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Radon Levels in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

EPA puts Schuylkill County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 53.5% of the 797 radon tests reported to CDC (2020) 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

    53.5%

    23.2 pts above PA

    Schuylkill
    53.5%
    PA
    30.3%

    797 tests, 2020

  • Median result

    4.5pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Schuylkill
    4.5 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2020

  • Tests reported

    797

    25th of 63 by tests

    Schuylkill
    797
    Montgomery
    10,508

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2020

  • 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 PA

    5 of 63

    Top quarter

    Schuylkill
    53.5%
    Perry
    57.7%

    By share, of 63 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Schuylkill County

Starts at Schuylkill County's median, 4.5 pCi/L

4.5pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 4.5 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. Schuylkill County's median reported result, 2020.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Schuylkill County, At a glance

Schuylkill County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Schuylkill 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 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Schuylkill County, 2020

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Schuylkill County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Schuylkill County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201454.4%
201555.1%
201643.0%
201757.9%
201850.2%
201942.5%
202053.5%

2020: 53.5%. Across these years the share ran from 42.5% to 57.9%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

These are the 797 tests reported to CDC for Schuylkill 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).

How to read these figures

Schuylkill County, Compared

Schuylkill County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 53.5% of the 797 radon tests reported to CDC for Schuylkill County in 2020 read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 5th of 63 Pennsylvania counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 23.2 points above the 30.3% pooled from 67 Pennsylvania counties.

The median result, 4.5 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 422.0 pCi/L. The rest split 30.2% under 2 pCi/L and 16.3% from 2 to 4 (Pennsylvania: 44.3% and 25.4%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 53.5% share point the same way here.

1 of its 8 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Lebanon County at 54.2%; Luzerne County reported 28.2%. Statewide for the same period, Perry County reported the highest share (57.7%) and Philadelphia County the lowest (10.6%).

The busiest year on file was 2016, with 1,577 tests reported; the quietest, 2014, had 730.

Over 7 years of annual figures the share held within 2 points, from 54.4% in 2014 to 53.5% in 2020; its peak was 57.9% in 2017. Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 25.5%; Schuylkill County sits 28.0 points above it.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Schuylkill County against Pennsylvania2014 to 2020, years with 30 or more tests: Schuylkill County 54.4% to 53.5%, the state's pooled share 30.3% in 2020.
Schuylkill CountyPennsylvania, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Schuylkill County against Pennsylvania: data table
YearTestsSchuylkill County, at or above 4 pCi/LPennsylvania, pooled
201473054.4%36.1%
20151,06855.1%37.8%
20161,57743.0%34.4%
20171,09757.9%35.1%
20181,16650.2%30.5%
20191,06442.5%31.4%
202079753.5%30.3%
Schuylkill County against Pennsylvania, the United States and nearby counties, 2020
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County79753.5%4.5 pCi/LThis county
Pennsylvania, pooled67 counties, pooled93,66930.3%Not pooled−23.2 points
United States, pooled915 counties, pooled405,35525.5%Not pooled−28.0 points
Perry Countyhighest in the state18957.7%4.9 pCi/L+4.2 points
Philadelphia Countylowest in the state8,44210.6%1.7 pCi/L−42.9 points
Lebanon County, PAborders it1,10254.2%4.8 pCi/L+0.7 points
Northumberland County, PAborders it27549.8%3.9 pCi/L−3.7 points
Carbon County, PAborders it43840.6%3.0 pCi/L−12.9 points
Lehigh County, PAborders it3,10339.8%2.7 pCi/L−13.7 points
Berks County, PAborders it2,63239.6%2.9 pCi/L−13.9 points
Dauphin County, PAborders it2,98636.9%2.0 pCi/L−16.6 points
Columbia County, PAborders it40934.7%2.0 pCi/L−18.8 points
Luzerne County, PAborders it99128.2%2.0 pCi/L−25.3 points
Where Schuylkill County's reported results fell, 2020, beside Pennsylvania and the United States
ResultSchuylkill County testsSchuylkill County sharePennsylvania shareU.S. shareAgainst Pennsylvania
Under 2 pCi/L24130.2%44.3%51.6%−14.1 points
2 to 4 pCi/L13016.3%25.4%22.9%−9.1 points
4 pCi/L and above42653.5%30.3%25.5%+23.2 points
Schuylkill County ranked among the 63 Pennsylvania counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2020
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Perry County1 of 6318957.7%4.9 pCi/L
Lebanon County2 of 631,10254.2%4.8 pCi/L
Clinton County3 of 6313354.1%4.5 pCi/L
Huntingdon County4 of 6310054.0%4.5 pCi/L
Schuylkill County5 of 6379753.5%4.5 pCi/L
Juniata County6 of 638752.9%4.4 pCi/L
Northumberland County7 of 6327549.8%3.9 pCi/L
Bedford County8 of 636947.8%3.8 pCi/L
Armstrong County9 of 6318747.6%3.7 pCi/L
Clearfield County10 of 6339447.5%3.6 pCi/L
Elk County11 of 636647.0%3.5 pCi/L
Schuylkill County radon tests by year, against Pennsylvania's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestPennsylvania, pooledChange from the row before
202079753.5%4.5 pCi/L422.0 pCi/L30.3%+11.0 points
20191,06442.5%2.9 pCi/L206.3 pCi/L31.4%−7.7 points
20181,16650.2%4.0 pCi/L443.7 pCi/L30.5%−7.7 points
20171,09757.9%5.2 pCi/L418.8 pCi/L35.1%+14.9 points
20161,57743.0%2.6 pCi/L162.6 pCi/L34.4%−12.1 points
20151,06855.1%4.7 pCi/L423.6 pCi/L37.8%+0.7 points
201473054.4%4.7 pCi/L609.8 pCi/L36.1%First on file

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

Schuylkill County, State data

Pennsylvania's own radon test data

Measured

What Pennsylvania's own agencies publish about radon tests in Schuylkill 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 Schuylkill County

Pennsylvania DEP publishes its figures by ZIP code, not by county. These are the 59 ZIP codes that lie wholly or partly in Schuylkill County, each with the state's own figures for it. Period: Period not stated by DEP.

ZIP codes in Schuylkill County
ZIP codeWhat the state reports
17901Basement: average 10.8 pCi/L, 2,921 tests; First floor: average 5.2 pCi/L, 346 tests
17921Basement: average 14.0 pCi/L, 448 tests; First floor: average 4.2 pCi/L, 61 tests
17922Basement: average 18.3 pCi/L, 1,300 tests; First floor: average 11.5 pCi/L, 125 tests
17923Basement: figures not shown
17925Basement: average 8.8 pCi/L, 33 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17929Basement: average 10.2 pCi/L, 179 tests; First floor: average 17.8 pCi/L, 31 tests
17930Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17931Basement: average 7.3 pCi/L, 431 tests; First floor: average 2.7 pCi/L, 70 tests
17933Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17934Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17935Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17936Basement: average 5.9 pCi/L, 58 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17938Basement: average 15.9 pCi/L, 244 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17941Basement: average 31.5 pCi/L, 34 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17943Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17944Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17945Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17946Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17948Basement: average 2.3 pCi/L, 63 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17949Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17951Basement: average 10.1 pCi/L, 39 tests
17952Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17953Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17954Basement: average 11.2 pCi/L, 299 tests; First floor: average 6.5 pCi/L, 49 tests
17957Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17959Basement: average 19.8 pCi/L, 95 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17960Basement: average 27.5 pCi/L, 389 tests; First floor: average 7.8 pCi/L, 44 tests
17961Basement: average 8.9 pCi/L, 1,110 tests; First floor: average 4.9 pCi/L, 176 tests
17963Basement: average 19.7 pCi/L, 894 tests; First floor: average 8.3 pCi/L, 137 tests
17964Basement: average 30.1 pCi/L, 42 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17965Basement: average 7.1 pCi/L, 116 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17967Basement: average 23.9 pCi/L, 226 tests; First floor: average 14.0 pCi/L, 39 tests
17968Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17970Basement: average 6.4 pCi/L, 197 tests; First floor: average 1.7 pCi/L, 48 tests
17972Basement: average 16.5 pCi/L, 1,642 tests; First floor: average 8.5 pCi/L, 190 tests
17974Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17976Basement: average 5.5 pCi/L, 227 tests; First floor: average 2.0 pCi/L, 39 tests
17978Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17979Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17980Basement: average 9.4 pCi/L, 164 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17981Basement: average 10.5 pCi/L, 107 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17982Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
17983Basement: average 18.1 pCi/L, 128 tests; First floor: figures not shown
17985Basement: average 12.1 pCi/L, 122 tests; First floor: figures not shown
18202Basement: average 7.5 pCi/L, 1,312 tests; First floor: average 3.4 pCi/L, 105 tests
18211Basement: average 25.8 pCi/L, 157 tests; First floor: figures not shown
18214Basement: average 29.3 pCi/L, 212 tests; First floor: average 12.0 pCi/L, 34 tests
18218Basement: average 5.1 pCi/L, 107 tests; First floor: figures not shown
18220Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
18231Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
18237Basement: average 7.0 pCi/L, 275 tests; First floor: average 2.4 pCi/L, 64 tests
18240Basement: average 5.6 pCi/L, 331 tests; First floor: average 3.0 pCi/L, 58 tests
18241Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
18242Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
18245Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
18248Basement: average 4.8 pCi/L, 32 tests; First floor: figures not shown
18250Basement: average 6.8 pCi/L, 202 tests; First floor: average 2.4 pCi/L, 48 tests
18252Basement: average 11.5 pCi/L, 816 tests; First floor: average 10.5 pCi/L, 110 tests
19549Basement: figures not shown; First floor: figures not shown
  • 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.

Schuylkill County, Geology

The ground under Schuylkill County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Schuylkill County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. 99.1% 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).

USGS's geologic areas under Schuylkill County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Appalachian Mountain SectionPaleozoic sandstone, shale, and limestone.High1299.1%
Great Valley SectionSandstone, shale and siltstone.High150.9%

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

Schuylkill County beside the ground around it

Schuylkill County has more high-potential ground than Pennsylvania as a whole: 100% of its land against 70.4%. Of the 8 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Berks County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Schuylkill County, the 8 counties bordering it and Pennsylvania
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Schuylkill CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Columbia CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Lebanon CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Berks CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Carbon CountyZone 1None14.2%85.8%
Northumberland CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Lehigh CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Luzerne CountyZone 1None3.7%96.3%
Dauphin CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Pennsylvania67 counties, pooled by land areaVaries0.7%28.9%70.4%

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

Local help

Schuylkill County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Schuylkill County

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

Schuylkill County, Questions

Questions about radon in Schuylkill County

Are radon levels high in Schuylkill County?

In 2020, 53.5% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 4.5 pCi/L. Of 63 Pennsylvania counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 4 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.3%.

Which counties border Schuylkill County?

Schuylkill County borders 8 counties: Columbia County, Lebanon County, Berks County, Carbon County, Northumberland County, Lehigh County, Luzerne County and Dauphin County.

Products

Schuylkill County, Products

Testing a home in Schuylkill County

In Schuylkill County, 53.5% of 797 tests reported to CDC in 2020 reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.3% pooled across Pennsylvania. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Schuylkill 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

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

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Schuylkill County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Schuylkill County

Calculated by Radon411

Schuylkill County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Schuylkill County

The Census Bureau estimates 145,085 residents in Schuylkill County for July 1, 2025, 2,141 more than in 2020 (+1.5%). That works out to 186 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Pottsville, the largest, has 13,170 residents, 9.1% of the total. CDC's 797 reported tests for 2020 work out to 5.5 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Pennsylvania's 7.2.

From Pottsville to Mount Carbon, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Schuylkill County's.

The 12 largest cities and towns in Schuylkill County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Pottsville13,170+0.3%9.1%
Tamaqua6,929+0.3%4.8%
Schuylkill Haven5,253+0.8%3.6%
Minersville4,423+1.2%3.0%
Shenandoah4,122+0.2%2.8%
Frackville3,893+1.1%2.7%
Mahanoy City3,539+1.0%2.4%
Orwigsburg3,003+0.6%2.1%
St. Clair2,755+0.6%1.9%
Ashlandextends beyond Schuylkill County2,520+1.0%Counted whole
McAdoo2,474+0.2%1.7%
Coaldale2,440+0.2%1.7%
  • Pine Grove
  • Port Carbon
  • Tremont
  • Cressona
  • Tower City
  • Girardville
  • New Philadelphia
  • Palo Alto
  • Gordon
  • Ringtown
  • Deer Lake
  • Auburn
  • Gilberton
  • Mechanicsville
  • Middleport
  • Port Clinton
  • New Ringgold
  • Landingville
  • Mount Carbon

31 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. “(part)” marks a place that extends into another county. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025). A place that extends beyond Schuylkill County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Schuylkill County, Homes

Homes in Schuylkill County

Of Schuylkill County's 67,292 homes, 58% are detached houses, against 57% across Pennsylvania; 6% are in buildings of five or more homes. The homes are older than Pennsylvania's as a whole: half were built before 1944 (1965 for Pennsylvania), and 62% date from before 1960. Owners live in 76% of the occupied homes (Pennsylvania: 69%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 2019 to 2023
HomesSchuylkill CountyPennsylvania
Housing units67,2925,779,663
Detached houses58%57%
In buildings of 5 or more6%13%
Mobile homes4%4%
Built before 196062%45%
Built since 20007%14%
Middle year built19441965
Owner-occupied76%69%

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