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Radon Levels in Scott County, Iowa

EPA puts Scott County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 44.3% of the 3,520 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

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    44.3%

    14.2 pts below IA

    Scott
    44.3%
    Iowa
    58.5%

    3,520 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    3.3pCi/L

    Below action level

    Scott
    3.3 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    3,520

    6th of 99 by tests

    Scott
    3,520
    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

    87 of 99

    Lowest quarter

    Scott
    44.3%
    Sioux
    84.2%

    By share, of 99 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Scott County

Starts at Scott County's median, 3.3 pCi/L

3.3pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 3.3 pCi/L

Between 2 and 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 between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends considering a fix when the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Scott County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

The data

Scott County, At a glance

Scott County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Scott 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 Scott County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Scott County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 35%2 to 4 pCi/L: 21%4 pCi/L and above: 44%

Of 3,520 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Scott County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L1,24135.3%
2 to 4 pCi/L71920.4%
4 pCi/L and above1,56044.3%
What these figures count

These are the 3,520 tests reported to CDC for Scott 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

Scott County, Compared

Scott County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Scott County, about 4 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (1,560 of 3,520) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 8.6 points higher. Across 99 Iowa counties pooled together, 58.5% of tests reached that level, so Scott County runs 14.2 points below its state.

Of 4 neighbours with a figure, all 4 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L; the spread is 46.5% (Muscatine County) to 60.4% (Cedar County). By share, Scott County is 87th of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 3.3 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 57.2 pCi/L. Below the action level, 1,241 tests (35.3%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 21.8% statewide, and 719 tests (20.4%) fell between 2 and 4, against 19.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 44.3% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land high radon potential. CDC also counts 530 tests taken after mitigation in Scott County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Scott County went from 4,670 tests (2005 to 2014) to 3,520 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 50.5% to 44.3%.

Scott County against Iowa, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Scott County
Scott County3,52044.3%3.3 pCi/LThis county
Iowa, pooled99 counties, pooled95,24558.5%Not pooled+14.2 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−8.6 points
Sioux Countyhighest in the state1,98284.2%10.7 pCi/L+39.9 points
Decatur Countylowest in the state8525.9%2.5 pCi/L−18.4 points
Cedar County, IAborders it76560.4%5.0 pCi/L+16.1 points
Clinton County, IAborders it1,37552.7%4.3 pCi/L+8.4 points
Rock Island County, ILborders it3,73648.3%3.8 pCi/L+4.0 points
Muscatine County, IAborders it95446.5%3.7 pCi/L+2.2 points
Where Scott County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Iowa and the United States
ResultScott County testsScott County shareIowa shareU.S. shareAgainst Iowa
Under 2 pCi/L1,24135.3%21.8%39.6%+13.5 points
2 to 4 pCi/L71920.4%19.7%24.7%+0.7 points
4 pCi/L and above1,56044.3%58.5%35.7%−14.2 points
Scott 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
Dubuque County82 of 993,77546.8%3.6 pCi/L
Muscatine County83 of 9995446.5%3.7 pCi/L
Henry County84 of 9916846.4%3.4 pCi/L
Clarke County85 of 9912045.8%3.5 pCi/L
Appanoose County86 of 9911745.3%3.7 pCi/L
Scott County87 of 993,52044.3%3.3 pCi/L
Lee County88 of 9935143.6%3.2 pCi/L
Davis County89 of 998542.4%3.1 pCi/L
Johnson County90 of 997,32141.6%3.2 pCi/L
Linn County91 of 999,39539.7%3.0 pCi/L
Lucas County92 of 998439.3%3.3 pCi/L
Scott County ten-year laboratory totals, against Iowa's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestIowa, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 20173,52044.3%3.3 pCi/L57.2 pCi/L58.5%−2.1 points
2007 to 20164,21846.4%3.6 pCi/L154.8 pCi/L58.6%−4.0 points
2006 to 20154,83250.4%4.0 pCi/L154.8 pCi/L59.4%−0.1 points
2005 to 20144,67050.5%4.0 pCi/L154.8 pCi/L59.6%First on file

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

Scott County, Geology

The ground under Scott County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Scott County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Loess-Covered Drift Plains, to which USGS gives a radon index of 13, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Scott County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Loess-Covered Drift PlainsPre-Illinoian and Illinoian glacial deposits, and loess.High1399.5%

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

Scott County beside the ground around it

On high-potential ground Scott County is close to Iowa as a whole: 100% of its land against 98.8%. Of the 4 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Muscatine County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Scott County, the 4 counties bordering it and Iowa
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Scott CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Rock Island County, ILZone 1NoneNone100%
Clinton CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Muscatine CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Cedar CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Iowa99 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone1.2%98.8%

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

Local help

Scott County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Scott County

Listed radon professionals by town: Davenport, Bettendorf

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

Scott County, Questions

Questions about radon in Scott County

Are radon levels high in Scott County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 44.3% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Scott County, Iowa were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.3 pCi/L. Of 99 Iowa counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 86 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 58.5%.

Which counties border Scott County?

Scott County borders 4 counties: Rock Island County, IL, Clinton County, IA, Muscatine County, IA and Cedar County, IA.

Products

Scott County, Products

Testing a home in Scott County

In Scott County, 44.3% of 3,520 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 Scott 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

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

Explore

Scott County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Scott County

Calculated by Radon411

Scott County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Scott County

Scott County's population has barely moved since 2020: 175,259 residents on July 1, 2025 against 174,599 then, by the Census Bureau's estimates. That works out to 383 people per square mile of land. Davenport alone is home to 100,358 of them, 57.3% of the total. CDC's 3,520 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 20.1 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Iowa's 29.4.

From Davenport to New Liberty, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Scott County's.

The 12 largest cities and towns in Scott County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Davenport100,358−1.3%57.3%
Bettendorf40,710+4.1%23.2%
Eldridge6,954+3.5%4.0%
Le Claire4,741+0.7%2.7%
Durantextends beyond Scott County1,800−4.1%Counted whole
Blue Grassextends beyond Scott County1,703+2.2%Counted whole
Walcottextends beyond Scott County1,530−1.0%Counted whole
Buffalo1,146−2.1%0.7%
Princeton909−1.7%0.5%
Long Grove844+1.0%0.5%
Riverdale381+0.8%0.2%
Donahue335+0.9%0.2%
  • McCausland
  • Dixon
  • Maysville
  • Panorama Park
  • New Liberty

17 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 Scott County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Scott County, Homes

Homes in Scott County

Of Scott County's 78,130 homes, 68% are detached houses, against 72% across Iowa; 18% are in buildings of five or more homes. Half of its homes were built before 1972, close to Iowa's 1971: 33% date from before 1960 and 20% from 2000 or later. 70% 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 Scott County, Iowa, 2019 to 2023
HomesScott CountyIowa
Housing units78,1301,427,175
Detached houses68%72%
In buildings of 5 or more18%14%
Mobile homes2%3%
Built before 196033%39%
Built since 200020%21%
Middle year built19721971
Owner-occupied70%72%

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