Reviewed and updated September 10, 2026. This article provides general public-health and referral guidance, not testing, medical, legal or engineering advice.
A careful view of four town rows
NYSDOH publishes historical radon test results by town beginning in 1987. The table below summarizes basement records for SOUTHPORT in Chemung County and BATH, CAMPBELL and ERWIN in Steuben County. It is useful for seeing that elevated results have been recorded in several communities, but it is not a survey designed to predict every home.
Each row reflects tests submitted to the state program under that municipal label. Different sample sizes, test circumstances and building mixes make a simple town ranking misleading. The appropriate comparison is descriptive: how many program records fell within each reported range and how much evidence is available for that label.
| Town label | Tests | Average | Below 4 | 4 to under 20 | 20 or higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southport | 167 | 16.44 pCi/L | 45 | 70 | 52 |
| Bath | 234 | 17.05 pCi/L | 26 | 140 | 68 |
| Campbell | 38 | 14.51 pCi/L | 10 | 17 | 11 |
| Erwin | 209 | 10.36 pCi/L | 79 | 101 | 29 |
Source: NYSDOH town dataset. Averages and counts describe participating tests, not current townwide prevalence.
Why Pine City and Painted Post are not relabeled
The state table does not present a separate PINE CITY row. Pine City is associated with the Town of Southport, but it would be inaccurate to rename all SOUTHPORT records as Pine City tests. The dataset does not provide the address detail needed to make that separation.
PAINTED POST likewise does not appear as its own row in the dataset used for this review. Nearby municipal rows cannot be silently assigned to the village. An honest local resource should name the missing resolution instead of manufacturing a statistic that looks more precise than the source.
Averages require context
An arithmetic average can be influenced by a smaller number of high measurements. Reading the count in each range alongside the average prevents a high observation from being mistaken for a universal household result. It also shows that below-action-level and elevated results can occur within the same municipality.
These are records beginning in 1987, not a live reading of current air and not a randomized 2026 prevalence study. The table does not reveal whether a property was tested more than once, why the measurement occurred or whether later mitigation changed conditions. It supports testing; it does not replace it.
County and zone maps have the same address-level limit
County designations and EPA radon-zone maps help public agencies plan outreach and resources. EPA specifically cautions that zone maps should not decide whether an individual home is tested. A county boundary cannot describe the cracks, drainage system, crawlspace, soil contact or pressure conditions beneath one foundation.
Municipal and county evidence can motivate action without supporting a fear-based claim. The useful message for Chemung and Steuben County residents is that radon has been measured both below and above 4 pCi/L locally, so every occupied home deserves its own properly conducted test.
Use the result, not the reputation of the town
Place the test on the lowest level that could be used regularly and follow the device instructions. Choose a certified professional when a real-estate deadline, documented chain of custody or complex building calls for one. A homeowner kit can also provide useful information when it is approved and handled correctly.
If a result is 4 pCi/L or higher, follow current confirmation guidance and discuss reduction with a qualified mitigator. Twin Tiers Radon Help arranges mitigation-estimate referrals after consent; it does not test, diagnose from a ZIP code or promise a particular price. Start with the Southern Tier basement-testing guide or compare the Elmira, Horseheads, Big Flats and Corning data pages.
Sources
Primary guidance used for this article
We use government and public-health sources, distinguish historical datasets from current household measurements, and do not invent local results. Read our editorial policy.