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Radon Levels in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

EPA puts Yellow Medicine County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and only 19 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

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    66.3%

    22.1 pts above MN

    Yellow Medicine
    66.3%
    Minnesota
    44.2%

    300 tests, 2005 to 2014

  • Median result

    5.9pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Yellow Medicine
    5.9 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2005 to 2014

  • Tests reported

    300

    57th of 87 by tests

    Yellow Medicine
    300
    Hennepin
    32,450

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2005 to 2014

  • 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

    23 of 87

    Middle half

    Yellow Medicine
    66.3%
    Rock
    85.0%

    By share, of 87 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Yellow Medicine County

Starts at Yellow Medicine County's median, 5.9 pCi/L

5.9pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 5.9 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. Yellow Medicine County's median reported result, 2005 to 2014.

The data

Yellow Medicine County, At a glance

Yellow Medicine County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Yellow Medicine County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Yellow Medicine County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201480.5%
201590.9%
201665.8%
201767.4%
201855.0%
201945.0%
202072.7%
202184.0%
202260.0%
202373.7%

2023: 73.7%. Across these years the share ran from 45.0% to 90.9%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

Only 19 tests were reported to CDC for Yellow Medicine 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

Yellow Medicine County, Compared

Yellow Medicine County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 66.3% of the 300 radon tests reported to CDC for Yellow Medicine County over the 2005 to 2014 laboratory totals read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 23rd of 87 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 22.1 points above the 44.2% pooled from 87 Minnesota counties.

The newest figure, in 2023, counts only 19 tests (73.7% at or above 4 pCi/L), too few to compare, so this reading uses the 300-test figure.

The median result, 5.9 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 39.1 pCi/L. The rest split 12.0% under 2 pCi/L and 21.7% from 2 to 4 (Minnesota: 26.4% and 29.3%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 66.3% share point the same way here.

5 of its 6 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Renville County at 77.8%; Chippewa County reported 64.9%. Statewide for the same period, Rock County reported the highest share (85.0%) and Anoka County the lowest (16.4%).

The busiest year on file was 2017, with 46 tests reported; the quietest, 2023, had 19.

Over 7 years of annual figures the share fell 20.5 points, from 80.5% in 2014 to 60.0% in 2022; its peak was 90.9% in 2015. Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 36.0%; Yellow Medicine County sits 30.3 points above it. CDC also counts 14 tests taken after mitigation in Yellow Medicine County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Yellow Medicine County against Minnesota2014 to 2022, years with 30 or more tests: Yellow Medicine County 80.5% to 60.0%, the state's pooled share 31.6% in 2022.
Yellow Medicine CountyMinnesota, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Yellow Medicine County against Minnesota: data table
YearTestsYellow Medicine County, at or above 4 pCi/LMinnesota, pooled
20144180.5%42.9%
20153390.9%43.6%
20163865.8%37.0%
20174667.4%38.2%
20184055.0%38.3%
20203372.7%31.8%
20224060.0%31.6%
Yellow Medicine County against Minnesota, the United States and nearby counties, 2005 to 2014, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Yellow Medicine County
Yellow Medicine County30066.3%5.9 pCi/LThis county
Minnesota, pooled87 counties, pooled116,16644.2%Not pooled−22.1 points
United States, pooled2,655 counties, pooled1,669,35336.0%Not pooled−30.3 points
Rock Countyhighest in the state20685.0%7.8 pCi/L+18.7 points
Anoka Countylowest in the state4,83216.4%1.8 pCi/L−49.9 points
Renville County, MNborders it33877.8%7.3 pCi/L+11.5 points
Redwood County, MNborders it54070.2%6.3 pCi/L+3.9 points
Deuel County, SDborders it2669.2%5.5 pCi/L+2.9 points
Lyon County, MNborders it90568.5%5.8 pCi/L+2.2 points
Lac qui Parle County, MNborders it35767.2%5.6 pCi/L+0.9 points
Lincoln County, MNborders it12966.7%6.6 pCi/L+0.4 points
Chippewa County, MNborders it33364.9%5.5 pCi/L−1.4 points
Where Yellow Medicine County's reported results fell, 2005 to 2014, laboratory, beside Minnesota and the United States
ResultYellow Medicine County testsYellow Medicine County shareMinnesota shareU.S. shareAgainst Minnesota
Under 2 pCi/L3612.0%26.4%39.8%−14.4 points
2 to 4 pCi/L6521.7%29.3%24.2%−7.6 points
4 pCi/L and above19966.3%44.2%36.0%+22.1 points
Yellow Medicine County ranked among the 87 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2005 to 2014, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Steele County18 of 871,06467.6%5.7 pCi/L
Sibley County19 of 8747367.2%5.7 pCi/L
Lac qui Parle County20 of 8735767.2%5.6 pCi/L
Lincoln County21 of 8712966.7%6.6 pCi/L
Blue Earth County22 of 871,87766.4%5.7 pCi/L
Yellow Medicine County23 of 8730066.3%5.9 pCi/L
Waseca County24 of 8746066.1%6.1 pCi/L
Nicollet County25 of 871,26666.0%5.5 pCi/L
Watonwan County26 of 8724166.0%5.2 pCi/L
Dodge County27 of 8736965.9%6.1 pCi/L
Kandiyohi County28 of 8783865.0%5.4 pCi/L
Yellow Medicine County radon tests by year, against Minnesota's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestMinnesota, pooledChange from the row before
20231973.7%7.8 pCi/L44.2 pCi/L34.6%+13.7 points
20224060.0%6.3 pCi/L19.1 pCi/L31.6%−24.0 points
20212584.0%7.4 pCi/L22.6 pCi/L33.1%+11.3 points
20203372.7%4.9 pCi/L19.4 pCi/L31.8%+27.7 points
20192045.0%3.8 pCi/L12.3 pCi/L36.1%−10.0 points
20184055.0%4.3 pCi/L11.3 pCi/L38.3%−12.4 points
20174667.4%5.0 pCi/L24.2 pCi/L38.2%+1.6 points
20163865.8%5.3 pCi/L22.4 pCi/L37.0%−25.1 points
20153390.9%7.0 pCi/L35.6 pCi/L43.6%+10.4 points
20144180.5%6.5 pCi/L40.3 pCi/L42.9%First on file

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

Yellow Medicine County, State data

Minnesota's own radon test data

Measured

What Minnesota's own agencies publish about radon tests in Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine 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

65.5%

222 properties tested with one or more tests at or above 4 pCi/L

Median result

5.0 pCi/L

Average result

6.4 pCi/L

Tests behind these figures

34 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.

Yellow Medicine County, Geology

The ground under Yellow Medicine County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Yellow Medicine County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. The map puts 94.0% of Yellow Medicine County in the area it calls Central Lowland-Till Prairie and 6.0% in Glacial Lake Deposits. USGS gives both a radon index of 14, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Yellow Medicine County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Central Lowland-Till PrairieSilty and clayey till derived from shale and sandstone.High1494.0%
Glacial Lake DepositsSilt and clay glacial lake deposits.High146.0%

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

Yellow Medicine County beside the ground around it

Yellow Medicine County has more high-potential ground than Minnesota as a whole: 100% of its land against 61.1%. Of the 7 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Deuel County, SD comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Yellow Medicine County, the 7 counties bordering it and Minnesota
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Yellow Medicine CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Lyon CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Lac qui Parle CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Chippewa CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Lincoln CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Deuel County, SDZone 1NoneNone100%
Redwood CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Renville CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Minnesota87 counties, pooled by land areaVariesNone38.9%61.1%

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

Local help

Yellow Medicine County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Yellow Medicine County

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

Yellow Medicine County, Questions

Questions about radon in Yellow Medicine County

Are radon levels high in Yellow Medicine County?

In 2023, 73.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 7.8 pCi/L. Of 87 Minnesota counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 22 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 44.2%.

Which counties border Yellow Medicine County?

Yellow Medicine County borders 7 counties: Lyon County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Lincoln County, MN, Deuel County, SD, Redwood County, MN and Renville County, MN.

Products

Yellow Medicine County, Products

Testing a home in Yellow Medicine County

In Yellow Medicine County, 66.3% of 300 tests reported to CDC over the 2005 to 2014 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 44.2% pooled across Minnesota. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Yellow Medicine 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

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

Explore

Yellow Medicine County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Yellow Medicine County

Calculated by Radon411

Yellow Medicine County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Yellow Medicine County

Yellow Medicine County's population has barely moved since 2020: 9,477 residents on July 1, 2025 against 9,498 then, by the Census Bureau's estimates. That works out to 12 people per square mile of land. Granite Falls, the largest place on its list (2,691 residents in all), extends beyond Yellow Medicine County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 300 reported tests for 2005 to 2014 come to 31.7 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 19.9 for Minnesota.

From Granite Falls to Hazel Run, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Yellow Medicine County's.

The cities and towns in Yellow Medicine County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Granite Fallsextends beyond Yellow Medicine County2,691−1.7%Counted whole
Canby1,674−1.2%17.7%
Clarkfield878+4.8%9.3%
Wood Lake371−2.1%3.9%
Hanley Falls240−2.0%2.5%
Echo237−1.7%2.5%
Porter163−1.8%1.7%
St. Leo91−1.1%1.0%
Hazel Run52−1.9%0.5%

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 Yellow Medicine County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Yellow Medicine County, Homes

Homes in Yellow Medicine County

Yellow Medicine County is a place of houses on their own lots: 89% of its 4,512 homes are detached single-family houses, against 66% across Minnesota. The homes are older than Minnesota's as a whole: half were built before 1956 (1978 for Minnesota), and 54% date from before 1960. 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 Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, 2019 to 2023
HomesYellow Medicine CountyMinnesota
Housing units4,5122,519,538
Detached houses89%66%
In buildings of 5 or more6%19%
Mobile homes2%3%
Built before 196054%29%
Built since 20009%22%
Middle year built19561978
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.