAlabama shareU.S. shareAgainst Alabama
Under 2 pCi/L13058.3%54.3%39.6%+4.0 points
2 to 4 pCi/L5424.2%23.8%24.7%+0.4 points
4 pCi/L and above3917.5%21.9%35.7%−4.4 points
Jackson County ranked among the 27 Alabama counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Calhoun County6 of 2723818.9%1.4 pCi/L
Cleburne County7 of 276918.8%1.5 pCi/L
Talladega County8 of 2712418.5%1.6 pCi/L
Franklin County9 of 2719318.1%1.4 pCi/L
Clay County10 of 273917.9%0.9 pCi/L
Jackson County11 of 2722317.5%1.5 pCi/L
Autauga County12 of 273517.1%0.9 pCi/L
Lawrence County13 of 2715416.2%1.7 pCi/L
Marshall County14 of 2719915.1%1.3 pCi/L
Morgan County15 of 2745314.6%1.4 pCi/L
St. Clair County16 of 279314.0%1.2 pCi/L
Jackson County ten-year laboratory totals, against Alabama's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestAlabama, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201722317.5%1.5 pCi/L48.0 pCi/L21.9%+0.1 points
2007 to 201624217.4%1.5 pCi/L48.0 pCi/L22.0%−1.2 points
2006 to 201525818.6%1.5 pCi/L48.0 pCi/L22.0%−0.1 points
2005 to 201429918.7%1.6 pCi/L48.0 pCi/L22.4%First on file

Pooled shares: Radon411's sum of CDC's county counts for one period.

Jackson County, Geology

The ground under Jackson County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Jackson County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 84.8% of its land is high radon potential, with 14.2% moderate and 1.1% low. The map puts 84.8% of Jackson County in the area it calls Interior Low Plateaus and 14.2% in Appalachian Plateau, with one smaller area beside them. USGS gives the first a radon index of 12, in the high band (12 to 17), and the second 9, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Jackson County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Interior Low PlateausMississippian carbonate rocks and shales.High1284.8%
Appalachian PlateauLimestone, sandstone, carbonaceous shale, coalModerate914.2%
Appalachian PlateauSandstone and shale.Low81.1%

Names, descriptions and indexes: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Radon Potential Map (2025). Shares: Radon411, from the map cut to the boundary.

Jackson County beside the ground around it

Jackson County has more high-potential ground than Alabama as a whole: 84.8% of its land against 14.3%. Of the 6 counties that border it, 1 has more high-potential ground, Madison County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Jackson County, the 6 counties bordering it and Alabama
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Jackson CountyZone 11.1%14.2%84.8%
DeKalb CountyZone 2None99.7%0.2%
Marshall CountyZone 2None56.2%43.8%
Madison CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Dade County, GAZone 389.6%0.1%10.3%
Franklin County, TNZone 38.2%86.0%5.8%
Marion County, TNZone 250.7%None49.3%
Alabama67 counties, pooled by land areaVaries35.2%50.4%14.3%

The map rates the ground, not the air in any home.

Local help

Jackson County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Jackson County

What Alabama's program says
Phone
(334) 290-6244

What it means

Jackson County, Questions

Questions about radon in Jackson County

Are radon levels high in Jackson County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 17.5% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Jackson County, Alabama were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 1.5 pCi/L. Of 27 Alabama counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 10 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 21.9%.

Which counties border Jackson County?

Jackson County borders 6 counties: DeKalb County, AL, Marshall County, AL, Madison County, AL, Dade County, GA, Franklin County, TN and Marion County, TN.

Products

Jackson County, Products

Testing a home in Jackson County

In Jackson County, 17.5% of 223 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 21.9% pooled across Alabama. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Jackson County is the one to know: a long-term test (more than 90 days) or a monitor, with a short-term kit for a first answer.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Jackson County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest predicted radon potential. Best radon monitors for Zone 1 counties like Jackson County

Explore

Jackson County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Jackson County

Calculated by Radon411

Jackson County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Jackson County

The Census Bureau estimates 54,281 residents in Jackson County for July 1, 2025, 1,739 more than in 2020 (+3.3%). That works out to 50 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Scottsboro, has 16,123 residents, 29.7% of the total. Together its 13 incorporated places hold 48.2% of those residents; the other 51.8% live outside any of them. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 223 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 4.1 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 2.4 for Alabama.

From Scottsboro to Paint Rock, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Jackson County's.

The 12 largest cities and towns in Jackson County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Scottsboro16,123+3.5%29.7%
Bridgeport2,275+0.6%4.2%
Stevenson2,000+2.4%3.7%
Hollywood953+4.2%1.8%
Skyline870+4.6%1.6%
Section779+2.8%1.4%
Woodville762+2.3%1.4%
Pisgah697+2.7%1.3%
Hytop464+5.5%0.9%
Pleasant Groves435+2.4%0.8%
Dutton336+2.8%0.6%
Langston274+2.6%0.5%
  • Paint Rock

13 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025).

Jackson County, Homes

Homes in Jackson County

Of Jackson County's 24,797 homes, 71% are detached houses, against 69% across Alabama; 22% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1983, close to Alabama's 1985: 17% date from before 1960 and 18% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 75% of the occupied homes (Alabama: 70%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Jackson County, Alabama, 2019 to 2023
HomesJackson CountyAlabama
Housing units24,7972,316,192
Detached houses71%69%
In buildings of 5 or more3%12%
Mobile homes22%13%
Built before 196017%16%
Built since 200018%27%
Middle year built19831985
Owner-occupied75%70%

Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023: estimates from a sample of homes, looser for a small place. Shares by Radon411.