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Radon Levels in Buena Vista County, Iowa

EPA puts Buena Vista County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 72.1% of the 688 radon tests reported to CDC (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) came back 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

    72.1%

    13.6 pts above IA

    Buena Vista
    72.1%
    Iowa
    58.5%

    688 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    6.9pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Buena Vista
    6.9 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    688

    35th of 99 by tests

    Buena Vista
    688
    Polk
    10,945

    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 Iowa

    18 of 99

    Top quarter

    Buena Vista
    72.1%
    Sioux
    84.2%

    By share, of 99 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Buena Vista County

Starts at Buena Vista County's median, 6.9 pCi/L

6.9pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 6.9 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. Buena Vista County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Buena Vista County, At a glance

Buena Vista County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Buena Vista 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 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Buena Vista County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Buena Vista County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 14%2 to 4 pCi/L: 14%4 pCi/L and above: 72%

Of 688 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Buena Vista County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L9614.0%
2 to 4 pCi/L9614.0%
4 pCi/L and above49672.1%
What these figures count

These are the 688 tests reported to CDC for Buena Vista 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

Buena Vista County, Compared

Buena Vista County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 72.1% of the 688 radon tests reported to CDC for Buena Vista County over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 18th of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 13.6 points above the 58.5% pooled from 99 Iowa counties.

The median result, 6.9 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 69.6 pCi/L. The rest split 14.0% under 2 pCi/L and 14.0% from 2 to 4 (Iowa: 21.8% and 19.7%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 72.1% share point the same way here.

4 of its 8 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by O'Brien County at 81.7%; Pocahontas County reported 68.8%. Statewide for the same period, Sioux County reported the highest share (84.2%) and Decatur County the lowest (25.9%).

CDC's ten-year totals for Buena Vista County went from 552 tests (2005 to 2014) to 688 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 76.1% to 72.1%.

Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.7%; Buena Vista County sits 36.4 points above it. CDC also counts 38 tests taken after mitigation in Buena Vista County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Buena Vista County against Iowa, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County68872.1%6.9 pCi/LThis county
Iowa, pooled99 counties, pooled95,24558.5%Not pooled−13.6 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−36.4 points
Sioux Countyhighest in the state1,98284.2%10.7 pCi/L+12.1 points
Decatur Countylowest in the state8525.9%2.5 pCi/L−46.2 points
O'Brien County, IAborders it65281.7%8.9 pCi/L+9.6 points
Clay County, IAborders it74479.4%9.6 pCi/L+7.3 points
Sac County, IAborders it49176.6%7.0 pCi/L+4.5 points
Cherokee County, IAborders it79574.5%7.6 pCi/L+2.4 points
Ida County, IAborders it39971.7%7.4 pCi/L−0.4 points
Palo Alto County, IAborders it46270.8%5.9 pCi/L−1.3 points
Calhoun County, IAborders it50769.8%6.1 pCi/L−2.3 points
Pocahontas County, IAborders it41768.8%6.4 pCi/L−3.3 points
Where Buena Vista County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Iowa and the United States
ResultBuena Vista County testsBuena Vista County shareIowa shareU.S. shareAgainst Iowa
Under 2 pCi/L9614.0%21.8%39.6%−7.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L9614.0%19.7%24.7%−5.7 points
4 pCi/L and above49672.1%58.5%35.7%+13.6 points
Buena Vista County ranked among the 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Cherokee County13 of 9979574.5%7.6 pCi/L
Franklin County14 of 9931373.5%6.2 pCi/L
Jasper County15 of 9974673.3%8.2 pCi/L
Allamakee County16 of 9949273.2%7.0 pCi/L
Adair County17 of 999872.4%9.3 pCi/L
Buena Vista County18 of 9968872.1%6.9 pCi/L
Winnebago County19 of 9982971.9%6.7 pCi/L
Ida County20 of 9939971.7%7.4 pCi/L
Page County21 of 9965371.7%7.2 pCi/L
Greene County22 of 9914371.3%6.2 pCi/L
Emmet County23 of 9942071.0%6.3 pCi/L
Buena Vista County ten-year laboratory totals, against Iowa's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestIowa, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201768872.1%6.9 pCi/L69.6 pCi/L58.5%−0.7 points
2007 to 201667372.8%7.2 pCi/L69.6 pCi/L58.6%−1.4 points
2006 to 201561774.2%7.5 pCi/L69.6 pCi/L59.4%−1.9 points
2005 to 201455276.1%7.9 pCi/L69.6 pCi/L59.6%First on file

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

Buena Vista County, Geology

The ground under Buena Vista County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Buena Vista County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. The map puts 88.6% of Buena Vista County in the area it calls Des Moines Lobe and 11.4% in Loess-Covered Drift Plains. USGS gives the first a radon index of 12 and the second 13, both in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Buena Vista County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Des Moines LobeCalcareous loamy till derived from shale, limestone, dolomite, sandstone.High1288.6%
Loess-Covered Drift PlainsPre-Illinoian and Illinoian glacial deposits, and loess.High1311.4%

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

Buena Vista County beside the ground around it

On high-potential ground Buena Vista County is close to Iowa as a whole: 100% of its land against 98.8%. Of the 8 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Calhoun County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Buena Vista County, the 8 counties bordering it and Iowa
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Buena Vista CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Clay CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Cherokee CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Pocahontas CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Sac CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Ida CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Palo Alto CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
O'Brien CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Calhoun CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Iowa99 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone1.2%98.8%

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

Local help

Buena Vista County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Buena Vista County

What Iowa's program says
Phone
(515) 281-4928
Licensing of radon professionals
Iowa’s radon program approves applications for persons who wish to become certified to perform radon testing or credentialed to perform mitigation and laboratories that provide radon testing devices and analytical services.
Disclosure when a home is sold or rented
However, per Iowa Code chapters 543B.9 and 543B.18 and Iowa Administrative Code 193E Chapter 14 administered by the Iowa Real Estate Commission, a seller must disclose any known tests for the presence of radon and if yes, provide the date of last report and the result(s).

What it means

Buena Vista County, Questions

Questions about radon in Buena Vista County

Are radon levels high in Buena Vista County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 72.1% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Buena Vista County, Iowa were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 6.9 pCi/L. Of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 17 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 58.5%.

Which counties border Buena Vista County?

Buena Vista County borders 8 counties: Clay County, Cherokee County, Pocahontas County, Sac County, Ida County, Palo Alto County, O'Brien County and Calhoun County.

Products

Buena Vista County, Products

Testing a home in Buena Vista County

In Buena Vista County, 72.1% of 688 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 58.5% pooled across Iowa. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Buena Vista 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

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

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Buena Vista County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Buena Vista County

Calculated by Radon411

Buena Vista County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Buena Vista County

About 20,449 people live in Buena Vista County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 351 fewer than in 2020 (−1.7%). That works out to 36 people per square mile of land. Storm Lake alone is home to 11,590 of them, 56.7% of the total. Together its 10 incorporated places hold 82.9% of those residents; the other 17.1% live outside any of them. CDC's 688 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 33.6 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Iowa's 29.4.

From Storm Lake to Truesdale, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Buena Vista County's.

The cities and towns in Buena Vista County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Storm Lake11,590+2.9%56.7%
Alta1,958−6.3%9.6%
Newell814−9.8%4.0%
Sioux Rapids694−7.1%3.4%
Lakeside684−2.3%3.3%
Albert City601−10.7%2.9%
Marathon213−7.8%1.0%
Rembrandt193−8.1%0.9%
Linn Grove148−8.1%0.7%
Truesdale60−7.7%0.3%

10 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).

Buena Vista County, Homes

Homes in Buena Vista County

Buena Vista County is a place of houses on their own lots: 75% of its 8,241 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Iowa. The homes are older than Iowa's as a whole: half were built before 1963 (1971 for Iowa), and 46% date from before 1960. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (Iowa: 72%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Buena Vista County, Iowa, 2019 to 2023
HomesBuena Vista CountyIowa
Housing units8,2411,427,175
Detached houses75%72%
In buildings of 5 or more14%14%
Mobile homes2%3%
Built before 196046%39%
Built since 200011%21%
Middle year built19631971
Owner-occupied72%72%

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