Median AQI
42
Good
Alabama · County air quality · 2025
Baldwin County, Alabama
Median AQI 42 (Good). 72.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 42
- Median AQI
- 72.2%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 36%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Baldwin County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 42 with 72.2% of 241 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 42
- median AQI · Good
- 72.2%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 36%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 87.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 174 d · 72.2%
- Moderate · 67 d · 27.8%
How did Baldwin County's air break down in 2025?
Across 241 monitored days, 174 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 87 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 241 days monitored. Median AQI: 42 (Good).
Insights: Baldwin County, Alabama. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 42 across 241 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 174 (72%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 67 (28%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 56, while the worst single-day peak hit 87 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 21.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (150 days), Ozone (91 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -49 and the median AQI moved +4 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 87, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Clay (85.4% good, AQI 32); DeKalb (78.6% good, AQI 42); Elmore (97.2% good, AQI 32); Etowah (63.5% good, AQI 45); Jefferson (36.8% good, AQI 53); Lawrence (100.0% good, AQI 23).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
72.2%
174 of 241 monitored days
-2.8pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
87
Moderate
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 56
Baldwin County, Good days share 72.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Baldwin County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days above AQI 150 (Unhealthy or worse). Bar maxes at 10% (worst-county ceiling).
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 241 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
174
72%
Moderate
67
28%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Baldwin County.
- PM2.5 · 150 days · 62.2%
- Ozone · 91 days · 37.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Baldwin County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 72.2% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 72.2% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 42. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 150 of 241 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Baldwin County. Best year: 2024 (278 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 223 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 74 |
| 2021 | 248 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 63 |
| 2022 | 237 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 97 |
| 2023 | 236 | 111 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 90 |
| 2024 | 278 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 90 |
| 2025 | 174 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 87 |
How does Baldwin County compare?
How Baldwin County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Baldwin County 72.2%
Clay County, Alabama 85.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Baldwin County 42
Clay County, Alabama 32
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Baldwin County 0
Clay County, Alabama 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Alabama
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Alabama.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Baldwin County.
Adams County, Pennsylvania
AQI 42 · 73.8% good
Anderson County, Tennessee
AQI 42 · 91.0% good
Andrew County, Missouri
AQI 42 · 84.3% good
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
AQI 42 · 68.1% good
Belmont County, Ohio
AQI 42 · 63.0% good
Buncombe County, North Carolina
AQI 42 · 71.4% good
What Baldwin County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM2.5 the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 42 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Baldwin County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Baldwin County with its Alabama neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Alabama
Based on 241 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
More Air Quality Data
Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Baldwin County, Alabama? ▼
Baldwin County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 72.2% of monitored days (174 out of 241) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Baldwin County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Baldwin County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 150 days (62% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Baldwin County have? ▼
In 2025, Baldwin County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 87.
Is the air quality in Baldwin County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Baldwin County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 278 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 174 good days.
What does AQI 42 mean for health? ▼
Baldwin County's median AQI of 42 falls in the "Good" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Baldwin County compare to other counties in Alabama? ▼
Baldwin County has 72.2% good air days. Nearby counties in Alabama: Clay (85.4% good), DeKalb (78.6% good), Elmore (97.2% good), Etowah (63.5% good), Jefferson (36.8% good), Lawrence (100.0% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Baldwin County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Baldwin County is 56, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 87 (Moderate).
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset, 2020–2025 (aqs.epa.gov). For current conditions (not shown here — this page is historical annual data), see EPA AirNow (airnow.gov). See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.
Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.