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Radon Levels in Saguache County, Colorado

EPA puts Saguache County in Zone 2, its middle radon zone, and only 12 radon tests from it are on file with CDC (2023). Homes with elevated levels occur in all three zones, so only a test measures yours.

Data checked By Radon411Methodology

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    55.9%

    8.6 pts above CO

    Saguache
    55.9%
    Colorado
    47.3%

    34 tests, 2021

  • Median result

    4.6pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Saguache
    4.6 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2021

  • Tests reported

    34

    36th of 38 by tests

    Saguache
    34
    Denver
    3,669

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2021

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 2

    Moderate potential

    1. 1
    2. Zone 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts 2 to 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Colorado

    9 of 38

    Top quarter

    Saguache
    55.9%
    Summit
    65.4%

    By share, of 38 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Saguache County

Starts at Saguache County's median, 4.6 pCi/L

4.6pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 4.6 pCi/L

At or above 4 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 at or above 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends fixing a home when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. Saguache County's median reported result, 2021.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Saguache County, At a glance

Saguache County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 2: moderate predicted potential

Saguache County is a county: EPA's forecast for it as a whole is an average indoor of 2 to 4 pCi/L (75 to 150 Bq/m³). It describes no single address, and homes above EPA's are found in every zone, this one included.

USGS geologic potential: Moderate across 83% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Saguache County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Saguache County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Saguache County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
20140.0%
20150.0%
201633.3%
20170.0%
201821.9%
201926.1%
202040.0%
202155.9%
202250.0%
202341.7%

2023: 41.7%. Across these years the share ran from 0.0% to 55.9%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

Only 12 tests were reported to CDC for Saguache County over 2023, and tests are often run on homes being sold or already suspected of a problem: so few describe neither the county nor this house.

Measured: CDC tracking data. Figure above: 2023. Measured data period: 2005 to 2023 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Saguache County, Compared

Saguache County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 55.9% of the 34 radon tests reported to CDC for Saguache County in 2021 read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 9th of 38 Colorado counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 8.6 points above the 47.3% pooled from 62 Colorado counties.

The newest figure, in 2023, counts only 12 tests (41.7% at or above 4 pCi/L), too few to compare, so this reading uses the 34-test figure.

The median result, 4.6 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 230.3 pCi/L. The rest split 20.6% under 2 pCi/L and 23.5% from 2 to 4 (Colorado: 33.6% and 19.1%). The reported tests do not follow EPA's Zone 2 label for Saguache County (predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L): 55.9% of them reached 4 pCi/L, fewer than that label suggests.

No bordering county with a figure for the same period reported a higher share; the closest is Gunnison County at 53.7%, the lowest Huerfano County at 40.0%. Statewide for the same period, Summit County reported the highest share (65.4%) and Montezuma County the lowest (29.3%).

The busiest year on file was 2021, with 34 tests reported; the quietest, 2014, had 1.

Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 24.4%; Saguache County sits 31.5 points above it.

Saguache County against Colorado, the United States and nearby counties, 2021
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Saguache County
Saguache County3455.9%4.6 pCi/LThis county
Colorado, pooled62 counties, pooled27,06647.3%Not pooled−8.6 points
United States, pooled807 counties, pooled344,60424.4%Not pooled−31.5 points
Summit Countyhighest in the state28365.4%8.0 pCi/L+9.5 points
Montezuma Countylowest in the state4129.3%1.9 pCi/L−26.6 points
Alamosa County, COborders it2070.0%9.5 pCi/L+14.1 points
Gunnison County, COborders it14753.7%4.7 pCi/L−2.2 points
Chaffee County, COborders it11252.7%4.8 pCi/L−3.2 points
Fremont County, COborders it7549.3%3.6 pCi/L−6.6 points
Custer County, COborders it2941.4%3.1 pCi/L−14.5 points
Huerfano County, COborders it5040.0%2.6 pCi/L−15.9 points
Mineral County, COborders it1127.3%1.5 pCi/L−28.6 points
Rio Grande County, COborders it1921.1%2.0 pCi/L−34.8 points
Hinsdale County, COborders it20.0%0.7 pCi/L−55.9 points
Where Saguache County's reported results fell, 2021, beside Colorado and the United States
ResultSaguache County testsSaguache County shareColorado shareU.S. shareAgainst Colorado
Under 2 pCi/L720.6%33.6%54.4%−13.0 points
2 to 4 pCi/L823.5%19.1%21.2%+4.4 points
4 pCi/L and above1955.9%47.3%24.4%+8.6 points
Saguache County ranked among the 38 Colorado counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2021
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Park County4 of 3810663.2%5.8 pCi/L
Pitkin County5 of 3816360.7%6.7 pCi/L
Morgan County6 of 383860.5%5.5 pCi/L
Delta County7 of 388160.5%5.8 pCi/L
Larimer County8 of 382,14557.1%5.0 pCi/L
Saguache County9 of 383455.9%4.6 pCi/L
Garfield County10 of 3814855.4%5.0 pCi/L
Teller County11 of 3838955.3%5.7 pCi/L
Lake County12 of 385754.4%4.4 pCi/L
Jefferson County13 of 383,65053.8%4.4 pCi/L
Gunnison County14 of 3814753.7%4.7 pCi/L
Saguache County radon tests by year, against Colorado's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestColorado, pooledChange from the row before
20231241.7%3.1 pCi/L10.5 pCi/L38.9%−8.3 points
20222450.0%3.9 pCi/L63.0 pCi/L38.6%−5.9 points
20213455.9%4.6 pCi/L230.3 pCi/L47.3%+15.9 points
20202540.0%2.4 pCi/L11.9 pCi/L41.9%+13.9 points
20192326.1%2.4 pCi/L31.7 pCi/L44.1%+4.2 points
20183221.9%1.1 pCi/L74.8 pCi/L44.2%+21.9 points
201740.0%1.6 pCi/L3.5 pCi/L41.0%−33.3 points
2016633.3%2.5 pCi/L15.3 pCi/L38.5%+33.3 points
201550.0%1.3 pCi/L2.3 pCi/L47.2%Level
201410.0%0.5 pCi/L0.5 pCi/L46.5%First on file

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

Saguache County, State data

Colorado's own radon test data

Measured

What Colorado's own agencies publish about radon tests in Saguache County, with their period. These are not CDC's figures and are never added to them.

MeasuredState figures, not CDC's

What Colorado CDPHE reports for Saguache County

Radon data (county results): radon test results received from radon testing labs, primarily short-term household tests taken by the homeowner. Period: 2005-2025.

Share over 4 pCi/L

27.6%

56 of 203 tests

Median result

1.8 pCi/L

Highest result

74.8 pCi/L

Tests behind these figures

203 tests

  • CDPHE says these data do not give actual radon levels in homes that have not been tested.
  • When possible, only tests conducted before a mitigation system was installed are used.
  • Some counties have very small numbers of test results, and their summaries may be less representative.
  • These figures describe tests reported to Colorado CDPHE in this area. They count a different set of tests than CDC's figures and are not a reading of any one home.

Measured: Colorado CDPHE data, 2005-2025.

Saguache County, Geology

The ground under Saguache County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Saguache County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 83.0% of its land is moderate radon potential, with 17.0% high. The map puts 83.0% of Saguache County in the area it calls San Juan Volcanic field and 17.0% in Rocky Mountains. USGS gives the first a radon index of 11, in the moderate band (9 to 11), and the second 15, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Saguache County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
San Juan Volcanic fieldVolcanic rocks, rhyolite, tuff, basaltModerate1183.0%
Rocky MountainsPrecambrian granites, gneiss, amphibolite, variable uranium content, abundant shear zones.Sedimentary rocks shed from the granitic highlands.High1517.0%

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

Saguache County beside the ground around it

Colorado as a whole has more high-potential ground than Saguache County: 74.8% of its land, against 17.0% here. Of the 9 counties that border it, 5 have more high-potential ground, Fremont County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Saguache County, the 9 counties bordering it and Colorado
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Saguache CountyZone 2None83.0%17.0%
Rio Grande CountyZone 2None100%None
Mineral CountyZone 2None100%None
Chaffee CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Alamosa CountyZone 2None91.9%8.1%
Gunnison CountyZone 1None25.9%74.1%
Fremont CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Custer CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Hinsdale CountyZone 2None100%None
Huerfano CountyZone 1None12.3%87.7%
Colorado64 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone25.2%74.8%

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

Local help

Saguache County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Saguache County

What Colorado's program says
Licensing of radon professionals
Listed contractors are certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program or the National Radon Safety Board, and must be licensed by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
Disclosure when a home is sold or rented
As of August 7, 2023, landlords in Colorado are required to disclose radon information when a tenant signs a lease agreement.

What it means

Saguache County, Questions

Questions about radon in Saguache County

Are radon levels high in Saguache County?

In 2023, 41.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Saguache County, Colorado were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.1 pCi/L. Of 38 Colorado counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 8 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 47.3%.

Which counties border Saguache County?

Saguache County borders 9 counties: Rio Grande County, Mineral County, Chaffee County, Alamosa County, Gunnison County, Fremont County, Custer County, Hinsdale County and Huerfano County.

Products

Saguache County, Products

Testing a home in Saguache County

In Saguache County, 55.9% of 34 tests reported to CDC in 2021 reached 4 pCi/L, against 47.3% pooled across Colorado. In Zone 2 a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Saguache County; a long-term test tells the year-round average.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Saguache County homes, compared

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Saguache County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Saguache County

Calculated by Radon411

Saguache County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Saguache County

Saguache County is growing: the Census Bureau puts it at 6,732 residents on July 1, 2025, up 5.3% from 6,396 in 2020. Spread over its land, that is 2.1 people to the square mile. Center, the largest place on its list (1,890 residents in all), extends beyond Saguache County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. CDC's 34 reported tests for 2021 work out to 5.1 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Colorado's 4.5.

From Center to Bonanza, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Saguache County's.

The 4 largest cities and towns in Saguache County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Centerextends beyond Saguache County1,890−3.5%Counted whole
Saguache520−3.0%7.7%
Crestone166+20.3%2.5%
Moffat102−3.8%1.5%
  • Bonanza

5 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. “(part)” marks a place that extends into another county. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025). A place that extends beyond Saguache County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Saguache County, Homes

Homes in Saguache County

Of Saguache County's 3,838 homes, 73% are detached houses, against 62% across Colorado; 18% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1986, close to Colorado's 1987: 22% date from before 1960 and 32% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 75% of the occupied homes (Colorado: 66%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Saguache County, Colorado, 2019 to 2023
HomesSaguache CountyColorado
Housing units3,8382,545,124
Detached houses73%62%
In buildings of 5 or more4%22%
Mobile homes18%4%
Built before 196022%16%
Built since 200032%31%
Middle year built19861987
Owner-occupied75%66%

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