Radon Mitigation in Glen Rock, PA
Updated
PA DEP has 1,797 home radon tests on record from the ZIP code that cover Glen Rock (17327). 60.8% came back at or above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level, against 52.5% for York County as a whole. That puts Glen Rock clearly above the county as a whole. A standard system here typically costs $800 to $1,500. The only way to know about one house is to test it.
Glen Rock is a borough in York County with about 2,108 residents and 868 homes, median year built 1955. The Heritage Rail Trail runs through town, and an 1837 woolen mill, the oldest building in Glen Rock, is now a hotel and restaurant. 60.8% of PA DEP radon tests in its ZIP codes came back at or above the action level, above the county's 52.5%.
What the PA DEP test records show for Glen Rock
ZIP 17327 covers essentially all of Glen Rock, so these numbers are about as local as public radon data gets.
| ZIP | Tests | Median pCi/L | 4+ pCi/L | 10+ | 20+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17327 | 1,797 | 5.9 | 60.8% | 35.6% | 20.6% |
| York County | 98,845 | 4.3 | 52.5% | 26.8% | 13.1% |
The share that matters most is the 20+ column. 20.6% of tests here came in at 20 pCi/L or more, five times the action level. The single highest reading on record in these ZIP codes is 397 pCi/L. Neighboring houses can differ by a factor of ten, so none of this tells you what your house is. It tells you the odds are high enough that a $15 to $30 test kit is worth buying.
Tests people chose to run, not a random survey. Details on the York County radon levels page.
Basement readings versus first-floor readings
In ZIP 17327, basement tests have a median of 6.4 pCi/L, while tests taken on the first floor have a median of 3.2 pCi/L (154 first-floor tests). The basement number runs 2.0 times the first-floor number, which is the usual pattern: radon comes up from the soil, so it is strongest at the lowest level and gets diluted as it moves up through the house.
It also explains why two neighbors can get very different results. One tested a finished basement, the other tested a first-floor bedroom. For a decision about mitigation, the test that counts is the one from the lowest level anyone spends time in.
Radon results by decade in ZIP 17327
| Decade tested | Tests | Median pCi/L | 4+ pCi/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 142 | 5.8 | 61.3% |
| 2000s | 499 | 6.4 | 64.3% |
| 2010s | 742 | 5.9 | 61.7% |
| 2020s | 402 | 5 | 54.5% |
The share peaked in the 2000s at 64.3% and sits at 54.5% for tests since 2020. A drop that size is mostly about who is testing, not the ground. More recent tests come from home sales and from retests after a system went in, and both pull the share down. The rock under Glen Rock has not changed. 402 tests have been logged in 17327 since 2020, so people here are still testing.
Housing in Glen Rock and what it means for a system
Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024:
| Glen Rock | York County | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes (housing units) | 868 | 189,857 |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1976 |
| Built before 1940 | 39.1% | 18.3% |
| Built before 1980 | 70.6% | 54.8% |
| Built 2000 or later | 11.6% | 20.6% |
| Single-family detached | 53% | 64.3% |
| Attached (rowhome, townhouse) | 16% | 17.1% |
| Mobile homes | 0% | 4.1% |
| Owner-occupied | 54.9% | 76.3% |
39.1% of the homes in Glen Rock were built before 1940, against 18.3% county-wide. Houses that old usually sit on stone or early block foundations with no vapor barrier and plenty of joints, which gives soil gas more ways in. They are still very fixable. The installer just spends more time sealing, and sometimes needs a second suction point, which is why these jobs tend to land toward the upper end of the cost range.
Only about 54.9% of homes in Glen Rock are owner-occupied, so a lot of people here rent. Pennsylvania does not require landlords to test, but a tenant can ask, and a landlord can test between tenancies without much hassle. Our landlord testing guide covers the details.
Cost-wise, expect older houses in Glen Rock to land in the $1,200 to $2,500 part of the range once sealing and a possible second suction point are counted. Newer houses are usually the standard $800 to $1,500 job. Full ranges on the cost page.
Where we work in Glen Rock
Main roads include Main, Valley and Water streets. Public schools here are part of Southern York County School District. The Heritage Rail Trail runs through town, and an 1837 woolen mill, the oldest building in Glen Rock, is now a hotel and restaurant.
Installers must hold a PA DEP radon mitigation certification (how to check), and permit questions go to the borough office at www.glenrockpa.org.
Common questions
Is radon a problem in Glen Rock?
Yes. PA DEP has 1,797 tests on record from the ZIP code covering Glen Rock, and 60.8% of them came back at or above the EPA's 4.0 pCi/L action level. 20.6% were at 20 pCi/L or more. The county-wide rate is 52.5%.
What is the average radon level in ZIP 17327?
The median of 1,797 PA DEP tests in ZIP 17327 is 5.9 pCi/L and the mean is 15.6 pCi/L. A mean that far above the median means a long tail of very high readings, topping out at 397 pCi/L.
Nearby
Codorus Township 59.6%, Shrewsbury Township 55.5%, Springfield Township 62%, Manheim Township 59.6%. Share of PA DEP tests at or above 4.0 pCi/L, against 60.8% here.
Have a test result from Glen Rock?
Send us the number and the foundation type, or call and read it out.
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