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Radon Levels in Orangeburg County, South Carolina

EPA puts Orangeburg County in Zone 3, its lowest radon zone, and most reported tests there come back low, though 5.7% of 53 (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) reached 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

    5.7%

    13.7 pts below SC

    Orangeburg
    5.7%
    SC
    19.4%

    53 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    0.9pCi/L

    Below action level

    Orangeburg
    0.9 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    53

    23rd of 24 by tests

    Orangeburg
    53
    Greenville
    12,004

    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 SC

    16 of 24

    Middle half

    Orangeburg
    5.7%
    Oconee
    42.6%

    By share, of 24 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Orangeburg County

Starts at Orangeburg County's median, 0.9 pCi/L

0.9pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 0.9 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. Orangeburg County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this reading

The data

Orangeburg County, At a glance

Orangeburg County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 3: lower predicted potential

is EPA's lowest class, and its forecast for Orangeburg 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 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Orangeburg County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 83%2 to 4 pCi/L: 11%4 pCi/L and above: 6%

Of 53 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Orangeburg County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L4483.0%
2 to 4 pCi/L611.3%
4 pCi/L and above35.7%
What these figures count

These are the 53 tests reported to CDC for Orangeburg 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

Orangeburg County, Compared

Orangeburg County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Orangeburg County reports fewer high tests than South Carolina overall. 5.7% of its 53 tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals were at or above 4 pCi/L. That is 13.7 points below the 19.4% pooled from 46 South Carolina counties.

Ordered from highest share down, it comes 16th of 24 South Carolina counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.7%; Orangeburg County sits 30.0 points below it.

Next door, the shares run from 4.0% in Berkeley County to 13.3% in Aiken County, with Dorchester County and Berkeley County below Orangeburg County. Zone 3 on EPA's map (predicted average under 2 pCi/L) and a 5.7% share point the same way here.

Half the tests came in under 0.9 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 6.4 pCi/L. The rest split 83.0% under 2 pCi/L and 11.3% from 2 to 4 (South Carolina: 57.4% and 23.1%).

CDC's ten-year totals for Orangeburg County went from 63 tests (2005 to 2014) to 53 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 3.2% to 5.7%.

Orangeburg County against South Carolina, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County535.7%0.9 pCi/LThis county
South Carolina, pooled46 counties, pooled26,48119.4%Not pooled+13.7 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+30.0 points
Oconee Countyhighest in the state2,46942.6%3.3 pCi/L+36.9 points
Florence Countylowest in the state590.0%0.7 pCi/L−5.7 points
Aiken County, SCborders it24113.3%1.3 pCi/L+7.6 points
Lexington County, SCborders it59112.5%0.9 pCi/L+6.8 points
Colleton County, SCborders it119.1%0.1 pCi/L+3.4 points
Bamberg County, SCborders it205.0%1.0 pCi/L−0.7 points
Dorchester County, SCborders it1044.8%1.0 pCi/L−0.9 points
Berkeley County, SCborders it994.0%0.7 pCi/L−1.7 points
Clarendon County, SCborders it30.0%0.8 pCi/L−5.7 points
Barnwell County, SCborders it60.0%1.9 pCi/L−5.7 points
Calhoun County, SCborders it110.0%0.6 pCi/L−5.7 points
Where Orangeburg County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside South Carolina and the United States
ResultOrangeburg County testsOrangeburg County shareSouth Carolina shareU.S. shareAgainst South Carolina
Under 2 pCi/L4483.0%57.4%39.6%+25.6 points
2 to 4 pCi/L611.3%23.1%24.7%−11.8 points
4 pCi/L and above35.7%19.4%35.7%−13.7 points
Orangeburg County ranked among the 24 South 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
Aiken County11 of 2424113.3%1.3 pCi/L
Lexington County12 of 2459112.5%0.9 pCi/L
Sumter County13 of 244211.9%1.3 pCi/L
Anderson County14 of 241,73311.1%1.1 pCi/L
Greenwood County15 of 241137.1%1.0 pCi/L
Orangeburg County16 of 24535.7%0.9 pCi/L
Kershaw County17 of 24605.0%0.7 pCi/L
Richland County18 of 246714.9%0.7 pCi/L
Dorchester County19 of 241044.8%1.0 pCi/L
Berkeley County20 of 24994.0%0.7 pCi/L
Beaufort County21 of 242462.0%0.7 pCi/L
Orangeburg County ten-year laboratory totals, against South Carolina's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestSouth Carolina, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 2017535.7%0.9 pCi/L6.4 pCi/L19.4%+1.0 points
2007 to 2016644.7%0.8 pCi/L6.4 pCi/L19.3%Level
2006 to 2015644.7%0.8 pCi/L6.4 pCi/L19.8%+1.5 points
2005 to 2014633.2%0.7 pCi/L4.9 pCi/L19.8%First on file

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

Orangeburg County, Geology

The ground under Orangeburg County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Orangeburg County's mapped land in one class: low radon potential. The map puts 89.8% of Orangeburg County in the area it calls Upper and Middle Coastal Plain and 10.2% in Lower Coastal Plain. USGS gives the first a radon index of 8 and the second 7, both in the low band (5 to 8).

USGS's geologic areas under Orangeburg County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Upper and Middle Coastal PlainTertiary coastal plain sandy and silty sediments and marsh deposits.Low889.8%
Lower Coastal PlainDune, beach, and marine sediments.Low710.2%

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

Orangeburg County beside the ground around it

Across South Carolina 0.2% of the land is rated high; none of Orangeburg County's is. None of the 9 counties that border it has any moderate-potential ground either.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Orangeburg County, the 9 counties bordering it and South Carolina
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Orangeburg CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Calhoun CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Bamberg CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Dorchester CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Clarendon CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Barnwell CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Lexington CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Colleton CountyZone 398.9%NoneNone
Aiken CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Berkeley CountyZone 399.4%NoneNone
South Carolina46 counties, pooled by land areaVaries80.8%18.2%0.2%

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

Local help

Orangeburg County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Orangeburg County

What South Carolina's program says
Phone
1-800-768-0362
Email
radon@des.sc.gov

What it means

Orangeburg County, Questions

Questions about radon in Orangeburg County

Are radon levels high in Orangeburg County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 5.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Orangeburg County, South Carolina were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 0.9 pCi/L. Of 24 South Carolina counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 15 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 19.4%.

Which counties border Orangeburg County?

Orangeburg County borders 9 counties: Calhoun County, Bamberg County, Dorchester County, Clarendon County, Barnwell County, Lexington County, Colleton County, Aiken County and Berkeley County.

Products

Orangeburg County, Products

Testing a home in Orangeburg County

In Orangeburg County, 5.7% of 53 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 19.4% pooled across South 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 Orangeburg County.

Test kits and monitors3

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Best radon monitors for Orangeburg County homes, compared

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Orangeburg County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Orangeburg County

Calculated by Radon411

Orangeburg County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Orangeburg County

About 83,177 people live in Orangeburg County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 784 fewer than in 2020 (−0.9%). That works out to 75 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Orangeburg, the largest, has 13,383 residents, 16.1% of the total. Together its 17 incorporated places hold 24.7% of those residents; the other 75.3% live outside any of them. Reported testing is thin here: 53 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 0.6 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where South Carolina as a whole comes to 4.8.

From Orangeburg to Cope, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Orangeburg County's.

The 12 largest cities and towns in Orangeburg County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Orangeburg13,383+1.6%16.1%
Holly Hill1,280−2.5%1.5%
Branchville971−1.6%1.2%
Santee775−2.3%0.9%
Bowman770−2.0%0.9%
North670−2.0%0.8%
Elloree547−3.5%0.7%
Springfield437−2.7%0.5%
Neeses317−0.3%0.4%
Norway276−2.8%0.3%
Eutawville265+1.9%0.3%
Rowesville247−1.2%0.3%
  • Woodford
  • Cordova
  • Livingston
  • Vance
  • Cope

17 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).

Orangeburg County, Homes

Homes in Orangeburg County

Of Orangeburg County's 41,420 homes, 57% are detached houses, against 64% across South Carolina; 31% are mobile homes. The homes are older than South Carolina's as a whole: half were built before 1982 (1991 for South Carolina), and 17% date from before 1960. 66% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (South Carolina: 71%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, 2019 to 2023
HomesOrangeburg CountySouth Carolina
Housing units41,4202,401,638
Detached houses57%64%
In buildings of 5 or more3%13%
Mobile homes31%15%
Built before 196017%13%
Built since 200016%35%
Middle year built19821991
Owner-occupied66%71%

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