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Radon Levels in Sherburne County, Minnesota

EPA puts Sherburne County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 21.7% of its 351 reported radon tests (2023) 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

    21.7%

    12.9 pts below MN

    Sherburne
    21.7%
    Minnesota
    34.6%

    351 tests, 2023

  • Median result

    1.8pCi/L

    Below action level

    Sherburne
    1.8 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2023

  • Tests reported

    351

    13th of 62 by tests

    Sherburne
    351
    Hennepin
    6,545

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2023

  • 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 Minnesota

    57 of 62

    Lowest quarter

    Sherburne
    21.7%
    Renville
    75.7%

    By share, of 62 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Sherburne County

Starts at Sherburne County's median, 1.8 pCi/L

1.8pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 1.8 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. Sherburne County's median reported result, 2023.

Interpret this reading

The data

Sherburne County, At a glance

Sherburne County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Sherburne 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 99% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Sherburne County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Sherburne County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Sherburne County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201440.1%
201538.3%
201637.7%
201732.6%
201838.3%
201935.0%
202025.0%
202130.4%
202228.6%
202321.7%

2023: 21.7%. Across these years the share ran from 21.7% to 40.1%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

These are the 351 tests reported to CDC for Sherburne County over 2023, 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: 2023. Measured data period: 2005 to 2023 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Sherburne County, Compared

Sherburne County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Sherburne County's 351 reported tests in 2023 had a middle value of 1.8 pCi/L and a maximum of 19.5 pCi/L, and 21.7% reached 4 pCi/L. Minnesota as a whole (86 Minnesota counties, pooled) comes to 34.6%: 12.9 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 57th of 62 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Renville County reported the highest share (75.7%) and Lake County the lowest (3.8%).

Below the action level, 185 tests (52.7%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 36.6% statewide, and 90 tests (25.6%) fell between 2 and 4, against 28.9% statewide. The busiest year on file was 2014, with 691 tests reported; the quietest, 2019, had 217.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Sherburne County in Zone 1, a predicted county average above 4 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 99% of the county's land high radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 19.3% in Anoka County to 46.7% in Stearns County, with Anoka County below Sherburne County. Over 10 years of annual figures the share fell 18.4 points, from 40.1% in 2014 to 21.7% in 2023; its peak was 40.1% in 2014.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Sherburne County against Minnesota2014 to 2023, years with 30 or more tests: Sherburne County 40.1% to 21.7%, the state's pooled share 34.6% in 2023.
Sherburne CountyMinnesota, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Sherburne County against Minnesota: data table
YearTestsSherburne County, at or above 4 pCi/LMinnesota, pooled
201469140.1%42.9%
201544938.3%43.6%
201639837.7%37.0%
201747032.6%38.2%
201842038.3%38.3%
201921735.0%36.1%
202027225.0%31.8%
202127630.4%33.1%
202223128.6%31.6%
202335121.7%34.6%
Sherburne County against Minnesota, the United States and nearby counties, 2023
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Sherburne County
Sherburne County35121.7%1.8 pCi/LThis county
Minnesota, pooled86 counties, pooled22,44934.6%Not pooled+12.9 points
United States, pooled642 counties, pooled128,74033.4%Not pooled+11.7 points
Renville Countyhighest in the state3775.7%6.3 pCi/L+54.0 points
Lake Countylowest in the state783.8%1.3 pCi/L−17.9 points
Stearns County, MNborders it36646.7%3.7 pCi/L+25.0 points
Wright County, MNborders it55242.4%3.4 pCi/L+20.7 points
Mille Lacs County, MNborders it2133.3%2.6 pCi/L+11.6 points
Hennepin County, MNborders it6,54532.0%2.7 pCi/L+10.3 points
Benton County, MNborders it4323.3%2.2 pCi/L+1.6 points
Isanti County, MNborders it6622.7%2.0 pCi/L+1.0 points
Anoka County, MNborders it88019.3%1.9 pCi/L−2.4 points
Where Sherburne County's reported results fell, 2023, beside Minnesota and the United States
ResultSherburne County testsSherburne County shareMinnesota shareU.S. shareAgainst Minnesota
Under 2 pCi/L18552.7%36.6%41.4%+16.1 points
2 to 4 pCi/L9025.6%28.9%25.2%−3.3 points
4 pCi/L and above7621.7%34.6%33.4%−12.9 points
Sherburne County ranked among the 62 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2023
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Cass County52 of 6210625.5%2.3 pCi/L
Todd County53 of 626323.8%2.0 pCi/L
Ramsey County54 of 622,21323.5%2.2 pCi/L
Benton County55 of 624323.3%2.2 pCi/L
Isanti County56 of 626622.7%2.0 pCi/L
Sherburne County57 of 6235121.7%1.8 pCi/L
Washington County58 of 621,51821.3%1.9 pCi/L
St. Louis County59 of 6249620.2%1.7 pCi/L
Anoka County60 of 6288019.3%1.9 pCi/L
Cook County61 of 623212.5%1.8 pCi/L
Lake County62 of 62783.8%1.3 pCi/L
Sherburne County radon tests by year, against Minnesota's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestMinnesota, pooledChange from the row before
202335121.7%1.8 pCi/L19.5 pCi/L34.6%−6.9 points
202223128.6%2.1 pCi/L17.0 pCi/L31.6%−1.8 points
202127630.4%2.8 pCi/L18.6 pCi/L33.1%+5.4 points
202027225.0%2.0 pCi/L32.6 pCi/L31.8%−10.0 points
201921735.0%3.1 pCi/L14.9 pCi/L36.1%−3.3 points
201842038.3%3.1 pCi/L26.3 pCi/L38.3%+5.7 points
201747032.6%2.8 pCi/L15.6 pCi/L38.2%−5.1 points
201639837.7%3.0 pCi/L36.3 pCi/L37.0%−0.6 points
201544938.3%3.0 pCi/L74.1 pCi/L43.6%−1.8 points
201469140.1%3.3 pCi/L25.3 pCi/L42.9%First on file

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

Sherburne County, State data

Minnesota's own radon test data

Measured

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

MeasuredState figures, not CDC's

What the Minnesota Department of Health reports for Sherburne County

Radon Testing (MN Public Health Data Access Portal): home radon tests reported voluntarily by private laboratories and licensed radon measurement professionals, counted by property. Period: 2016-2025.

Share with one or more tests at or above 4 pCi/L

31.9%

1,176 properties tested with one or more tests at or above 4 pCi/L

Median result

2.6 pCi/L

Average result

3.3 pCi/L

Tests behind these figures

369 properties tested a year on average

  • MDH says these data do not include all of the radon tests conducted in Minnesota.
  • Post-mitigation tests are excluded from the averages and the median; the percentages use each property's highest test.
  • Each home is unique and can have very different results than a neighbor's home; the only way to know is to test.
  • These figures describe tests reported to the Minnesota Department of Health in this area. They count a different set of tests than CDC's figures and are not a reading of any one home.

Measured: Minnesota Department of Health data, 2016-2025.

Sherburne County, Geology

The ground under Sherburne County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Sherburne County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 98.5% of its land is high radon potential, with 1.5% moderate. 98.5% of it lies in the area the map calls Central Lowland-Till Prairie, to which USGS gives a radon index of 14, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Sherburne County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Central Lowland-Till PrairieSilty and clayey till derived from shale and sandstone.High1498.5%
Superior Upland/Central Lowland-Western Lake SectionGlacial deposits derived primarily from volcanic rock.Moderate101.5%

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

Sherburne County beside the ground around it

Sherburne County has more high-potential ground than Minnesota as a whole: 98.5% of its land against 61.1%. Of the 7 counties that border it, 3 have more high-potential ground, Anoka County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Sherburne County, the 7 counties bordering it and Minnesota
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Sherburne CountyZone 1None1.5%98.5%
Wright CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Benton CountyZone 2None91.6%8.4%
Isanti CountyZone 2None2.3%97.7%
Anoka CountyZone 2NoneNone100%
Hennepin CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Mille Lacs CountyZone 2None95.2%4.8%
Stearns CountyZone 1None21.5%78.5%
Minnesota87 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone38.9%61.1%

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

Local help

Sherburne County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Sherburne County

Listed radon businesses with an address in Sherburne County:

Listed radon professionals by town: Elk River, Big Lake, Clear Lake

What Minnesota's program says
Phone
651-201-4601
Email
health.indoorair@state.mn.us
Licensing of radon professionals
The Radon Licensing Act requires anyone who performs a radon test or radon mitigation, in a building they do not own or lease, must be licensed by MDH.
Disclosure when a home is sold or rented
The Minnesota Radon Awareness Act requires specific disclosure and education be provided to potential home buyers during residential real estate transactions in Minnesota.

What it means

Sherburne County, Questions

Questions about radon in Sherburne County

Are radon levels high in Sherburne County?

In 2023, 21.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Sherburne County, Minnesota were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 1.8 pCi/L. Of 62 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 56 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 34.6%.

Which counties border Sherburne County?

Sherburne County borders 7 counties: Wright County, Benton County, Isanti County, Anoka County, Hennepin County, Mille Lacs County and Stearns County.

Products

Sherburne County, Products

Testing a home in Sherburne County

In Sherburne County, 21.7% of 351 tests reported to CDC in 2023 reached 4 pCi/L, against 34.6% pooled across Minnesota. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Sherburne 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

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

Explore

Sherburne County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Sherburne County

Calculated by Radon411

Sherburne County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Sherburne County

Sherburne County is growing: the Census Bureau puts it at 104,194 residents on July 1, 2025, up 6.8% from 97,588 in 2020. That works out to 241 people per square mile of land. St. Cloud, the largest place on its list (72,647 residents in all), extends beyond Sherburne County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. CDC's 351 reported tests for 2023 work out to 3.4 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Minnesota's 3.9.

From St. Cloud to Clear Lake, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Sherburne County's.

The cities and towns in Sherburne County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
St. Cloudextends beyond Sherburne County72,647+4.4%Counted whole
Elk River27,896+7.5%26.8%
Big Lake12,929+9.8%12.4%
Zimmerman6,904+10.6%6.6%
Princetonextends beyond Sherburne County5,480+9.2%Counted whole
Becker5,425+10.7%5.2%
Clear Lake689+6.3%0.7%

7 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 Sherburne County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Sherburne County, Homes

Homes in Sherburne County

Sherburne County is a place of houses on their own lots: 79% of its 36,581 homes are detached single-family houses, against 66% across Minnesota. Much of Sherburne County is recent building: 39% of its homes have gone up since 2000 and the middle year built is 1995, against 1978 for Minnesota. Owners live in 84% of the occupied homes (Minnesota: 72%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2019 to 2023
HomesSherburne CountyMinnesota
Housing units36,5812,519,538
Detached houses79%66%
In buildings of 5 or more11%19%
Mobile homes1%3%
Built before 19609%29%
Built since 200039%22%
Middle year built19951978
Owner-occupied84%72%

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