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Radon Levels in Hancock County, West Virginia

EPA puts Hancock County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 49.1% of the 326 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

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    49.1%

    11.6 pts above WV

    Hancock
    49.1%
    WV
    37.5%

    326 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    3.9pCi/L

    Below action level

    Hancock
    3.9 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    326

    6th of 27 by tests

    Hancock
    326
    Berkeley
    2,888

    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 WV

    5 of 27

    Top quarter

    Hancock
    49.1%
    Morgan
    58.1%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Hancock County

Starts at Hancock County's median, 3.9 pCi/L

3.9pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 3.9 pCi/L

Between 2 and 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 between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends considering a fix when the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Hancock County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Hancock County, At a glance

Hancock County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Hancock 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 Hancock County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Hancock County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 26%2 to 4 pCi/L: 25%4 pCi/L and above: 49%

Of 326 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Hancock County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L8425.8%
2 to 4 pCi/L8225.2%
4 pCi/L and above16049.1%
What these figures count

These are the 326 tests reported to CDC for Hancock 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

Hancock County, Compared

Hancock County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Hancock County, about 5 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (160 of 326) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 13.4 points higher. Across 55 West Virginia counties pooled together, 37.5% of tests reached that level, so Hancock County runs 11.6 points above its state.

Of 5 neighbours with a figure, 2 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 2 a smaller one; the spread is 37.9% (Washington County, PA) to 49.8% (Jefferson County, OH). By share, Hancock County is 5th of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 3.9 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 102.9 pCi/L. Below the action level, 84 tests (25.8%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 37.7% statewide, and 82 tests (25.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 49.1% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land high radon potential. CDC also counts 35 tests taken after mitigation in Hancock County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Hancock County went from 397 tests (2005 to 2014) to 326 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 46.6% to 49.1%.

Hancock County against West Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Hancock County
Hancock County32649.1%3.9 pCi/LThis county
West Virginia, pooled55 counties, pooled10,06137.5%Not pooled−11.6 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−13.4 points
Morgan Countyhighest in the state24158.1%5.8 pCi/L+9.0 points
Grant Countylowest in the state1649.8%1.1 pCi/L−39.3 points
Jefferson County, OHborders it27149.8%3.9 pCi/L+0.7 points
Beaver County, PAborders it2,67249.7%3.9 pCi/L+0.6 points
Columbiana County, OHborders it66249.1%3.8 pCi/LLevel
Brooke County, WVborders it15743.9%3.4 pCi/L−5.2 points
Washington County, PAborders it2,68237.9%3.0 pCi/L−11.2 points
Where Hancock County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside West Virginia and the United States
ResultHancock County testsHancock County shareWest Virginia shareU.S. shareAgainst West Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L8425.8%37.7%39.6%−11.9 points
2 to 4 pCi/L8225.2%24.7%24.7%+0.5 points
4 pCi/L and above16049.1%37.5%35.7%+11.6 points
Hancock County ranked among the 27 West 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
Morgan County1 of 2724158.1%5.8 pCi/L
Jefferson County2 of 2789853.2%4.4 pCi/L
Greenbrier County3 of 2717652.3%4.5 pCi/L
Berkeley County4 of 272,88850.7%4.0 pCi/L
Hancock County5 of 2732649.1%3.9 pCi/L
Brooke County6 of 2715743.9%3.4 pCi/L
Mineral County7 of 2710742.1%2.8 pCi/L
Ohio County8 of 2785340.3%3.2 pCi/L
Hampshire County9 of 279038.9%2.8 pCi/L
Preston County10 of 2717636.9%2.5 pCi/L
Harrison County11 of 2718736.4%2.6 pCi/L
Hancock County ten-year laboratory totals, against West Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestWest Virginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201732649.1%3.9 pCi/L102.9 pCi/L37.5%−0.5 points
2007 to 201633549.6%3.9 pCi/L102.9 pCi/L37.3%+0.5 points
2006 to 201533449.1%3.9 pCi/L102.9 pCi/L37.7%+2.5 points
2005 to 201439746.6%3.7 pCi/L102.9 pCi/L37.3%First on file

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

Hancock County, Geology

The ground under Hancock County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Hancock County's mapped land in one class: high radon potential. 98.2% of it lies in the area the map calls Pennsylvanian Rocks of the Pittsburgh Low Plateau, to which USGS gives a radon index of 14, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Hancock County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Pennsylvanian Rocks of the Pittsburgh Low PlateauPennsylvanian marine shale, siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and coal.High1498.2%
Area of Elevated RadioactivityPennsylvanian shale, sandstone, coal, and limestone.High121.8%

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

Hancock County beside the ground around it

Hancock County has more high-potential ground than West Virginia as a whole: 100% of its land against 18.7%. Of the 5 counties that border it, none has as large a share of high-potential ground; Jefferson County, OH comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Hancock County, the 5 counties bordering it and West Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Hancock CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Jefferson County, OHZone 1NoneNone100%
Brooke CountyZone 1None10.2%89.8%
Beaver County, PAZone 1None0.5%99.5%
Columbiana County, OHZone 1None39.2%60.8%
Washington County, PAZone 2None58.8%41.2%
West Virginia55 counties, pooled by land areaVaries14.0%67.3%18.7%

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

Local help

Hancock County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Hancock County

Listed radon businesses with an address in Hancock County:

Listed radon professionals by town: Chester

What West Virginia's program says
Phone
304-352-5039
Email
Radon@wv.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
Complete listings of professionals licensed to perform Asbestos, Lead, Radon and Clandestine Drug Laboratory Remediation activities in West Virginia.

What it means

Hancock County, Questions

Questions about radon in Hancock County

Are radon levels high in Hancock County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 49.1% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Hancock County, West Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.9 pCi/L. Of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 4 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 37.5%.

Which counties border Hancock County?

Hancock County borders 5 counties: Jefferson County, OH, Brooke County, WV, Beaver County, PA, Columbiana County, OH and Washington County, PA.

Products

Hancock County, Products

Testing a home in Hancock County

In Hancock County, 49.1% of 326 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 37.5% pooled across West Virginia. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Hancock 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

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

Explore

Hancock County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Hancock County

Calculated by Radon411

Hancock County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Hancock County

About 27,729 people live in Hancock County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 1,311 fewer than in 2020 (−4.5%). That works out to 336 people per square mile of land. Weirton, the largest place on its list (18,133 residents in all), extends beyond Hancock County, so no share of the total is worked out for it. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 326 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 11.8 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 5.7 for West Virginia.

From Weirton to New Cumberland, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Hancock County's.

The cities and towns in Hancock County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Weirtonextends beyond Hancock County18,133−5.2%Counted whole
Chester2,080−5.3%7.5%
New Cumberland939−5.2%3.4%

3 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 Hancock County is counted whole, so it has no share.

Hancock County, Homes

Homes in Hancock County

Hancock County is a place of houses on their own lots: 79% of its 14,218 homes are detached single-family houses, against 71% across West Virginia. The homes are older than West Virginia's as a whole: half were built before 1959 (1976 for West Virginia), and 54% date from before 1960. 75% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner (West Virginia: 74%); in the rest a tenant can run a test, but a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Hancock County, West Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesHancock CountyWest Virginia
Housing units14,218859,653
Detached houses79%71%
In buildings of 5 or more6%8%
Mobile homes8%14%
Built before 196054%33%
Built since 20005%18%
Middle year built19591976
Owner-occupied75%74%

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