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Radon Levels in Richmond County, North Carolina

EPA puts Richmond County in Zone 3, its lowest radon zone, and only 1 radon test from it is on file with CDC (2021). 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

    0.0%

    22.6 pts below NC

    Richmond
    0.0%
    NC
    22.6%

    52 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    0.6pCi/L

    Below action level

    Richmond
    0.6 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    52

    68th of 75 by tests

    Richmond
    52
    Wake
    9,694

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 3

    Lower potential

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. Zone 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts under 2 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in NC

    70 of 75

    Lowest quarter

    Richmond
    0.0%
    Transylvania
    47.8%

    By share, of 75 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Richmond County

Starts at Richmond County's median, 0.6 pCi/L

0.6pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 0.6 pCi/L

Below 2 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 below 2 pCi/L, the level at which EPA says a fix should be considered. Richmond County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this reading

The data

Richmond County, At a glance

Richmond County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 3: lower predicted potential

is EPA's lowest class, and its forecast for Richmond County as a whole is an average indoor of less than 2 pCi/L (less than 75 Bq/m³). A low zone clears no address in it: homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: Low across 78% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Richmond County, 2021

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Richmond County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Richmond County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
20140.0%
2020100.0%
20210.0%

2021: 0.0%. Across these years the share ran from 0.0% to 100.0%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

Only 1 test was reported to CDC for Richmond County over 2021, 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: 2021. Measured data period: 2005 to 2021 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Richmond County, Compared

Richmond County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Only 0 of 52 radon tests reported for Richmond County over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L (0.0%). The median result, 0.6 pCi/L, sits below 2, well under EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 2.5 pCi/L.

The newest figure, in 2021, counts only 1 test (0.0% at or above 4 pCi/L), too few to compare, so this reading uses the 52-test figure.

Across 99 North Carolina counties pooled together, 22.6% of tests reached that level, so Richmond County runs 22.6 points below its state. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 35.7 points lower. Its place in the state: 70th of 75 North Carolina counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Zone 3 on EPA's map (predicted average under 2 pCi/L) and a 0.0% share point the same way here. Of 4 neighbours with a figure, all 4 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L; the spread is 3.2% (Scotland County) to 25.3% (Stanly County).

Below the action level, 51 tests (98.1%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 55.6% statewide, and 1 tests (1.9%) fell between 2 and 4, against 21.8% statewide. USGS geology rates 78% of the county's land low radon potential.

The busiest year on file was 2014, with 4 tests reported; the quietest, 2021, had 1.

Richmond County against North Carolina, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Richmond County
Richmond County520.0%0.6 pCi/LThis county
North Carolina, pooled99 counties, pooled73,13922.6%Not pooled+22.6 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+35.7 points
Transylvania Countyhighest in the state3,86247.8%3.7 pCi/L+47.8 points
Nash Countylowest in the state300.0%0.2 pCi/LLevel
Stanly County, NCborders it22925.3%2.2 pCi/L+25.3 points
Montgomery County, NCborders it10320.4%1.5 pCi/L+20.4 points
Moore County, NCborders it9919.2%1.3 pCi/L+19.2 points
Scotland County, NCborders it313.2%1.0 pCi/L+3.2 points
Chesterfield County, SCborders it100.0%0.6 pCi/LLevel
Anson County, NCborders it180.0%0.6 pCi/LLevel
Hoke County, NCborders it190.0%0.8 pCi/LLevel
Marlboro County, SCborders it70.0%0.9 pCi/LLevel
Where Richmond County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside North Carolina and the United States
ResultRichmond County testsRichmond County shareNorth Carolina shareU.S. shareAgainst North Carolina
Under 2 pCi/L5198.1%55.6%39.6%+42.5 points
2 to 4 pCi/L11.9%21.8%24.7%−19.9 points
4 pCi/L and above00.0%22.6%35.7%−22.6 points
Richmond County ranked among the 75 North Carolina counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Onslow County65 of 751882.7%0.5 pCi/L
Cumberland County66 of 751601.9%0.7 pCi/L
Lee County67 of 75931.1%0.9 pCi/L
Pitt County68 of 751011.0%0.1 pCi/L
Harnett County69 of 751810.6%0.6 pCi/L
Craven County70 of 751090.0%0.2 pCi/L
Brunswick County70 of 75620.0%0.5 pCi/L
Richmond County70 of 75520.0%0.6 pCi/L
Carteret County70 of 75410.0%0.1 pCi/L
Columbus County70 of 75310.0%0.1 pCi/L
Nash County70 of 75300.0%0.2 pCi/L
Richmond County radon tests by year, against North Carolina's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestNorth Carolina, pooledChange from the row before
202110.0%0.1 pCi/L0.1 pCi/L14.9%−100.0 points
20202100.0%5.2 pCi/L5.6 pCi/L21.1%+100.0 points
201440.0%0.1 pCi/L0.1 pCi/L21.9%First on file

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

Richmond County, Geology

The ground under Richmond County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Richmond County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 78.0% of its land is low radon potential, with 22.0% moderate. The map puts 65.1% of Richmond County in the area it calls Inner Coastal Plain and 22.0% in Carolina Slate Belt, with one smaller area beside them. USGS gives the first a radon index of 8, in the low band (5 to 8), and the second 9, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Richmond County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Inner Coastal PlainFossiliferous clay and sand, shelly sand, sandy marl, and limestone.Low865.1%
Carolina Slate BeltFelsic metavolcanics, intermediate volcanics, metamudstone, argillite, and epiclastic rocks.Moderate922.0%
Wadesboro SubbasinArkosic sandstone, siltstone and conglomerate.Low812.7%

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

Richmond County beside the ground around it

Across North Carolina 1.3% of the land is rated high; none of Richmond County's is. Of the 8 counties that border it, 1 has more moderate-potential ground, Anson County the most at 31.1%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Richmond County, the 8 counties bordering it and North Carolina
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Richmond CountyZone 378.0%22.0%None
Scotland CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Anson CountyZone 368.9%31.1%None
Moore CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Montgomery CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Hoke CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Marlboro County, SCZone 3100%NoneNone
Chesterfield County, SCZone 393.0%7.0%None
Stanly CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
North Carolina100 counties, pooled by land areaVaries64.8%33.0%1.3%

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

Local help

Richmond County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Richmond County

What North Carolina's program says
Licensing of radon professionals
The North Carolina Radon Program is presently developing a Radon Proficiency Program as directed by Session Law 2023-91 House Bill 782 .

What it means

Richmond County, Questions

Questions about radon in Richmond County

Are radon levels high in Richmond County?

In 2021, 0.0% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Richmond County, North Carolina were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 0.1 pCi/L. Of 75 North Carolina counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 69 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 22.6%.

Which counties border Richmond County?

Richmond County borders 8 counties: Scotland County, NC, Anson County, NC, Moore County, NC, Montgomery County, NC, Hoke County, NC, Marlboro County, SC, Chesterfield County, SC and Stanly County, NC.

Products

Richmond County, Products

Testing a home in Richmond County

In Richmond County, 0.0% of 52 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 22.6% pooled across North Carolina. Zone 3 is the lowest label, yet homes at or above 4 pCi/L occur in every zone: a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Richmond County.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Richmond County homes, compared

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Richmond County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Richmond County

Calculated by Radon411

Richmond County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Richmond County

About 42,041 people live in Richmond County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 688 fewer than in 2020 (−1.6%). That works out to 89 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Rockingham, has 8,815 residents, 21.0% of the total. Together its 6 incorporated places hold 39.8% of those residents; the other 60.2% live outside any of them. Reported testing is thin here: 52 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 1.2 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where North Carolina as a whole comes to 6.5.

From Rockingham to Norman, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Richmond County's.

The cities and towns in Richmond County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Rockingham8,815−4.3%21.0%
Hamlet5,870−2.5%14.0%
Ellerbe845−1.2%2.0%
Dobbins Heights685−0.6%1.6%
Hoffman426+1.2%1.0%
Norman99−2.0%0.2%

6 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).

Richmond County, Homes

Homes in Richmond County

Of Richmond County's 19,840 homes, 69% are detached houses, against 65% across North Carolina; 19% are mobile homes. The homes are older than North Carolina's as a whole: half were built before 1975 (1990 for North Carolina), and 23% date from before 1960. 65% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (North Carolina: 66%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Richmond County, North Carolina, 2019 to 2023
HomesRichmond CountyNorth Carolina
Housing units19,8404,815,195
Detached houses69%65%
In buildings of 5 or more5%14%
Mobile homes19%11%
Built before 196023%14%
Built since 200016%33%
Middle year built19751990
Owner-occupied65%66%

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