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Radon Levels in Bernalillo County, New Mexico

EPA puts Bernalillo County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 24.3% of its 1,052 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

    24.3%

    4.2 pts below NM

    Bernalillo
    24.3%
    New Mexico
    28.5%

    1,052 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.1pCi/L

    Below action level

    Bernalillo
    2.1 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    1,052

    2nd of 8 by tests

    Bernalillo
    1,052
    Santa Fe
    1,819

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • 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 New Mexico

    5 of 8

    Middle half

    Bernalillo
    24.3%
    Taos
    77.1%

    By share, of 8 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Bernalillo County

Starts at Bernalillo County's median, 2.1 pCi/L

2.1pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.1 pCi/L

Between 2 and 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 between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends considering a fix when the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Bernalillo County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Bernalillo County, At a glance

Bernalillo County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Bernalillo 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: Moderate across 68% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Bernalillo County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 48%2 to 4 pCi/L: 28%4 pCi/L and above: 24%

Of 1,052 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Bernalillo County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L50648.1%
2 to 4 pCi/L29027.6%
4 pCi/L and above25624.3%
What these figures count

These are the 1,052 tests reported to CDC for Bernalillo 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

Bernalillo County, Compared

Bernalillo County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Bernalillo County's 1,052 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 2.1 pCi/L and a maximum of 57.4 pCi/L, and 24.3% reached 4 pCi/L. New Mexico as a whole (29 New Mexico counties, pooled) comes to 28.5%: 4.2 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 5th of 8 New Mexico counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Taos County reported the highest share (77.1%) and Curry County the lowest (3.7%).

Below the action level, 506 tests (48.1%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 41.3% statewide, and 290 tests (27.6%) fell between 2 and 4, against 30.2% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Bernalillo County went from 1,358 tests (2005 to 2014) to 1,052 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 25.7% to 24.3%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Bernalillo County in Zone 1, a predicted county average above 4 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 68% of the county's land moderate radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 21.4% in Sandoval County to 31.2% in Santa Fe County, with Sandoval County below Bernalillo County.

CDC also counts 13 tests taken after mitigation in Bernalillo County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Bernalillo County against New Mexico, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County1,05224.3%2.1 pCi/LThis county
New Mexico, pooled29 counties, pooled3,72128.5%Not pooled+4.2 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+11.4 points
Taos Countyhighest in the state8377.1%8.5 pCi/L+52.8 points
Curry Countylowest in the state1353.7%0.6 pCi/L−20.6 points
Cibola County, NMborders it1353.8%5.5 pCi/L+29.5 points
Santa Fe County, NMborders it1,81931.2%2.7 pCi/L+6.9 points
Sandoval County, NMborders it14021.4%1.5 pCi/L−2.9 points
Valencia County, NMborders it2020.0%2.0 pCi/L−4.3 points
Torrance County, NMborders it714.3%2.2 pCi/L−10.0 points
Where Bernalillo County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside New Mexico and the United States
ResultBernalillo County testsBernalillo County shareNew Mexico shareU.S. shareAgainst New Mexico
Under 2 pCi/L50648.1%41.3%39.6%+6.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L29027.6%30.2%24.7%−2.6 points
4 pCi/L and above25624.3%28.5%35.7%−4.2 points
Bernalillo County ranked among the 8 New Mexico counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Taos County1 of 88377.1%8.5 pCi/L
Los Alamos County2 of 87838.5%3.0 pCi/L
San Juan County3 of 85633.9%2.4 pCi/L
Santa Fe County4 of 81,81931.2%2.7 pCi/L
Bernalillo County5 of 81,05224.3%2.1 pCi/L
Sandoval County6 of 814021.4%1.5 pCi/L
Doña Ana County7 of 810412.5%1.3 pCi/L
Curry County8 of 81353.7%0.6 pCi/L
Bernalillo County ten-year laboratory totals, against New Mexico's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestNew Mexico, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 20171,05224.3%2.1 pCi/L57.4 pCi/L28.5%Level
2007 to 20161,18124.3%2.1 pCi/L57.4 pCi/L30.0%−0.9 points
2006 to 20151,34225.2%2.1 pCi/L57.4 pCi/L30.3%−0.5 points
2005 to 20141,35825.7%2.2 pCi/L57.4 pCi/L29.7%First on file

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

Bernalillo County, Geology

The ground under Bernalillo County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Bernalillo County: 67.7% of its land is moderate radon potential and 32.3% high. The map puts 67.7% of Bernalillo County in the area it calls Southern Colorado Plateau and 32.2% in Rocky Mountains (southern extension). USGS gives the first a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11), and the second 12, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Bernalillo County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Southern Colorado PlateauCretaceous marine sandstone, shale.Moderate1067.7%
Rocky Mountains (southern extension)Sandstone, siltstone, shale, volcanic sediments, and valley-fill alluvium.High1232.2%

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

Bernalillo County beside the ground around it

Bernalillo County has more high-potential ground than New Mexico as a whole: 32.3% of its land against 19.2%. Of the 5 counties that border it, 2 have more high-potential ground, Santa Fe County the most at 68.9%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Bernalillo County, the 5 counties bordering it and New Mexico
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Bernalillo CountyZone 1None67.7%32.3%
Sandoval CountyZone 2None53.2%46.8%
Valencia CountyZone 2None90.9%9.1%
Santa Fe CountyZone 1None31.1%68.9%
Torrance CountyZone 2None90.1%9.9%
Cibola CountyZone 2None78.9%21.1%
New Mexico33 counties, pooled by land areaVaries7.4%73.4%19.2%

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

Local help

Bernalillo County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Bernalillo County

What New Mexico's program says
Phone
(505) 476-8600
Email
radon.questions@env.nm.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
There is not currently a certification program within the state.

What it means

Bernalillo County, Questions

Questions about radon in Bernalillo County

Are radon levels high in Bernalillo County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 24.3% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Bernalillo County, New Mexico were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.1 pCi/L. Of 8 New Mexico counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 4 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 28.5%.

Which counties border Bernalillo County?

Bernalillo County borders 5 counties: Sandoval County, Valencia County, Santa Fe County, Torrance County and Cibola County.

Products

Bernalillo County, Products

Testing a home in Bernalillo County

In Bernalillo County, 24.3% of 1,052 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 28.5% pooled across New Mexico. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Bernalillo 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

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

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Bernalillo County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Bernalillo County

Calculated by Radon411

Bernalillo County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Bernalillo County

About 667,601 people live in Bernalillo County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 9,266 fewer than in 2020 (−1.4%). That works out to 575 people per square mile of land. Albuquerque alone is home to 556,588 of them, 83.4% of the total. CDC's 1,052 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 1.6 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to New Mexico's 1.8.

From Albuquerque to Tijeras, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Bernalillo County's.

The cities and towns in Bernalillo County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Albuquerque556,588−1.4%83.4%
Rio Ranchoextends beyond Bernalillo County114,419+9.5%Counted whole
Edgewoodextends beyond Bernalillo County6,157−0.4%Counted whole
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque5,790−1.6%0.9%
Tijeras460−0.2%Under 0.1%

5 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 Bernalillo County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Bernalillo County, Homes

Homes in Bernalillo County

Of Bernalillo County's 301,278 homes, 64% are detached houses, against 65% across New Mexico; 18% are in buildings of five or more homes. Half of its homes were built before 1982, close to New Mexico's 1984: 19% date from before 1960 and 23% from 2000 or later. 64% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (New Mexico: 69%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 2019 to 2023
HomesBernalillo CountyNew Mexico
Housing units301,278949,524
Detached houses64%65%
In buildings of 5 or more18%10%
Mobile homes5%16%
Built before 196019%17%
Built since 200023%24%
Middle year built19821984
Owner-occupied64%69%

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