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Radon Levels in Hamilton County, Nebraska

EPA puts Hamilton County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 64.6% of the 48 radon tests reported to CDC (2023) 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

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    64.6%

    26.4 pts above NE

    Hamilton
    64.6%
    Nebraska
    38.2%

    48 tests, 2023

  • Median result

    5.0pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Hamilton
    5.0 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2023

  • Tests reported

    48

    26th of 33 by tests

    Hamilton
    48
    Lancaster
    4,058

    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 Nebraska

    13 of 33

    Middle half

    Hamilton
    64.6%
    Gage
    79.8%

    By share, of 33 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Hamilton County

Starts at Hamilton County's median, 5.0 pCi/L

5.0pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 5.0 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. Hamilton County's median reported result, 2023.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Hamilton County, At a glance

Hamilton County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Hamilton 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 87% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Hamilton County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Hamilton County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Hamilton County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201461.2%
201565.5%
201672.2%
201764.9%
201865.9%
201968.1%
202068.2%
202156.8%
202258.0%
202364.6%

2023: 64.6%. Across these years the share ran from 56.8% to 72.2%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

These are the 48 tests reported to CDC for Hamilton 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

Hamilton County, Compared

Hamilton County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 64.6% of the 48 radon tests reported to CDC for Hamilton County in 2023 read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 13th of 33 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 26.4 points above the 38.2% pooled from 86 Nebraska counties.

The median result, 5.0 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 17.7 pCi/L. The rest split 8.3% under 2 pCi/L and 27.1% from 2 to 4 (Nebraska: 39.2% and 22.6%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 64.6% share point the same way here.

1 of its 3 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Adams County at 66.5%; Hall County reported 17.8%. Statewide for the same period, Gage County reported the highest share (79.8%) and Dakota County the lowest (3.1%).

The busiest year on file was 2017, with 453 tests reported; the quietest, 2023, had 48.

Over 10 years of annual figures the share rose 3.4 points, from 61.2% in 2014 to 64.6% in 2023; its peak was 72.2% in 2016. Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 33.4%; Hamilton County sits 31.2 points above it. CDC also counts 15 tests taken after mitigation in Hamilton 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, Hamilton County against Nebraska2014 to 2023, years with 30 or more tests: Hamilton County 61.2% to 64.6%, the state's pooled share 38.2% in 2023.
Hamilton CountyNebraska, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Hamilton County against Nebraska: data table
YearTestsHamilton County, at or above 4 pCi/LNebraska, pooled
201436361.2%50.5%
201535765.5%53.3%
201634572.2%47.4%
201745364.9%47.7%
201837865.9%44.5%
201921668.1%44.3%
202032168.2%42.2%
202126456.8%34.9%
20225058.0%34.0%
20234864.6%38.2%
Hamilton County against Nebraska, the United States and nearby counties, 2023
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Hamilton County
Hamilton County4864.6%5.0 pCi/LThis county
Nebraska, pooled86 counties, pooled11,16338.2%Not pooled−26.4 points
United States, pooled642 counties, pooled128,74033.4%Not pooled−31.2 points
Gage Countyhighest in the state8479.8%9.4 pCi/L+15.2 points
Dakota Countylowest in the state1303.1%0.4 pCi/L−61.5 points
Fillmore County, NEborders it9100.0%13.5 pCi/L+35.4 points
Polk County, NEborders it1894.4%7.0 pCi/L+29.8 points
Clay County, NEborders it2766.7%5.7 pCi/L+2.1 points
Adams County, NEborders it15566.5%4.8 pCi/L+1.9 points
York County, NEborders it6264.5%5.7 pCi/L−0.1 points
Hall County, NEborders it25317.8%1.7 pCi/L−46.8 points
Merrick County, NEborders it1216.7%1.9 pCi/L−47.9 points
Where Hamilton County's reported results fell, 2023, beside Nebraska and the United States
ResultHamilton County testsHamilton County shareNebraska shareU.S. shareAgainst Nebraska
Under 2 pCi/L48.3%39.2%41.4%−30.9 points
2 to 4 pCi/L1327.1%22.6%25.2%+4.5 points
4 pCi/L and above3164.6%38.2%33.4%+26.4 points
Hamilton County ranked among the 33 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2023
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Stanton County8 of 333268.8%7.8 pCi/L
Cass County9 of 3311168.5%5.5 pCi/L
Madison County10 of 3321366.7%5.8 pCi/L
Adams County11 of 3315566.5%4.8 pCi/L
Phelps County12 of 334365.1%4.9 pCi/L
Hamilton County13 of 334864.6%5.0 pCi/L
York County14 of 336264.5%5.7 pCi/L
Otoe County15 of 335964.4%5.7 pCi/L
Red Willow County16 of 335362.3%4.6 pCi/L
Dodge County17 of 3311662.1%5.0 pCi/L
Richardson County18 of 333461.8%5.1 pCi/L
Hamilton County radon tests by year, against Nebraska's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestNebraska, pooledChange from the row before
20234864.6%5.0 pCi/L17.7 pCi/L38.2%+6.6 points
20225058.0%4.5 pCi/L19.1 pCi/L34.0%+1.2 points
202126456.8%4.4 pCi/L23.4 pCi/L34.9%−11.4 points
202032168.2%6.4 pCi/L23.5 pCi/L42.2%+0.1 points
201921668.1%5.1 pCi/L122.3 pCi/L44.3%+2.2 points
201837865.9%5.5 pCi/L25.0 pCi/L44.5%+1.0 points
201745364.9%5.6 pCi/L31.4 pCi/L47.7%−7.3 points
201634572.2%6.1 pCi/L18.3 pCi/L47.4%+6.7 points
201535765.5%6.1 pCi/L28.1 pCi/L53.3%+4.3 points
201436361.2%4.9 pCi/L28.9 pCi/L50.5%First on file

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

Hamilton County, Geology

The ground under Hamilton County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Hamilton County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 87.4% of its land is high radon potential, with 12.6% moderate. The map puts 87.4% of Hamilton County in the area it calls Pre-Wisconsin glacial deposits and 12.6% in Loess over Tertiary sediments. USGS gives the first a radon index of 13, in the high band (12 to 17), and the second 11, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Hamilton County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Pre-Wisconsin glacial depositsLoess-mantled glacial drift.High1387.4%
Loess over Tertiary sedimentsTertiary bedrock covered by varying thicknesses of loess.Moderate1112.6%

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

Hamilton County beside the ground around it

Hamilton County has more high-potential ground than Nebraska as a whole: 87.4% of its land against 40.9%. Of the 7 counties that border it, 4 have more high-potential ground, Clay County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Hamilton County, the 7 counties bordering it and Nebraska
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Hamilton CountyZone 1None12.6%87.4%
Merrick CountyZone 2None99.2%0.8%
York CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Hall CountyZone 2None79.7%20.3%
Clay CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Polk CountyZone 1None26.1%73.9%
Fillmore CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Adams CountyZone 1None0.1%99.9%
Nebraska93 counties, pooled by land areaVaries28.2%30.9%40.9%

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

Local help

Hamilton County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Hamilton 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

Hamilton County, Questions

Questions about radon in Hamilton County

Are radon levels high in Hamilton County?

In 2023, 64.6% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Hamilton County, Nebraska were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 5.0 pCi/L. Of 33 Nebraska counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 12 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 38.2%.

Which counties border Hamilton County?

Hamilton County borders 7 counties: Merrick County, York County, Hall County, Clay County, Polk County, Fillmore County and Adams County.

Products

Hamilton County, Products

Testing a home in Hamilton County

In Hamilton County, 64.6% of 48 tests reported to CDC in 2023 reached 4 pCi/L, against 38.2% pooled across Nebraska. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Hamilton 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

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

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Hamilton County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Hamilton County

Calculated by Radon411

Hamilton County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Hamilton County

The Census Bureau estimates 9,678 residents in Hamilton County for July 1, 2025, 272 more than in 2020 (+2.9%). That works out to 18 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Aurora, has 4,787 residents, 49.5% of the total. Together its 7 incorporated places hold 66.1% of those residents; the other 33.9% live outside any of them. CDC's 48 reported tests for 2023 work out to 5.0 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Nebraska's 5.5.

From Aurora to Stockham, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Hamilton County's.

The cities and towns in Hamilton County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Aurora4,787+2.3%49.5%
Hampton446+3.0%4.6%
Giltner421+4.0%4.4%
Phillips333+3.7%3.4%
Marquette237+3.5%2.4%
Hordville137+4.6%1.4%
Stockham34+3.0%0.4%

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).

Hamilton County, Homes

Homes in Hamilton County

Hamilton County is a place of houses on their own lots: 87% of its 4,122 homes are detached single-family houses, against 72% across Nebraska. Half of its homes were built before 1972, close to Nebraska's 1975: 36% date from before 1960 and 16% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 83% of the occupied homes (Nebraska: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Hamilton County, Nebraska, 2019 to 2023
HomesHamilton CountyNebraska
Housing units4,122855,631
Detached houses87%72%
In buildings of 5 or more5%17%
Mobile homes2%3%
Built before 196036%32%
Built since 200016%22%
Middle year built19721975
Owner-occupied83%67%

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