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Radon Levels in Preston County, West Virginia

EPA puts Preston County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 36.9% of its 176 reported radon tests (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) 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

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    36.9%

    0.6 pts below WV

    Preston
    36.9%
    WV
    37.5%

    176 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.5pCi/L

    Below action level

    Preston
    2.5 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    176

    13th of 27 by tests

    Preston
    176
    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

    10 of 27

    Middle half

    Preston
    36.9%
    Morgan
    58.1%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Preston County

Starts at Preston County's median, 2.5 pCi/L

2.5pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.5 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. Preston County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Preston County, At a glance

Preston County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Preston 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: Moderate across 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Preston County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 41%2 to 4 pCi/L: 22%4 pCi/L and above: 37%

Of 176 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Preston County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L7240.9%
2 to 4 pCi/L3922.2%
4 pCi/L and above6536.9%
What these figures count

These are the 176 tests reported to CDC for Preston 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

Preston County, Compared

Preston County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Preston County, about 4 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (65 of 176) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 1.2 points higher. Across 55 West Virginia counties pooled together, 37.5% of tests reached that level, so Preston County runs 0.6 points below its state.

Of 5 neighbours with a figure, 1 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 4 a smaller one; the spread is 9.8% (Grant County) to 37.4% (Garrett County, MD). By share, Preston County is 10th of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 2.5 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 104.9 pCi/L. Below the action level, 72 tests (40.9%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 37.7% statewide, and 39 tests (22.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.7% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 36.9% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land moderate radon potential. CDC also counts 35 tests taken after mitigation in Preston County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Preston County went from 123 tests (2005 to 2014) to 176 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 40.7% to 36.9%.

Preston County against West Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Preston County
Preston County17636.9%2.5 pCi/LThis county
West Virginia, pooled55 counties, pooled10,06137.5%Not pooled+0.6 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−1.2 points
Morgan Countyhighest in the state24158.1%5.8 pCi/L+21.2 points
Wood Countylowest in the state90515.9%1.8 pCi/L−21.0 points
Garrett County, MDborders it18737.4%3.0 pCi/L+0.5 points
Fayette County, PAborders it58335.8%2.8 pCi/L−1.1 points
Taylor County, WVborders it3228.1%2.2 pCi/L−8.8 points
Tucker County, WVborders it1827.8%1.8 pCi/L−9.1 points
Barbour County, WVborders it1225.0%2.0 pCi/L−11.9 points
Monongalia County, WVborders it1,17619.0%1.9 pCi/L−17.9 points
Grant County, WVborders it1649.8%1.1 pCi/L−27.1 points
Where Preston County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside West Virginia and the United States
ResultPreston County testsPreston County shareWest Virginia shareU.S. shareAgainst West Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L7240.9%37.7%39.6%+3.2 points
2 to 4 pCi/L3922.2%24.7%24.7%−2.5 points
4 pCi/L and above6536.9%37.5%35.7%−0.6 points
Preston 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
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
Randolph County11 of 273336.4%2.5 pCi/L
Wetzel County13 of 275435.2%2.7 pCi/L
Mercer County14 of 2710133.7%2.1 pCi/L
Marshall County15 of 2725431.9%2.5 pCi/L
Preston 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 201717636.9%2.5 pCi/L104.9 pCi/L37.5%+1.4 points
2007 to 201617235.5%2.4 pCi/L104.9 pCi/L37.3%−6.6 points
2006 to 201514542.1%2.6 pCi/L179.2 pCi/L37.7%+1.4 points
2005 to 201412340.7%2.6 pCi/L179.2 pCi/L37.3%First on file

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

Preston County, Geology

The ground under Preston County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Preston County's mapped land in one class: moderate radon potential. All of it lies in the area the map calls Eastern Allegheny Plateau and Mtns, to which USGS gives a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Preston County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Eastern Allegheny Plateau and MtnsDevonian-Pennsylvanian shale, siltstone, sandstone, minor limestone and coalModerate1099.9%

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

Preston County beside the ground around it

Across West Virginia 18.7% of the land is rated high; none of Preston County's is. Of the 7 counties that border it, 3 have more high-potential ground, Grant County the most at 75.5%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Preston County, the 7 counties bordering it and West Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Preston CountyZone 1None100%None
Monongalia CountyZone 1None100%None
Taylor CountyZone 2None100%None
Garrett County, MDZone 2None100%None
Tucker CountyZone 2None99.8%0.2%
Barbour CountyZone 2None100%None
Fayette County, PAZone 2None55.8%44.2%
Grant CountyZone 1None24.5%75.5%
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

Preston County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Preston County

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

Preston County, Questions

Questions about radon in Preston County

Are radon levels high in Preston County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 36.9% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Preston County, West Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.5 pCi/L. Of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 9 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 37.5%.

Which counties border Preston County?

Preston County borders 7 counties: Monongalia County, WV, Taylor County, WV, Garrett County, MD, Tucker County, WV, Barbour County, WV, Fayette County, PA and Grant County, WV.

Products

Preston County, Products

Testing a home in Preston County

In Preston County, 36.9% of 176 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 Preston 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

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

Explore

Preston County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Preston County

Calculated by Radon411

Preston County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Preston County

About 34,004 people live in Preston County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 197 fewer than in 2020 (−0.6%). That works out to 52 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Kingwood, the largest, has 2,937 residents, 8.6% of the total. Together its 10 incorporated places hold 20.0% of those residents; the other 80.0% live outside any of them. CDC's 176 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 work out to 5.2 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to West Virginia's 5.7.

From Kingwood to Bruceton Mills, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Preston County's.

The cities and towns in Preston County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Kingwood2,937−1.4%8.6%
Terra Alta1,413−0.6%4.2%
Reedsville524−1.1%1.5%
Masontown510−0.4%1.5%
Rowlesburg430−2.1%1.3%
Tunnelton296+1.4%0.9%
Newburg256−2.3%0.8%
Albright242−2.4%0.7%
Brandonville128−1.5%0.4%
Bruceton Mills60−1.6%0.2%

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).

Preston County, Homes

Homes in Preston County

Of Preston County's 15,215 homes, 75% are detached houses, against 71% across West Virginia; 17% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1982, close to West Virginia's 1976: 25% date from before 1960 and 24% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 81% of the occupied homes (West Virginia: 74%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Preston County, West Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesPreston CountyWest Virginia
Housing units15,215859,653
Detached houses75%71%
In buildings of 5 or more4%8%
Mobile homes17%14%
Built before 196025%33%
Built since 200024%18%
Middle year built19821976
Owner-occupied81%74%

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