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Radon Levels in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

EPA puts Santa Fe County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 31.2% of its 1,819 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

    31.2%

    2.7 pts above NM

    Santa Fe
    31.2%
    New Mexico
    28.5%

    1,819 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.7pCi/L

    Below action level

    Santa Fe
    2.7 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    1,819

    Most tested in New Mexico

    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

    4 of 8

    Middle half

    Santa Fe
    31.2%
    Taos
    77.1%

    By share, of 8 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Santa Fe County

Starts at Santa Fe County's median, 2.7 pCi/L

2.7pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.7 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. Santa Fe County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Santa Fe County, At a glance

Santa Fe County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Santa Fe 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 69% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Santa Fe County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Santa Fe County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 32%2 to 4 pCi/L: 37%4 pCi/L and above: 31%

Of 1,819 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Santa Fe County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L58832.3%
2 to 4 pCi/L66436.5%
4 pCi/L and above56731.2%
What these figures count

These are the 1,819 tests reported to CDC for Santa Fe 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

Santa Fe County, Compared

Santa Fe County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Santa Fe County, about 3 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (567 of 1,819) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 4.5 points lower. Across 29 New Mexico counties pooled together, 28.5% of tests reached that level, so Santa Fe County runs 2.7 points above its state.

Of 3 neighbours with a figure, 1 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 2 a smaller one; the spread is 21.4% (Sandoval County) to 38.5% (Los Alamos County). By share, Santa Fe County is 4th of 8 New Mexico counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 2.7 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 53.1 pCi/L. Below the action level, 588 tests (32.3%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 41.3% statewide, and 664 tests (36.5%) fell between 2 and 4, against 30.2% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 31.2% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 69% of the county's land high radon potential. CDC also counts 20 tests taken after mitigation in Santa Fe County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Santa Fe County went from 2,314 tests (2005 to 2014) to 1,819 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 31.9% to 31.2%.

Santa Fe County against New Mexico, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Santa Fe County
Santa Fe County1,81931.2%2.7 pCi/LThis county
New Mexico, pooled29 counties, pooled3,72128.5%Not pooled−2.7 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+4.5 points
Taos Countyhighest in the state8377.1%8.5 pCi/L+45.9 points
Curry Countylowest in the state1353.7%0.6 pCi/L−27.5 points
Rio Arriba County, NMborders it1450.0%3.5 pCi/L+18.8 points
San Miguel County, NMborders it2445.8%3.5 pCi/L+14.6 points
Los Alamos County, NMborders it7838.5%3.0 pCi/L+7.3 points
Mora County, NMborders it425.0%3.0 pCi/L−6.2 points
Bernalillo County, NMborders it1,05224.3%2.1 pCi/L−6.9 points
Sandoval County, NMborders it14021.4%1.5 pCi/L−9.8 points
Torrance County, NMborders it714.3%2.2 pCi/L−16.9 points
Where Santa Fe County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside New Mexico and the United States
ResultSanta Fe County testsSanta Fe County shareNew Mexico shareU.S. shareAgainst New Mexico
Under 2 pCi/L58832.3%41.3%39.6%−9.0 points
2 to 4 pCi/L66436.5%30.2%24.7%+6.3 points
4 pCi/L and above56731.2%28.5%35.7%+2.7 points
Santa Fe 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
Santa Fe 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 20171,81931.2%2.7 pCi/L53.1 pCi/L28.5%−1.0 points
2007 to 20161,94932.2%2.8 pCi/L53.1 pCi/L30.0%−0.3 points
2006 to 20152,01932.5%2.8 pCi/L53.1 pCi/L30.3%+0.6 points
2005 to 20142,31431.9%2.8 pCi/L53.1 pCi/L29.7%First on file

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

Santa Fe County, Geology

The ground under Santa Fe County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Santa Fe County: 68.9% of its land is high radon potential and 31.1% moderate. The map puts 62.0% of Santa Fe County in the area it calls Jemez Mountains and 28.2% in Basin and Range, with 2 smaller areas beside them. USGS gives the first a radon index of 12, in the high band (12 to 17), and the second 9, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Santa Fe County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Jemez MountainsTertiary volcanic basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, and rhyolitic tuff.High1262.0%
Basin and RangeTriassic and Quaternary sedimentary deposits.Moderate928.2%
Rocky Mountains (southern extension)Sandstone, siltstone, shale, volcanic sediments, and valley-fill alluvium.High126.9%
Basin and Range Sacramento SectionPaleozoic marine limestones and shales.Moderate102.8%

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

Santa Fe County beside the ground around it

Santa Fe County has more high-potential ground than New Mexico as a whole: 68.9% of its land against 19.2%. Of the 7 counties that border it, 1 has more high-potential ground, Los Alamos County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Santa Fe County, the 7 counties bordering it and New Mexico
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Santa Fe CountyZone 1None31.1%68.9%
Los Alamos CountyZone 2NoneNone100%
Sandoval CountyZone 2None53.2%46.8%
Bernalillo CountyZone 1None67.7%32.3%
Torrance CountyZone 2None90.1%9.9%
Mora CountyZone 1None73.6%26.4%
San Miguel CountyZone 1None83.1%16.9%
Rio Arriba CountyZone 1None62.1%37.9%
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

Santa Fe County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Santa Fe 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

Santa Fe County, Questions

Questions about radon in Santa Fe County

Are radon levels high in Santa Fe County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 31.2% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Santa Fe County, New Mexico were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.7 pCi/L. Of 8 New Mexico counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 3 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 28.5%.

Which counties border Santa Fe County?

Santa Fe County borders 7 counties: Los Alamos County, Sandoval County, Bernalillo County, Torrance County, Mora County, San Miguel County and Rio Arriba County.

Products

Santa Fe County, Products

Testing a home in Santa Fe County

In Santa Fe County, 31.2% of 1,819 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 Santa Fe 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

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

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Santa Fe County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Santa Fe County

Calculated by Radon411

Santa Fe County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Santa Fe County

The Census Bureau estimates 156,907 residents in Santa Fe County for July 1, 2025, 1,839 more than in 2020 (+1.2%). That works out to 82 people per square mile of land. Santa Fe alone is home to 89,837 of them, 57.3% of the total. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 1,819 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 11.6 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 1.8 for New Mexico.

From Santa Fe to Edgewood, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Santa Fe County's.

The cities and towns in Santa Fe County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Santa Fe89,837+2.4%57.3%
Españolaextends beyond Santa Fe County10,458−0.5%Counted whole
Edgewoodextends beyond Santa Fe County6,157−0.4%Counted whole

3 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 Santa Fe County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Santa Fe County, Homes

Homes in Santa Fe County

Of Santa Fe County's 77,686 homes, 63% are detached houses, against 65% across New Mexico; 13% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1989, close to New Mexico's 1984: 15% date from before 1960 and 28% from 2000 or later. 71% 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 Santa Fe County, New Mexico, 2019 to 2023
HomesSanta Fe CountyNew Mexico
Housing units77,686949,524
Detached houses63%65%
In buildings of 5 or more10%10%
Mobile homes13%16%
Built before 196015%17%
Built since 200028%24%
Middle year built19891984
Owner-occupied71%69%

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