Popcorn ceilings, those ceiling surfaces thatlook like tiny pebbles (or shredded popcorn) have a very high likelihood of containing asbestos. Most homes that feature them were built in the early 70s.
As long as the ceilings are painted (and with sealing the asbestos) asbestos should not be able to become airborn, which is what makes is dangerous, not the presence but the probability of breathing it in.
For a ca 1500 sqft house, one story, normal ceiling height you need to invest between $3000-3500 to get those removed, not including the resurfacing of the ceilings.
The companies specializing in removal will give you a better price if you can proof that there is no asbestos in the ceiling. The test is about $50 and can be bought in most home improvement stores. You scrape a bit of the ceiling material off and send it in to a lab. Test results are back usually within a week.
If there is no asbestos in the material the removal is much less expensive because there is no need for hazmat measures. If you do not know and do not test the companies now have to treat the removal as if asbestos were present.
If the ceilings are painted and sealed well, it is a question of your own risk aversion whether or not to pay up for removal. For the resale of a house it certainly is better to have them removed.
The look of them is dated, too so a fresh white ceiling with a smooth surface looks much better.
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