Long-term kit
RL416 long-term radon test kit, lab fee included
- Lab fee included
Method: Alpha track
In home: 90 days to 12 months
Locations and reports
Radon Levels in Columbia County, Pennsylvania
EPA puts Columbia County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 34.7% of its 409 reported radon tests (2020) 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
Share at 4+ pCi/L
34.7%
4.4 pts above PA
- Columbia
- 34.7%
- PA
- 30.3%
409 tests, 2020
Median result
2.0pCi/L
Below action level
- Columbia
- 2.0 pCi/L
- EPA
- 4.0 pCi/L
Midpoint of the tests, 2020
Tests reported
409
32nd of 63 by tests
- Columbia
- 409
- Montgomery
- 10,508
Reported to CDC before any fix, 2020
EPA radon zone
Zone 1
Highest potential
- Zone 1
- 2
- 3
1 highest, 3 lowest
EPA predicts over 4 pCi/L indoors
Rank in PA
41 of 63
Middle half
- Columbia
- 34.7%
- Perry
- 57.7%
By share, of 63 with 30+ tests
Read a result for Columbia County
Starts at Columbia County's median, 2.0 pCi/L
EPA’s own thresholds; the figures are the area’s, never this home’s.
EPA’s reading of 2.0 pCi/L
Between 2 and 4 pCi/L
- Under 20 to 1.9 pCi/L
- 2 to 4consider a fix
- 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. Columbia County's median reported result, 2020.
The data
Columbia County, At a glance
Columbia County at a glance
Predicted: EPA radon zone
EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential
EPA puts all of Columbia County in
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 Columbia County, 2020
| Year | Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 57.8% |
| 2015 | 50.0% |
| 2016 | 52.4% |
| 2017 | 55.3% |
| 2018 | 44.0% |
| 2019 | 46.6% |
| 2020 | 34.7% |
2020: 34.7%. Across these years the share ran from 34.7% to 57.8%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.
What these figures count
These are the 409 tests reported to CDC for Columbia County over 2020, 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: 2020. Measured data period: 2005 to 2020 (every CDC figure on file).
Columbia County, Compared
Columbia County radon figures, compared
Calculated by Radon411In Columbia County, about 3 in 10 reported tests in 2020 (142 of 409) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 25.5%, the gap is 9.2 points higher. Across 67 Pennsylvania counties pooled together, 30.3% of tests reached that level, so Columbia County runs 4.4 points above its state.
Of 6 neighbours with a figure, 4 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 2 a smaller one; the spread is 28.2% (Luzerne County) to 53.5% (Schuylkill County). By share, Columbia County is 41st of 63 Pennsylvania counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.
Year by year, 2014 opened at 57.8% and 2020 closed at 34.7% (down 23.1 points), with 2014 the high at 57.8%. Half the tests came in under 2.0 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 127.8 pCi/L. Below the action level, 199 tests (48.7%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 44.3% statewide, and 68 tests (16.6%) fell between 2 and 4, against 25.4% statewide.
Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 34.7% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land high radon potential.
The busiest year on file was 2019, with 824 tests reported; the quietest, 2014, had 218.
Columbia CountyPennsylvania, pooled
| Year | Tests | Columbia County, at or above 4 pCi/L | Pennsylvania, pooled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 218 | 57.8% | 36.1% |
| 2015 | 358 | 50.0% | 37.8% |
| 2016 | 552 | 52.4% | 34.4% |
| 2017 | 358 | 55.3% | 35.1% |
| 2018 | 450 | 44.0% | 30.5% |
| 2019 | 824 | 46.6% | 31.4% |
| 2020 | 409 | 34.7% | 30.3% |
Pooled shares: Radon411's sum of CDC's county counts for one period.
Columbia County, State data
Pennsylvania's own radon test data
MeasuredWhat Pennsylvania's own agencies publish about radon tests in Columbia County, with their period. These are not CDC's figures and are never added to them.
MeasuredState figures, not CDC's
What Pennsylvania DEP reports for the ZIP codes in Columbia County
Pennsylvania DEP publishes its figures by ZIP code, not by county. These are the 20 ZIP codes that lie wholly or partly in Columbia County, each with the state's own figures for it. Period: Period not stated by DEP.
| ZIP code | What the state reports |
|---|---|
| 17756 | Basement: average 12.2 pCi/L, 1,154 tests; First floor: average 3.6 pCi/L, 250 tests |
| 17774 | Basement: average 11.4 pCi/L, 58 tests; First floor: figures not shown |
| 17814 | Basement: average 16.6 pCi/L, 402 tests; First floor: average 5.0 pCi/L, 100 tests |
| 17815 | Basement: average 11.6 pCi/L, 4,604 tests; First floor: average 5.3 pCi/L, 707 tests |
| 17820 | Basement: average 20.6 pCi/L, 664 tests; First floor: average 6.3 pCi/L, 141 tests |
| 17821 | Basement: average 9.7 pCi/L, 3,919 tests; First floor: average 5.5 pCi/L, 633 tests |
| 17824 | Basement: average 11.9 pCi/L, 795 tests; First floor: average 7.0 pCi/L, 96 tests |
| 17846 | Basement: average 15.5 pCi/L, 345 tests; First floor: average 3.2 pCi/L, 78 tests |
| 17858 | Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown |
| 17859 | Basement: average 19.2 pCi/L, 262 tests; First floor: average 8.6 pCi/L, 59 tests |
| 17878 | Basement: average 15.8 pCi/L, 137 tests; First floor: average 7.0 pCi/L, 36 tests |
| 17888 | Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown |
| 17920 | Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown |
| 17921 | Basement: average 14.0 pCi/L, 448 tests; First floor: average 4.2 pCi/L, 61 tests |
| 17945 | Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown |
| 17985 | Basement: average 12.1 pCi/L, 122 tests; First floor: figures not shown |
| 18603 | Basement: average 10.1 pCi/L, 2,020 tests; First floor: average 6.5 pCi/L, 412 tests |
| 18631 | Basement: average 8.6 pCi/L, 196 tests; First floor: figures not shown |
| 18635 | Basement: average 21.3 pCi/L, 375 tests; First floor: average 4.4 pCi/L, 46 tests |
| 18655 | Basement: average 6.9 pCi/L, 644 tests; First floor: average 2.6 pCi/L, 96 tests |
- DEP's report gives the number of tests, the highest result and the average result for each floor tested; it states no period.
- DEP says the smartest thing to do is to test your home for radon, no matter where you live.
- A ZIP code that crosses the county line is listed whole; its figures cover all of it.
Measured: Pennsylvania DEP data, Period not stated by DEP.
Columbia County, Geology
The ground under Columbia County
PredictedUSGS's geologic map puts all of Columbia County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. 99.2% of it lies in the area the map calls Appalachian Mountain Section, to which USGS gives a radon index of 12, in the high band (12 to 17).
| Area | The rock, in USGS's words | Potential | Radon index | Share of land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Mountain Section | Paleozoic sandstone, shale, and limestone. | High | 12 | 99.2% |
| Mountainous High Plateau | Sandstone, shale and conglomerate. | High | 12 | 0.8% |
Names, descriptions and indexes: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Radon Potential Map (2025). Shares: Radon411, from the map cut to the boundary.
Columbia County beside the ground around it
Columbia County has more high-potential ground than Pennsylvania as a whole: 100% of its land against 70.4%. Of the 6 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Montour County comes nearest at 100%.
The map rates the ground, not the air in any home.
Local help
Columbia County, Local resources
Radon testing and mitigation in Columbia County
- Radon DivisionRadon Division, run by Department of Environmental Protection, licenses or certifies radon professionals and offers free or discounted test kits, and answers questions about testing and mitigation in Pennsylvania.Visit the program’s page(opens in a new tab)
- Free and low-cost kitsThe program says:
Through an EPA-funded program, hospitals give parents of newborn children a packet of information which includes a coupon for a free radon test kit from the DEP.
- Compare kits
- Professionals in Pennsylvania151 professionals are listed in Pennsylvania.
What Pennsylvania's program says
- Phone
- 800-237-2366
- Licensing of radon professionals
The Radon Certification Act requires DEP to establish by regulation, a certification program for persons conducting radon gas and radon progeny testing, laboratory analysis and mitigation of radon contamination in buildings.
What it means
Columbia County, Questions
Questions about radon in Columbia County
Are radon levels high in Columbia County?
In 2020, 34.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Columbia County, Pennsylvania were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.0 pCi/L. Of 63 Pennsylvania counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 40 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.3%.
Which counties border Columbia County?
Columbia County borders 6 counties: Montour County, Northumberland County, Schuylkill County, Luzerne County, Sullivan County and Lycoming County.
Products
Columbia County, Products
Testing a home in Columbia County
In Columbia County, 34.7% of 409 tests reported to CDC in 2020 reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.3% pooled across Pennsylvania. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Columbia 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
Monitor
Wave Radon battery smart radon monitor
- C-NRPP 2024/25: Not included
- Battery
- Bluetooth
- App only
Method: Alpha spectrometry
Short-term kitFirst Alert
RD1 short-term charcoal radon test kit
- Lab fee included
Method: Charcoal
In home: 2 to 4 days
- See every kit and monitor Test kits and monitors
Test kits and monitors: 1 of 3
Columbia County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest predicted radon potential. Best radon monitors for Zone 1 counties like Columbia County
Explore
Columbia County, Bordering counties
Counties bordering Columbia County
Calculated by Radon411- Radon levels in Schuylkill CountyEPA zone 1
53.5%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 4.5 pCi/L · 797 tests · 18.8 points above Columbia County
- Radon levels in Northumberland CountyEPA zone 1
49.8%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 3.9 pCi/L · 275 tests · 15.1 points above Columbia County
- Radon levels in Lycoming CountyEPA zone 1
45.2%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 3.5 pCi/L · 562 tests · 10.5 points above Columbia County
- Radon levels in Montour CountyEPA zone 1
41.5%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 3.1 pCi/L · 123 tests · 6.8 points above Columbia County
- Radon levels in Sullivan CountyEPA zone 1
29.0%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 2.0 pCi/L · 31 tests · 5.7 points below Columbia County
- Radon levels in Luzerne CountyEPA zone 1
28.2%at or above 4 pCi/L
Median 2.0 pCi/L · 991 tests · 6.5 points below Columbia County
Columbia County, Cities and towns
Cities and towns in Columbia County
The Census Bureau estimates 66,193 residents in Columbia County for July 1, 2025, 1,512 more than in 2020 (+2.3%). That works out to 137 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Bloomsburg, has 13,375 residents, 20.2% of the total. CDC's 409 reported tests for 2020 work out to 6.2 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Pennsylvania's 7.2.
From Bloomsburg to Centralia, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Columbia County's.
| Place | Residents | Since 2020 | Share of residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomsburg | 13,375 | +5.3% | 20.2% |
| Berwick | 10,297 | −0.2% | 15.6% |
| Ashlandextends beyond Columbia County | 2,520 | +1.0% | Counted whole |
| Catawissa | 1,539 | −0.1% | 2.3% |
| Millville | 980 | +0.5% | 1.5% |
| Benton | 819 | −0.4% | 1.2% |
| Briar Creek | 608 | +2.0% | 0.9% |
| Orangeville | 476 | −0.2% | 0.7% |
| Stillwater | 199 | Level | 0.3% |
| Centralia | 4 | Level | Under 0.1% |
10 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 Columbia County is counted whole, so it has no share.
Columbia County, Homes
Homes in Columbia County
Of Columbia County's 29,775 homes, 69% are detached houses, against 57% across Pennsylvania; 8% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1969, close to Pennsylvania's 1965: 40% date from before 1960 and 11% from 2000 or later. 70% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (Pennsylvania: 69%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.
| Homes | Columbia County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 29,775 | 5,779,663 |
| Detached houses | 69% | 57% |
| In buildings of 5 or more | 8% | 13% |
| Mobile homes | 8% | 4% |
| Built before 1960 | 40% | 45% |
| Built since 2000 | 11% | 14% |
| Middle year built | 1969 | 1965 |
| Owner-occupied | 70% | 69% |
Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023: estimates from a sample of homes, looser for a small place. Shares by Radon411.