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Radon Levels in Sawyer County, Wisconsin

EPA puts Sawyer County in Zone 2, its middle radon zone, and high results are common there: 42.6% of the 47 radon tests reported to CDC (2023) 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

    42.6%

    6.9 pts above WI

    Sawyer
    42.6%
    Wisconsin
    35.7%

    47 tests, 2023

  • Median result

    3.2pCi/L

    Below action level

    Sawyer
    3.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2023

  • Tests reported

    47

    62nd of 69 by tests

    Sawyer
    47
    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

    23 of 69

    Middle half

    Sawyer
    42.6%
    Langlade
    65.8%

    By share, of 69 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Sawyer County

Starts at Sawyer 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. Sawyer County's median reported result, 2023.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Sawyer County, At a glance

Sawyer County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 2: moderate predicted potential

Sawyer 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 Sawyer County, 2023

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Sawyer County
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L, by year, Sawyer County
YearShare of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L
201425.0%
201556.4%
201630.3%
201761.9%
201943.2%
202038.6%
202137.2%
202242.9%
202342.6%

2023: 42.6%. Across these years the share ran from 25.0% to 61.9%. Each column counts radon tests reported to CDC that year, not homes.

What these figures count

These are the 47 tests reported to CDC for Sawyer 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

Sawyer County, Compared

Sawyer County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Sawyer County, about 4 in 10 reported tests in 2023 (20 of 47) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 33.4%, the gap is 9.2 points higher. Across 72 Wisconsin counties pooled together, 35.7% of tests reached that level, so Sawyer County runs 6.9 points above its state.

Of 7 neighbours with a figure, 1 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 6 a smaller one; the spread is 5.7% (Bayfield County) to 44.9% (Washburn County). By share, Sawyer County is 23rd of 69 Wisconsin counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Year by year, 2014 opened at 25.0% and 2023 closed at 42.6% (up 17.6 points), with 2017 the high at 61.9%. Half the tests came in under 3.2 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 17.5 pCi/L. Below the action level, 16 tests (34.0%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 41.4% statewide, and 11 tests (23.4%) 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 42.6% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 100% of the county's land moderate radon potential.

The busiest year on file was 2015, with 78 tests reported; the quietest, 2016, had 33.

Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Sawyer County against Wisconsin2014 to 2023, years with 30 or more tests: Sawyer County 25.0% to 42.6%, the state's pooled share 35.7% in 2023.
Sawyer CountyWisconsin, pooled
Share of reported tests at or above 4 pCi/L by year, Sawyer County against Wisconsin: data table
YearTestsSawyer County, at or above 4 pCi/LWisconsin, pooled
20144025.0%51.1%
20157856.4%51.6%
20163330.3%45.2%
20174261.9%44.8%
20194443.2%42.9%
20204438.6%27.0%
20214337.2%39.9%
20224242.9%42.9%
20234742.6%35.7%
Sawyer County against Wisconsin, the United States and nearby counties, 2023
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Sawyer County
Sawyer County4742.6%3.2 pCi/LThis county
Wisconsin, pooled72 counties, pooled20,87935.7%Not pooled−6.9 points
United States, pooled642 counties, pooled128,74033.4%Not pooled−9.2 points
Langlade Countyhighest in the state22565.8%6.0 pCi/L+23.2 points
Juneau Countylowest in the state5010.0%1.1 pCi/L−32.6 points
Washburn County, WIborders it4944.9%3.1 pCi/L+2.3 points
Rusk County, WIborders it5738.6%3.2 pCi/L−4.0 points
Price County, WIborders it6036.7%2.8 pCi/L−5.9 points
Barron County, WIborders it19934.7%2.5 pCi/L−7.9 points
Ashland County, WIborders it4129.3%2.3 pCi/L−13.3 points
Douglas County, WIborders it449.1%1.5 pCi/L−33.5 points
Bayfield County, WIborders it355.7%1.5 pCi/L−36.9 points
Where Sawyer County's reported results fell, 2023, beside Wisconsin and the United States
ResultSawyer County testsSawyer County shareWisconsin shareU.S. shareAgainst Wisconsin
Under 2 pCi/L1634.0%41.4%41.4%−7.4 points
2 to 4 pCi/L1123.4%23.0%25.2%+0.4 points
4 pCi/L and above2042.6%35.7%33.4%+6.9 points
Sawyer 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
Kewaunee County18 of 695644.6%3.7 pCi/L
Marinette County19 of 696144.3%2.6 pCi/L
Jefferson County20 of 6929644.3%3.5 pCi/L
Waukesha County21 of 691,63343.2%3.2 pCi/L
Sheboygan County22 of 6939942.9%3.3 pCi/L
Sawyer County23 of 694742.6%3.2 pCi/L
Kenosha County24 of 6941542.4%3.4 pCi/L
Winnebago County25 of 6951242.4%3.1 pCi/L
Door County26 of 6915642.3%3.0 pCi/L
Trempealeau County27 of 6911242.0%3.3 pCi/L
Sauk County28 of 6924141.1%3.3 pCi/L
Sawyer County radon tests by year, against Wisconsin's pooled share
YearTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestWisconsin, pooledChange from the row before
20234742.6%3.2 pCi/L17.5 pCi/L35.7%−0.3 points
20224242.9%3.2 pCi/L12.6 pCi/L42.9%+5.7 points
20214337.2%3.0 pCi/L18.4 pCi/L39.9%−1.4 points
20204438.6%2.8 pCi/L15.8 pCi/L27.0%−4.6 points
20194443.2%3.8 pCi/L26.7 pCi/L42.9%−18.7 points
20174261.9%4.3 pCi/L24.3 pCi/L44.8%+31.6 points
20163330.3%2.3 pCi/L10.7 pCi/L45.2%−26.1 points
20157856.4%4.7 pCi/L24.3 pCi/L51.6%+31.4 points
20144025.0%1.9 pCi/L12.2 pCi/L51.1%First on file

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

Sawyer County, Geology

The ground under Sawyer County

Predicted

USGS's geologic map puts all of Sawyer County's mapped land in one class: moderate radon potential. The map puts 72.6% of Sawyer County in the area it calls Chippewa, Wisconsin Valley, and Langlade sublobes of the Superior Lobe and 27.4% in Superior Lobe. USGS gives both a radon index of 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Sawyer 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.Moderate1072.6%
Superior LobeGlacial deposits derived from sandstone and volcanic rocks.Moderate1027.4%

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

Sawyer County beside the ground around it

Across Wisconsin 34.8% of the land is rated high; none of Sawyer County's is. Of the 7 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: Sawyer County, the 7 counties bordering it and Wisconsin
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Sawyer CountyZone 2None100%None
Rusk CountyZone 2None100%None
Washburn CountyZone 2None100%None
Price CountyZone 2None100%None
Bayfield CountyZone 2None98.9%None
Barron CountyZone 2None100%None
Ashland CountyZone 2None91.9%None
Douglas CountyZone 2None99.5%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

Sawyer County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Sawyer 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

Sawyer County, Questions

Questions about radon in Sawyer County

Are radon levels high in Sawyer County?

In 2023, 42.6% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Sawyer 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, 22 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 35.7%.

Which counties border Sawyer County?

Sawyer County borders 7 counties: Rusk County, Washburn County, Price County, Bayfield County, Barron County, Ashland County and Douglas County.

Products

Sawyer County, Products

Testing a home in Sawyer County

In Sawyer County, 42.6% of 47 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 Sawyer County; a long-term test tells the year-round average.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Sawyer County homes, compared

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Sawyer County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Sawyer County

Calculated by Radon411

Sawyer County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Sawyer County

The Census Bureau estimates 18,846 residents in Sawyer County for July 1, 2025, 724 more than in 2020 (+4.0%). That works out to 15 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Hayward, the largest, has 2,614 residents, 13.9% of the total. Together its 5 incorporated places hold 18.9% of those residents; the other 81.1% live outside any of them. CDC's 47 reported tests for 2023 work out to 2.5 per 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), close to Wisconsin's 3.5.

From Hayward to Couderay, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Sawyer County's.

The cities and towns in Sawyer County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Hayward2,614+3.1%13.9%
Winter363+11.7%1.9%
Radisson286+4.8%1.5%
Exeland225−1.3%1.2%
Couderay83Level0.4%

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).

Sawyer County, Homes

Homes in Sawyer County

Sawyer County is a place of houses on their own lots: 87% of its 16,114 homes are detached single-family houses, against 66% across Wisconsin. Much of Sawyer County is recent building: 25% of its homes have gone up since 2000 and the middle year built is 1985, against 1975 for Wisconsin. Owners live in 77% of the occupied homes (Wisconsin: 68%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, 2019 to 2023
HomesSawyer CountyWisconsin
Housing units16,1142,750,750
Detached houses87%66%
In buildings of 5 or more3%17%
Mobile homes5%3%
Built before 196023%34%
Built since 200025%20%
Middle year built19851975
Owner-occupied77%68%

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