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Radon Levels in Augusta County, Virginia

EPA puts Augusta County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 50.1% of the 625 radon tests reported to CDC (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) 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

    50.1%

    19.7 pts above VA

    Augusta
    50.1%
    Virginia
    30.4%

    625 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    4.0pCi/L

    Action level reached

    Augusta
    4.0 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    625

    20th of 84 by tests

    Augusta
    625
    Fairfax
    8,657

    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 Virginia

    12 of 84

    Top quarter

    Augusta
    50.1%
    Russell
    67.3%

    By share, of 84 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Augusta County

Starts at Augusta County's median, 4.0 pCi/L

4.0pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 4.0 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. Augusta County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Augusta County, At a glance

Augusta County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Augusta 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 95% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Augusta County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 26%2 to 4 pCi/L: 24%4 pCi/L and above: 50%

Of 625 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Augusta County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L16225.9%
2 to 4 pCi/L15024.0%
4 pCi/L and above31350.1%
What these figures count

These are the 625 tests reported to CDC for Augusta 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

Augusta County, Compared

Augusta County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

More than half: 50.1% of the 625 radon tests reported to CDC for Augusta County over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals read at least 4 pCi/L. That places it 12th of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. That is 19.7 points above the 30.4% pooled from 131 Virginia counties.

The median result, 4.0 pCi/L, sits above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level, and the top reported result was 105.8 pCi/L. The rest split 25.9% under 2 pCi/L and 24.0% from 2 to 4 (Virginia: 44.7% and 24.9%). Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 50.1% share point the same way here.

2 of its 7 bordering counties with figures ran higher, led by Staunton city at 52.7%; Albemarle County reported 24.7%. Statewide for the same period, Russell County reported the highest share (67.3%) and Norfolk city the lowest (2.7%).

CDC's ten-year totals for Augusta County went from 532 tests (2005 to 2014) to 625 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 50.8% to 50.1%.

Nationally, every county with a figure for the same period pools to 35.7%; Augusta County sits 14.4 points above it. CDC also counts 41 tests taken after mitigation in Augusta County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Augusta County against Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Augusta County
Augusta County62550.1%4.0 pCi/LThis county
Virginia, pooled131 counties, pooled53,19930.4%Not pooled−19.7 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−14.4 points
Russell Countyhighest in the state4967.3%6.7 pCi/L+17.2 points
Norfolk citylowest in the state732.7%0.5 pCi/L−47.4 points
Staunton city, VAborders it33852.7%4.2 pCi/L+2.6 points
Rockbridge County, VAborders it11450.9%4.0 pCi/L+0.8 points
Waynesboro city, VAborders it19648.5%3.8 pCi/L−1.6 points
Rockingham County, VAborders it1,71443.9%3.3 pCi/L−6.2 points
Pendleton County, WVborders it5530.9%2.5 pCi/L−19.2 points
Nelson County, VAborders it12228.7%2.6 pCi/L−21.4 points
Albemarle County, VAborders it2,17924.7%2.1 pCi/L−25.4 points
Highland County, VAborders it922.2%1.1 pCi/L−27.9 points
Bath County, VAborders it2218.2%2.3 pCi/L−31.9 points
Where Augusta County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Virginia and the United States
ResultAugusta County testsAugusta County shareVirginia shareU.S. shareAgainst Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L16225.9%44.7%39.6%−18.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L15024.0%24.9%24.7%−0.9 points
4 pCi/L and above31350.1%30.4%35.7%+19.7 points
Augusta County ranked among the 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Patrick County7 of 845354.7%5.3 pCi/L
Staunton city8 of 8433852.7%4.2 pCi/L
Bristol city9 of 8411050.9%4.2 pCi/L
Rockbridge County10 of 8411450.9%4.0 pCi/L
Scott County11 of 847550.7%4.0 pCi/L
Augusta County12 of 8462550.1%4.0 pCi/L
Pulaski County13 of 8426849.6%3.9 pCi/L
Waynesboro city14 of 8419648.5%3.8 pCi/L
Clarke County15 of 8435047.7%3.5 pCi/L
King George County16 of 8448845.5%3.6 pCi/L
Winchester city17 of 8477344.8%3.3 pCi/L
Augusta County ten-year laboratory totals, against Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestVirginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201762550.1%4.0 pCi/L105.8 pCi/L30.4%+1.1 points
2007 to 201663749.0%3.9 pCi/L105.8 pCi/L30.6%−0.5 points
2006 to 201560649.5%3.9 pCi/L56.6 pCi/L30.7%−1.3 points
2005 to 201453250.8%4.0 pCi/L56.6 pCi/L30.3%First on file

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

Augusta County, Geology

The ground under Augusta County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Augusta County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 95.1% of its land is high radon potential, with 4.9% moderate. 95.1% of it lies in the area the map calls Valley and Ridge, to which USGS gives a radon index of 15, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Augusta County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Valley and RidgeCambrian dolomite, limestone, shale, and sandstone, Silurian-Ordovician limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone, Mississippian-Devonian sandstone, shale, limestone, gypsum, and coal.High1595.1%
Blue RidgeGranite, pegmatite, monazite, schist, and gneiss.Moderate104.9%

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

Augusta County beside the ground around it

Augusta County has more high-potential ground than Virginia as a whole: 95.1% of its land against 47.9%. Of the 9 counties that border it, 5 have more high-potential ground, Bath County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Augusta County, the 9 counties bordering it and Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Augusta CountyZone 1None4.9%95.1%
Staunton cityZone 1NoneNone100%
Highland CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Waynesboro cityZone 1None9.4%90.6%
Bath CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Rockbridge CountyZone 1None6.2%93.8%
Rockingham CountyZone 1None4.8%95.2%
Nelson CountyZone 2None77.8%22.2%
Pendleton County, WVZone 1None1.9%98.1%
Albemarle CountyZone 2None71.1%28.9%
Virginia133 counties, pooled by land areaVaries20.6%30.0%47.9%

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

Local help

Augusta County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Augusta County

What Virginia's program says
Phone
(804) 864-8161
Email
Radon@vdh.virginia.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
The Code of Virginia requires that Radon testers and mitigators be currently certified by either the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).

What it means

Augusta County, Questions

Questions about radon in Augusta County

Are radon levels high in Augusta County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 50.1% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Augusta County, Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 4.0 pCi/L. Of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 11 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.4%.

Which counties border Augusta County?

Augusta County borders 9 counties: Staunton city, VA, Highland County, VA, Waynesboro city, VA, Bath County, VA, Rockbridge County, VA, Rockingham County, VA, Nelson County, VA, Pendleton County, WV and Albemarle County, VA.

Products

Augusta County, Products

Testing a home in Augusta County

In Augusta County, 50.1% of 625 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.4% pooled across Virginia. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Augusta 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

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

Explore

Augusta County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Augusta County

Calculated by Radon411

Augusta County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Augusta County

The Census Bureau estimates 78,940 residents in Augusta County for July 1, 2025, 1,354 more than in 2020 (+1.7%). That works out to 82 people per square mile of land. Grottoes, the largest place on its list (3,099 residents in all), extends beyond Augusta County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. CDC's 625 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 7.9 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Virginia's 6.0.

From Grottoes to Craigsville, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Augusta County's.

The cities and towns in Augusta County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Grottoesextends beyond Augusta County3,099+6.6%Counted whole
Craigsville923+1.8%1.2%

2 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 Augusta County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Augusta County, Homes

Homes in Augusta County

Augusta County is a place of houses on their own lots: 80% of its 32,890 homes are detached single-family houses, against 61% across Virginia. Half of its homes were built before 1988, close to Virginia's 1984: 18% date from before 1960 and 26% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 79% of the occupied homes (Virginia: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Augusta County, Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesAugusta CountyVirginia
Housing units32,8903,654,784
Detached houses80%61%
In buildings of 5 or more6%19%
Mobile homes9%4%
Built before 196018%19%
Built since 200026%25%
Middle year built19881984
Owner-occupied79%67%

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