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Radon Levels in Furnas County, Nebraska

EPA puts Furnas County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and only 6 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

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    52.6%

    0.7 pts below NE

    Furnas
    52.6%
    Nebraska
    53.3%

    114 tests, 2015

  • Median result

    4.2pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Furnas
    4.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2015

  • Tests reported

    114

    52nd of 73 by tests

    Furnas
    114
    Douglas
    20,157

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2015

  • 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 Nebraska

    53 of 73

    Middle half

    Furnas
    52.6%
    Thurston
    80.0%

    By share, of 73 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Furnas County

Starts at Furnas County's median, 4.2 pCi/L

4.2pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 4.2 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. Furnas County's median reported result, 2015.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Furnas County, At a glance

Furnas County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Furnas 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 Furnas County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Furnas County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Furnas County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201458.8%
201552.6%
201644.4%
201733.3%
201828.6%
201962.5%
202036.4%
2021100.0%
202253.8%
202333.3%

2023: 33.3%. Across these years the share ran from 28.6% to 100.0%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

Only 6 tests were reported to CDC for Furnas 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

Furnas County, Compared

Furnas County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 52.6% of the 114 radon tests reported to CDC for Furnas County in 2015 read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 53rd of 73 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 0.7 points below the 53.3% pooled from 89 Nebraska counties.

The newest figure, in 2023, counts only 6 tests (33.3% at or above 4 pCi/L), too few to compare, so this reading uses the 114-test figure.

The median result, 4.2 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 14.8 pCi/L. The rest split 13.2% under 2 pCi/L and 34.2% from 2 to 4 (Nebraska: 20.6% and 26.1%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 52.6% share point the same way here.

4 of its 5 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Frontier County at 67.7%; Red Willow County reported 50.9%. Statewide for the same period, Thurston County reported the highest share (80.0%) and Howard County the lowest (24.4%).

The busiest year on file was 2015, with 114 tests reported; the quietest, 2023, had 6.

Over 5 years of annual figures the share fell 22.4 points, from 58.8% in 2014 to 36.4% in 2020; its peak was 58.8% in 2014. Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.5%; Furnas County sits 17.1 points above it.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Furnas County against Nebraska2014 to 2020, years with 30 or more tests: Furnas County 58.8% to 36.4%, the state's pooled share 42.2% in 2020.
Furnas CountyNebraska, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Furnas County against Nebraska: data table
YearTestsFurnas County, at or above 4 pCi/LNebraska, pooled
20145158.8%50.5%
201511452.6%53.3%
20165444.4%47.4%
20177233.3%47.7%
20203336.4%42.2%
Furnas County against Nebraska, the United States and nearby counties, 2015
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Furnas County
Furnas County11452.6%4.2 pCi/LThis county
Nebraska, pooled89 counties, pooled61,36253.3%Not pooled+0.7 points
United States, pooled842 counties, pooled454,88735.5%Not pooled−17.1 points
Thurston Countyhighest in the state13580.0%9.2 pCi/L+27.4 points
Howard Countylowest in the state12324.4%2.5 pCi/L−28.2 points
Frontier County, NEborders it9367.7%4.9 pCi/L+15.1 points
Phelps County, NEborders it23759.5%4.7 pCi/L+6.9 points
Gosper County, NEborders it3658.3%5.7 pCi/L+5.7 points
Harlan County, NEborders it8457.1%5.7 pCi/L+4.5 points
Red Willow County, NEborders it49550.9%4.0 pCi/L−1.7 points
Where Furnas County's reported results fell, 2015, beside Nebraska and the United States
ResultFurnas County testsFurnas County shareNebraska shareU.S. shareAgainst Nebraska
Under 2 pCi/L1513.2%20.6%40.0%−7.4 points
2 to 4 pCi/L3934.2%26.1%24.4%+8.1 points
4 pCi/L and above6052.6%53.3%35.5%−0.7 points
Furnas County ranked among the 73 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2015
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Cass County48 of 7396055.6%4.6 pCi/L
Platte County49 of 7359455.6%4.3 pCi/L
Adams County50 of 7384655.3%4.5 pCi/L
Dawes County51 of 7320753.6%4.1 pCi/L
Lancaster County52 of 7311,45753.1%4.2 pCi/L
Furnas County53 of 7311452.6%4.2 pCi/L
Custer County54 of 736352.4%4.0 pCi/L
Buffalo County55 of 731,89352.0%4.1 pCi/L
Sarpy County56 of 737,67151.3%4.1 pCi/L
Red Willow County57 of 7349550.9%4.0 pCi/L
Pierce County58 of 7318650.0%3.9 pCi/L
Furnas County radon tests by year, against Nebraska's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestNebraska, pooledChange from the row before
2023633.3%3.2 pCi/L11.7 pCi/L38.2%−20.5 points
20221353.8%4.4 pCi/L8.5 pCi/L34.0%−46.2 points
202112100.0%5.6 pCi/L9.0 pCi/L34.9%+63.6 points
20203336.4%3.6 pCi/L11.1 pCi/L42.2%−26.1 points
20192462.5%5.5 pCi/L9.2 pCi/L44.3%+33.9 points
20182128.6%3.0 pCi/L5.0 pCi/L44.5%−4.7 points
20177233.3%2.5 pCi/L13.6 pCi/L47.7%−11.1 points
20165444.4%3.0 pCi/L12.3 pCi/L47.4%−8.2 points
201511452.6%4.2 pCi/L14.8 pCi/L53.3%−6.2 points
20145158.8%4.1 pCi/L15.2 pCi/L50.5%First on file

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

Furnas County, Geology

The ground under Furnas County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Furnas County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Loess over K-T, to which USGS gives a radon index of 13, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Furnas County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Loess over K-TLoess-mantled Tertiary and Cretaceous bedrock.High1399.6%

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

Furnas County beside the ground around it

Furnas County has more high-potential ground than Nebraska as a whole: 100% of its land against 40.9%. Of the 8 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Decatur County, KS comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Furnas County, the 8 counties bordering it and Nebraska
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Furnas CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Harlan CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Norton County, KSZone 1NoneNone100%
Gosper CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Red Willow CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Phelps CountyZone 1None7.0%93.0%
Frontier CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Decatur County, KSZone 1NoneNone100%
Phillips County, KSZone 1NoneNone100%
Nebraska93 counties, pooled by land areaVaries28.2%30.9%40.9%

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

Local help

Furnas County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Furnas County

What Nebraska's program says
Phone
(402) 471-1005
Licensing of radon professionals
If radon testing is done in schools, offices, or other places of work, it must be done by a licensed radon measurement business.

What it means

Furnas County, Questions

Questions about radon in Furnas County

Are radon levels high in Furnas County?

In 2023, 33.3% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Furnas County, Nebraska were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.2 pCi/L. Of 73 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 52 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 53.3%.

Which counties border Furnas County?

Furnas County borders 8 counties: Harlan County, NE, Norton County, KS, Gosper County, NE, Red Willow County, NE, Phelps County, NE, Frontier County, NE, Decatur County, KS and Phillips County, KS.

Products

Furnas County, Products

Testing a home in Furnas County

In Furnas County, 52.6% of 114 tests reported to CDC in 2015 reached 4 pCi/L, against 53.3% pooled across Nebraska. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Furnas 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

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

Explore

Furnas County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Furnas County

Calculated by Radon411

Furnas County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Furnas County

About 4,524 people live in Furnas County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 100 fewer than in 2020 (−2.2%). Spread over its land, that is 6.3 people to the square mile. Its largest town, Cambridge, has 1,066 residents, 23.6% of the total. CDC's 114 reported tests for 2015 work out to 25.2 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Nebraska's 30.4.

From Cambridge to Hendley, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Furnas County's.

The cities and towns in Furnas County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Cambridge1,066−0.4%23.6%
Arapahoe957−3.9%21.2%
Oxfordextends beyond Furnas County701−2.5%Counted whole
Beaver City523−2.2%11.6%
Holbrook197−2.0%4.4%
Edison109−1.8%2.4%
Wilsonville73−2.7%1.6%
Hendley22Level0.5%

8 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 Furnas County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Furnas County, Homes

Homes in Furnas County

Furnas County is a place of houses on their own lots: 88% of its 2,514 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Nebraska. The homes are older than Nebraska's as a whole: half were built before 1946 (1975 for Nebraska), and 62% date from before 1960. Owners live in 77% of the occupied homes (Nebraska: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Furnas County, Nebraska, 2019 to 2023
HomesFurnas CountyNebraska
Housing units2,514855,631
Detached houses88%72%
In buildings of 5 or more4%17%
Mobile homes3%3%
Built before 196062%32%
Built since 20007%22%
Middle year built19461975
Owner-occupied77%67%

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