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Radon Levels in Rusk County, Wisconsin

EPA puts Rusk County in Zone 2, its middle radon zone, and 38.6% of its 57 reported radon tests (2023) 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

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    38.6%

    2.9 pts above WI

    Rusk
    38.6%
    Wisconsin
    35.7%

    57 tests, 2023

  • Median result

    3.2pCi/L

    Below action level

    Rusk
    3.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2023

  • Tests reported

    57

    54th of 69 by tests

    Rusk
    57
    Dane
    2,887

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2023

  • 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 Wisconsin

    34 of 69

    Middle half

    Rusk
    38.6%
    Langlade
    65.8%

    By share, of 69 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Rusk County

Starts at Rusk County's median, 3.2 pCi/L

3.2pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 3.2 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. Rusk County's median reported result, 2023.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Rusk County, At a glance

Rusk County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 2: moderate predicted potential

Rusk 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 100% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Rusk County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Rusk County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Rusk County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201432.4%
201563.0%
201634.7%
201745.5%
201948.0%
202037.9%
202123.8%
202247.1%
202338.6%

2023: 38.6%. Across these years the share ran from 23.8% to 63.0%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

These are the 57 tests reported to CDC for Rusk County over 2023, 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: 2023. Measured data period: 2005 to 2023 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Rusk County, Compared

Rusk County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Rusk County, about 4 in 10 reported tests in 2023 (22 of 57) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 33.4%, the gap is 5.2 points higher. Across 72 Wisconsin counties pooled together, 35.7% of tests reached that level, so Rusk County runs 2.9 points above its state.

Of 6 neighbours with a figure, 2 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 4 a smaller one; the spread is 18.9% (Taylor County) to 44.9% (Washburn County). By share, Rusk County is 34th of 69 Wisconsin counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Year by year, 2014 opened at 32.4% and 2023 closed at 38.6% (up 6.2 points), with 2019 the high at 48.0%. Half the tests came in under 3.2 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 55.8 pCi/L. Below the action level, 14 tests (24.6%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 41.4% statewide, and 21 tests (36.8%) fell between 2 and 4, against 23.0% statewide.

Zone 2 on EPA's map (predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L) and a 38.6% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land moderate radon potential.

The busiest year on file was 2016, with 144 tests reported; the quietest, 2021, had 21.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Rusk County against Wisconsin2014 to 2023, years with 30 or more tests: Rusk County 32.4% to 38.6%, the state's pooled share 35.7% in 2023.
Rusk CountyWisconsin, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Rusk County against Wisconsin: data table
YearTestsRusk County, at or above 4 pCi/LWisconsin, pooled
20143732.4%51.1%
201614434.7%45.2%
20174445.5%44.8%
20195048.0%42.9%
20223447.1%42.9%
20235738.6%35.7%
Rusk County against Wisconsin, the United States and nearby counties, 2023
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Rusk County
Rusk County5738.6%3.2 pCi/LThis county
Wisconsin, pooled72 counties, pooled20,87935.7%Not pooled−2.9 points
United States, pooled642 counties, pooled128,74033.4%Not pooled−5.2 points
Langlade Countyhighest in the state22565.8%6.0 pCi/L+27.2 points
Bayfield Countylowest in the state355.7%1.5 pCi/L−32.9 points
Washburn County, WIborders it4944.9%3.1 pCi/L+6.3 points
Sawyer County, WIborders it4742.6%3.2 pCi/L+4.0 points
Price County, WIborders it6036.7%2.8 pCi/L−1.9 points
Chippewa County, WIborders it31135.7%2.5 pCi/L−2.9 points
Barron County, WIborders it19934.7%2.5 pCi/L−3.9 points
Taylor County, WIborders it3718.9%2.1 pCi/L−19.7 points
Where Rusk County's reported results fell, 2023, beside Wisconsin and the United States
ResultRusk County testsRusk County shareWisconsin shareU.S. shareAgainst Wisconsin
Under 2 pCi/L1424.6%41.4%41.4%−16.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L2136.8%23.0%25.2%+13.8 points
4 pCi/L and above2238.6%35.7%33.4%+2.9 points
Rusk County ranked among the 69 Wisconsin counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2023
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Oneida County29 of 6913540.7%2.7 pCi/L
Outagamie County30 of 6933740.7%3.1 pCi/L
Green Lake County31 of 697940.5%3.4 pCi/L
Forest County32 of 694540.0%2.9 pCi/L
Jackson County33 of 699338.7%3.2 pCi/L
Rusk County34 of 695738.6%3.2 pCi/L
Walworth County35 of 6934037.9%2.8 pCi/L
Dunn County36 of 6917137.4%2.9 pCi/L
St. Croix County37 of 6934837.4%3.0 pCi/L
Racine County38 of 6944537.3%2.7 pCi/L
Price County39 of 696036.7%2.8 pCi/L
Rusk County radon tests by year, against Wisconsin's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestWisconsin, pooledChange from the row before
20235738.6%3.2 pCi/L55.8 pCi/L35.7%−8.5 points
20223447.1%3.5 pCi/L25.3 pCi/L42.9%+23.3 points
20212123.8%2.2 pCi/L6.8 pCi/L39.9%−14.1 points
20202937.9%3.2 pCi/L13.4 pCi/L27.0%−10.1 points
20195048.0%3.6 pCi/L24.0 pCi/L42.9%+2.5 points
20174445.5%3.5 pCi/L19.1 pCi/L44.8%+10.8 points
201614434.7%2.7 pCi/L50.4 pCi/L45.2%−28.3 points
20152763.0%5.5 pCi/L26.9 pCi/L51.6%+30.6 points
20143732.4%1.7 pCi/L15.8 pCi/L51.1%First on file

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

Rusk County, Geology

The ground under Rusk County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Rusk County's mapped land in one class: moderate radon potential. 98.9% of it lies in the area the map calls Chippewa, Wisconsin Valley, and Langlade sublobes of the Superior Lobe, to which USGS gives a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Rusk County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Chippewa, Wisconsin Valley, and Langlade sublobes of the Superior LobeGranite, granite-derived glacial deposits, and mafic volcanic rocks.Moderate1098.9%
Central Plain/Northern HighlandPre-Late Wisconsinan glacial deposits derived from sandstone and carbonate rocks.Moderate101.1%

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

Rusk County beside the ground around it

Across Wisconsin 34.8% of the land is rated high; none of Rusk County's is. Of the 6 counties that border it, none has as large a share of moderate-potential ground; Price County comes nearest at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Rusk County, the 6 counties bordering it and Wisconsin
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Rusk CountyZone 2None100%None
Sawyer CountyZone 2None100%None
Chippewa CountyZone 2None100%None
Barron CountyZone 2None100%None
Taylor CountyZone 2None100%None
Washburn CountyZone 2None100%None
Price CountyZone 2None100%None
Wisconsin72 counties, pooled by land areaVaries1.4%63.5%34.8%

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

Local help

Rusk County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Rusk County

What Wisconsin's program says
Phone
1-888-569-7236
Email
DHSRadon@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
The State of Wisconsin does not require contractors performing radon measurement or mitigation work to be state licensed or nationally certified.

What it means

Rusk County, Questions

Questions about radon in Rusk County

Are radon levels high in Rusk County?

In 2023, 38.6% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Rusk County, Wisconsin were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.2 pCi/L. Of 69 Wisconsin counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 33 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 35.7%.

Which counties border Rusk County?

Rusk County borders 6 counties: Sawyer County, Chippewa County, Barron County, Taylor County, Washburn County and Price County.

Products

Rusk County, Products

Testing a home in Rusk County

In Rusk County, 38.6% of 57 tests reported to CDC in 2023 reached 4 pCi/L, against 35.7% pooled across Wisconsin. In Zone 2 a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Rusk County; a long-term test tells the year-round average.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Rusk County homes, compared

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Rusk County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Rusk County

Calculated by Radon411

Rusk County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Rusk County

Rusk County's population has barely moved since 2020: 14,146 residents on July 1, 2025 against 14,169 then, by the Census Bureau's estimates. That works out to 15 people per square mile of land. Its largest town, Ladysmith, has 3,172 residents, 22.4% of the total. Together its 9 incorporated places hold 35.9% of those residents; the other 64.1% live outside any of them. CDC's 57 reported tests for 2023 work out to 4.0 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Wisconsin's 3.5.

From Ladysmith to Ingram, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Rusk County's.

The cities and towns in Rusk County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Ladysmith3,172−2.5%22.4%
Bruce749−3.5%5.3%
Hawkins323−1.5%2.3%
Sheldon255−2.7%1.8%
Weyerhaeuser232−0.4%1.6%
Tony99−2.9%0.7%
Glen Flora96−3.0%0.7%
Conrath88−1.1%0.6%
Ingram69−2.8%0.5%

9 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).

Rusk County, Homes

Homes in Rusk County

Rusk County is a place of houses on their own lots: 83% of its 8,679 homes are detached single-family houses, against 66% across Wisconsin. Half of its homes were built before 1976, close to Wisconsin's 1975: 31% date from before 1960 and 18% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 78% of the occupied homes (Wisconsin: 68%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Rusk County, Wisconsin, 2019 to 2023
HomesRusk CountyWisconsin
Housing units8,6792,750,750
Detached houses83%66%
In buildings of 5 or more5%17%
Mobile homes8%3%
Built before 196031%34%
Built since 200018%20%
Middle year built19761975
Owner-occupied78%68%

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