Reviewed and updated September 10, 2026. This article provides general public-health and referral guidance, not testing, medical, legal or engineering advice.
The Corning row in New York's town dataset
The New York State Department of Health dataset titled Radon Test Results by Town: Beginning 1987 reports results under the municipal label CORNING. Its basement group contains 395 tests with an arithmetic average of 9.03 pCi/L. Of those records, 192 were below 4 pCi/L, 162 were from 4 to under 20, and 41 were 20 pCi/L or higher.
The first-floor group contains 121 tests with an arithmetic average of 3.79 pCi/L. Eighty-eight were below 4, 28 were from 4 to under 20, and five were 20 or higher. These counts make elevated local results visible, but they are historical program records rather than a census of Corning homes.
| Test location | Tests | Average | Below 4 | 4 to under 20 | 20 or higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basement | 395 | 9.03 pCi/L | 192 | 162 | 41 |
| First floor | 121 | 3.79 pCi/L | 88 | 28 | 5 |
Source: NYSDOH town dataset. Counts describe submitted program results and are not a forecast for an address.
Why the basement and first-floor groups differ
Radon usually enters from soil through openings and pressure-driven pathways in the foundation. A basement test is closer to those pathways than a first-floor test, so the two groups answer different occupancy questions. They should not be blended into a single local average or used interchangeably.
The basement average is also not the result a typical Corning basement is guaranteed to produce. Arithmetic averages can be pulled upward by high readings, and the dataset includes tests made at different times, under different conditions and potentially before or after changes to a property. The distribution of results is more informative than the average alone.
What the dataset cannot tell a homeowner
The public table does not describe every home's foundation, the reason each test was performed, the exact date of every measurement or whether a mitigation system later changed the building. Participation is not random, and the published town row is not a live 2026 prevalence estimate. It cannot identify a safe street, neighborhood or house style.
EPA likewise says its radon-zone maps are planning tools and should not determine whether an individual home is tested. A property on higher ground can test high or low, and a nearby property in the valley can do the same. Soil and geology are context; a properly placed measurement is evidence for the house.
Turn the local evidence into a sound test plan
Test the lowest level that could be used regularly, following the device instructions and current agency guidance. A finished basement, planned bedroom or family room belongs in that decision even when it is occupied only part of the week. For a transaction, work with a certified measurement professional and agree on the protocol before the clock starts.
The Corning testing guide explains professional and do-it-yourself options. If you want local testing help, request a radon test through our referral form. Testing and any other service are provided by an independent radon professional. Keep the report, device details and test location so a later mitigation assessment starts with reliable information.
If the result is elevated
EPA recommends fixing at 4 pCi/L or higher and notes that reducing levels below 4 can still reduce risk. Follow the appropriate confirmation guidance for the device and circumstances; a time-sensitive real-estate test and a homeowner screening do not always have the same next step.
When the result supports action, a qualified mitigator evaluates the foundation, sump or drainage openings, crawlspaces and possible vent routes. Post-mitigation testing verifies the outcome. Read the Corning mitigation guide for the system process and the guide to results above 4 pCi/L for the decision sequence.
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.