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Radon Levels in Raleigh County, West Virginia

EPA puts Raleigh County in Zone 2, its middle radon zone, and 16.7% of its 42 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

    16.7%

    20.8 pts below WV

    Raleigh
    16.7%
    WV
    37.5%

    42 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    1.4pCi/L

    Below action level

    Raleigh
    1.4 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    42

    24th of 27 by tests

    Raleigh
    42
    Berkeley
    2,888

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 2

    Moderate potential

    1. 1
    2. Zone 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts 2 to 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in WV

    24 of 27

    Lowest quarter

    Raleigh
    16.7%
    Morgan
    58.1%

    By share, of 27 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Raleigh County

Starts at Raleigh County's median, 1.4 pCi/L

1.4pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 1.4 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. Raleigh County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this reading

The data

Raleigh County, At a glance

Raleigh County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 2: moderate predicted potential

Raleigh County is a county: EPA's forecast for it as a whole is an average indoor of 2 to 4 pCi/L (75 to 150 Bq/m³). It describes no single address, and homes above EPA's are found in every zone, this one included.

USGS geologic potential: Moderate across 57% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Raleigh County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 69%2 to 4 pCi/L: 14%4 pCi/L and above: 17%

Of 42 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Raleigh County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L2969.0%
2 to 4 pCi/L614.3%
4 pCi/L and above716.7%
What these figures count

These are the 42 tests reported to CDC for Raleigh 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

Raleigh County, Compared

Raleigh County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Raleigh County's 42 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 1.4 pCi/L and a maximum of 7.9 pCi/L, and 16.7% reached 4 pCi/L. West Virginia as a whole (55 West Virginia counties, pooled) comes to 37.5%: 20.8 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 24th of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Morgan County reported the highest share (58.1%) and Grant County the lowest (9.8%).

Below the action level, 29 tests (69.0%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 37.7% statewide, and 6 tests (14.3%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.7% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Raleigh County went from 35 tests (2005 to 2014) to 42 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 11.4% to 16.7%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Raleigh County in Zone 2, a predicted county average between 2 and 4 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 57% of the county's land moderate radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 20.6% in Kanawha County to 33.7% in Mercer County.

Raleigh County against West Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Raleigh County
Raleigh County4216.7%1.4 pCi/LThis county
West Virginia, pooled55 counties, pooled10,06137.5%Not pooled+20.8 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+19.0 points
Morgan Countyhighest in the state24158.1%5.8 pCi/L+41.4 points
Grant Countylowest in the state1649.8%1.1 pCi/L−6.9 points
Mercer County, WVborders it10133.7%2.1 pCi/L+17.0 points
Wyoming County, WVborders it333.3%0.8 pCi/L+16.6 points
Kanawha County, WVborders it24720.6%2.2 pCi/L+3.9 points
Boone County, WVborders it714.3%0.1 pCi/L−2.4 points
Summers County, WVborders it1513.3%1.5 pCi/L−3.4 points
Fayette County, WVborders it200.0%0.8 pCi/L−16.7 points
Where Raleigh County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside West Virginia and the United States
ResultRaleigh County testsRaleigh County shareWest Virginia shareU.S. shareAgainst West Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L2969.0%37.7%39.6%+31.3 points
2 to 4 pCi/L614.3%24.7%24.7%−10.4 points
4 pCi/L and above716.7%37.5%35.7%−20.8 points
Raleigh 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
Marion County17 of 2724429.1%2.6 pCi/L
Taylor County18 of 273228.1%2.2 pCi/L
Putnam County19 of 275223.1%1.5 pCi/L
Tyler County20 of 273522.9%1.8 pCi/L
Hardy County21 of 275322.6%1.6 pCi/L
Kanawha County22 of 2724720.6%2.2 pCi/L
Monongalia County23 of 271,17619.0%1.9 pCi/L
Raleigh County24 of 274216.7%1.4 pCi/L
Cabell County25 of 2714516.6%2.0 pCi/L
Wood County26 of 2790515.9%1.8 pCi/L
Grant County27 of 271649.8%1.1 pCi/L
Raleigh 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 20174216.7%1.4 pCi/L7.9 pCi/L37.5%Level
2007 to 20163616.7%1.4 pCi/L6.3 pCi/L37.3%+5.3 points
2006 to 20153511.4%1.4 pCi/L6.3 pCi/L37.7%Level
2005 to 20143511.4%1.4 pCi/L6.3 pCi/L37.3%First on file

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

Raleigh County, Geology

The ground under Raleigh County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Raleigh County: 56.6% of its land is moderate radon potential and 43.4% low. The map puts 43.4% of Raleigh County in the area it calls Cumberland Plateau and 42.9% in Eastern Allegheny Plateau and Mtns, with one smaller area beside them. USGS gives the first a radon index of 8, in the low band (5 to 8), and the second 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Raleigh County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Cumberland PlateauPennsylvanian sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coalLow843.4%
Eastern Allegheny Plateau and MtnsDevonian-Pennsylvanian shale, siltstone, sandstone, minor limestone and coalModerate1042.9%
Southern Appalachian Valley and RidgeOrdovician-Mississippian shale, siltstone, sandstone, limestone.Moderate1113.8%

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

Raleigh County beside the ground around it

Across West Virginia 18.7% of the land is rated high; none of Raleigh County's is. Of the 6 counties that border it, 1 has more high-potential ground, Mercer County the most at 16.0%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Raleigh County, the 6 counties bordering it and West Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Raleigh CountyZone 243.4%56.6%None
Summers CountyZone 1None100%None
Fayette CountyZone 232.5%67.5%None
Wyoming CountyZone 3100%NoneNone
Mercer CountyZone 111.4%72.6%16.0%
Boone CountyZone 398.2%1.8%None
Kanawha CountyZone 329.4%70.6%None
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

Raleigh County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Raleigh 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

Raleigh County, Questions

Questions about radon in Raleigh County

Are radon levels high in Raleigh County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 16.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Raleigh County, West Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 1.4 pCi/L. Of 27 West Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 23 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 37.5%.

Which counties border Raleigh County?

Raleigh County borders 6 counties: Summers County, Fayette County, Wyoming County, Mercer County, Boone County and Kanawha County.

Products

Raleigh County, Products

Testing a home in Raleigh County

In Raleigh County, 16.7% of 42 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 37.5% pooled across West Virginia. In Zone 2 a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Raleigh County; a long-term test tells the year-round average.

Test kits and monitors3

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Best radon monitors for Raleigh County homes, compared

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Raleigh County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Raleigh County

Calculated by Radon411

Raleigh County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Raleigh County

About 71,775 people live in Raleigh County by the Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, 2,629 fewer than in 2020 (−3.5%). That works out to 119 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Beckley, has 16,373 residents, 22.8% of the total. Reported testing is thin here: 42 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 0.6 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where West Virginia as a whole comes to 5.7.

From Beckley to Rhodell, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Raleigh County's.

The 4 largest cities and towns in Raleigh County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Beckley16,373−4.9%22.8%
Mabscott1,259−5.0%1.8%
Sophia1,076−5.1%1.5%
Lester331−3.5%0.5%
  • Rhodell

5 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).

Raleigh County, Homes

Homes in Raleigh County

Of Raleigh County's 34,637 homes, 74% are detached houses, against 71% across West Virginia; 16% are mobile homes. Half of its homes were built before 1975, close to West Virginia's 1976: 31% date from before 1960 and 16% from 2000 or later. 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesRaleigh CountyWest Virginia
Housing units34,637859,653
Detached houses74%71%
In buildings of 5 or more6%8%
Mobile homes16%14%
Built before 196031%33%
Built since 200016%18%
Middle year built19751976
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.