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Radon Levels in Saginaw County, Michigan

EPA puts Saginaw County in Zone 3, its lowest radon zone, and 17.0% of its 3,037 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

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    17.0%

    9.9 pts below MI

    Saginaw
    17.0%
    Michigan
    26.9%

    3,037 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    1.7pCi/L

    Below action level

    Saginaw
    1.7 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    3,037

    9th of 82 by tests

    Saginaw
    3,037
    Oakland
    16,224

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 3

    Lower potential

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. Zone 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts under 2 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Michigan

    39 of 82

    Middle half

    Saginaw
    17.0%
    Lenawee
    56.7%

    By share, of 82 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Saginaw County

Starts at Saginaw County's median, 1.7 pCi/L

1.7pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 1.7 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. Saginaw County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this reading

The data

Saginaw County, At a glance

Saginaw County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 3: lower predicted potential

is EPA's lowest class, and its forecast for Saginaw County as a whole is an average indoor of less than 2 pCi/L (less than 75 Bq/m³). A low zone clears no address in it: homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: Low across 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Saginaw County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 56%2 to 4 pCi/L: 27%4 pCi/L and above: 17%

Of 3,037 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Saginaw County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L1,71556.5%
2 to 4 pCi/L80726.6%
4 pCi/L and above51517.0%
What these figures count

These are the 3,037 tests reported to CDC for Saginaw 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

Saginaw County, Compared

Saginaw County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Saginaw County's 3,037 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 1.7 pCi/L and a maximum of 23.9 pCi/L, and 17.0% reached 4 pCi/L. Michigan as a whole (83 Michigan counties, pooled) comes to 26.9%: 9.9 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 39th of 82 Michigan counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Lenawee County reported the highest share (56.7%) and Muskegon County the lowest (3.2%).

Below the action level, 1,715 tests (56.5%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 46.4% statewide, and 807 tests (26.6%) fell between 2 and 4, against 26.7% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Saginaw County went from 2,719 tests (2005 to 2014) to 3,037 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 15.3% to 17.0%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Saginaw County in Zone 3, a predicted county average under 2 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land low radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 5.3% in Midland County to 35.5% in Tuscola County, with Gratiot County, Bay County and Midland County below Saginaw County.

CDC also counts 44 tests taken after mitigation in Saginaw County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Saginaw County against Michigan, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Saginaw County
Saginaw County3,03717.0%1.7 pCi/LThis county
Michigan, pooled83 counties, pooled114,40726.9%Not pooled+9.9 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+18.7 points
Lenawee Countyhighest in the state1,90756.7%4.6 pCi/L+39.7 points
Muskegon Countylowest in the state6293.2%1.2 pCi/L−13.8 points
Tuscola County, MIborders it36935.5%2.6 pCi/L+18.5 points
Shiawassee County, MIborders it1,51531.6%2.5 pCi/L+14.6 points
Genesee County, MIborders it1,69921.9%2.0 pCi/L+4.9 points
Gratiot County, MIborders it45716.8%1.7 pCi/L−0.2 points
Bay County, MIborders it6248.5%1.4 pCi/L−8.5 points
Midland County, MIborders it2,0065.3%1.0 pCi/L−11.7 points
Where Saginaw County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Michigan and the United States
ResultSaginaw County testsSaginaw County shareMichigan shareU.S. shareAgainst Michigan
Under 2 pCi/L1,71556.5%46.4%39.6%+10.1 points
2 to 4 pCi/L80726.6%26.7%24.7%−0.1 points
4 pCi/L and above51517.0%26.9%35.7%−9.9 points
Saginaw County ranked among the 82 Michigan counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Mackinac County34 of 829119.8%1.2 pCi/L
Oscoda County35 of 825418.5%2.1 pCi/L
Allegan County36 of 8276618.4%1.7 pCi/L
Van Buren County37 of 8239418.0%1.9 pCi/L
Wayne County38 of 825,59417.5%1.8 pCi/L
Saginaw County39 of 823,03717.0%1.7 pCi/L
Ottawa County40 of 822,54616.8%1.6 pCi/L
Gratiot County41 of 8245716.8%1.7 pCi/L
Sanilac County42 of 8232516.6%1.6 pCi/L
Kent County43 of 828,44916.5%1.8 pCi/L
Manistee County44 of 8238816.5%1.6 pCi/L
Saginaw County ten-year laboratory totals, against Michigan's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestMichigan, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 20173,03717.0%1.7 pCi/L23.9 pCi/L26.9%+1.0 points
2007 to 20162,88616.0%1.6 pCi/L26.6 pCi/L26.8%+1.0 points
2006 to 20152,87515.0%1.6 pCi/L26.6 pCi/L26.8%−0.3 points
2005 to 20142,71915.3%1.6 pCi/L26.6 pCi/L26.2%First on file

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

Saginaw County, State data

Michigan's own radon test data

Measured

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

MeasuredState figures, not CDC's

What Michigan EGLE reports for the ZIP codes in Saginaw County

Michigan EGLE publishes its figures by ZIP code, not by county. These are the 26 ZIP codes that lie wholly or partly in Saginaw County, each with the state's own figures for it. Period: About 10 years to 2026-05-15.

ZIP codes in Saginaw County
ZIP codeWhat the state reports
484158% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.1 pCi/L, 72 tests
484176% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.4 pCi/L, 16 tests
4842038% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 3.3 pCi/L, 16 tests
484570% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.0 pCi/L, 20 tests
484606% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 2.2 pCi/L, 17 tests
4860116% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.5 pCi/L, 134 tests
486027% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.1 pCi/L, 176 tests
4860311% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.1 pCi/L, 370 tests
4860414% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.9 pCi/L, 59 tests
486073 tests, figures not shown
4860915% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.7 pCi/L, 106 tests
486143 tests, figures not shown
4861616% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.8 pCi/L, 49 tests
4862322% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.7 pCi/L, 103 tests
486264% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.2 pCi/L, 47 tests
486370% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 0.7 pCi/L, 15 tests
4863817% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.9 pCi/L, 137 tests
4864927% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 3.1 pCi/L, 11 tests
486550% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 0.9 pCi/L, 37 tests
4870813% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.9 pCi/L, 47 tests
4872222% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 1.1 pCi/L, 18 tests
4873428% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 2.8 pCi/L, 309 tests
487474 tests, figures not shown
4875736% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 2.8 pCi/L, 25 tests
4883149% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 3.6 pCi/L, 35 tests
4884130% greater than 4 pCi/L, median 2.0 pCi/L, 10 tests
  • EGLE's figures cover first-time tests only, from organizations willing to provide data.
  • EGLE does not publish figures for a ZIP code with fewer than 5 test results.
  • EGLE says the map is not intended to decide whether a home should be tested: all homes should be tested.
  • ZIP code boundaries are postal delivery areas, not legal or administrative boundaries.
  • A ZIP code that crosses the county line is listed whole; its figures cover all of it.

Measured: Michigan EGLE data, About 10 years to 2026-05-15.

Saginaw County, Geology

The ground under Saginaw County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Saginaw County's mapped land in one class: low radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Glacial Lakes, to which USGS gives a radon index of 7, in the low band (5 to 8).

USGS's geologic areas under Saginaw County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Glacial LakesSilt and clay glacial lake deposits.Low7100%

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

Saginaw County beside the ground around it

Across Michigan 9.6% of the land is rated high; none of Saginaw County's is. Of the 6 counties that border it, 4 have more moderate-potential ground, Genesee County the most at 80.5%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Saginaw County, the 6 counties bordering it and Michigan
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Saginaw CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Bay CountyZone 399.1%NoneNone
Midland CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Shiawassee CountyZone 224.1%75.9%None
Gratiot CountyZone 357.9%42.1%None
Tuscola CountyZone 366.9%32.9%None
Genesee CountyZone 219.5%80.5%None
Michigan83 counties, pooled by land areaVaries45.0%44.3%9.6%

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

Local help

Saginaw County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Saginaw County

What Michigan's program says
Phone
800-723-6642
Email
Radon@Michigan.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
Michigan does not license or regulate radon testing and mitigation contractors.

What it means

Saginaw County, Questions

Questions about radon in Saginaw County

Are radon levels high in Saginaw County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 17.0% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Saginaw County, Michigan were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 1.7 pCi/L. Of 82 Michigan counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 38 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 26.9%.

Which counties border Saginaw County?

Saginaw County borders 6 counties: Bay County, Midland County, Shiawassee County, Gratiot County, Tuscola County and Genesee County.

Products

Saginaw County, Products

Testing a home in Saginaw County

In Saginaw County, 17.0% of 3,037 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 26.9% pooled across Michigan. Zone 3 is the lowest label, yet homes at or above 4 pCi/L occur in every zone: a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Saginaw County.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Saginaw County homes, compared

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Saginaw County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Saginaw County

Calculated by Radon411

Saginaw County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Saginaw County

About 187,688 people live in Saginaw County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 2,165 fewer than in 2020 (−1.1%). That works out to 234 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Saginaw, has 42,863 residents, 22.8% of the total. CDC's 3,037 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 16.2 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Michigan's 11.3.

From Saginaw to Oakley, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Saginaw County's.

The cities and towns in Saginaw County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Saginaw42,863−2.8%22.8%
Frankenmuth5,197+3.2%2.8%
Chesaning2,399−2.4%1.3%
St. Charles1,941−2.7%1.0%
Birch Run1,540−1.2%0.8%
Zilwaukee1,489−2.7%0.8%
Reeseextends beyond Saginaw County1,265−1.6%Counted whole
Merrill669−2.5%0.4%
Oakley290+1.0%0.2%

9 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). A place that extends beyond Saginaw County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Saginaw County, Homes

Homes in Saginaw County

Saginaw County is a place of houses on their own lots: 76% of its 86,134 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Michigan. Half of its homes were built before 1968, close to Michigan's 1972: 39% date from before 1960 and 11% from 2000 or later. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (Michigan: 73%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Saginaw County, Michigan, 2019 to 2023
HomesSaginaw CountyMichigan
Housing units86,1344,599,683
Detached houses76%72%
In buildings of 5 or more12%13%
Mobile homes4%5%
Built before 196039%36%
Built since 200011%15%
Middle year built19681972
Owner-occupied74%73%

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