Median AQI
44
Good
Alaska · County air quality · 2025
Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska
Median AQI 44 (Good). 56.4% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 44
- Median AQI
- 56.4%
- Good-air days
- 10
- Unhealthy days
- 11%
- Cleaner than US counties
Fairbanks North Star County's 2025 annual median AQI is 44 (Good), with 56.4% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska posted a 2025 median AQI of 44 (Good) across 365 monitored days, with 56.4% rated Good and 10 unhealthy or worse. This is an annual comparison, not today's advisory.
Data source EPA Air Quality System (AQS)
- Cleaner than US
- Fairbanks North Star County's 56.4% Good-day share places it cleaner than 11% of US counties in 2025.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Allegan County (63.9% Good, median AQI 44) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Fairbanks North Star County.
- 2020–2025 trend
- Fairbanks North Star County's floor-qualifying Good-day share is worsening from 2020 to 2025 (63.1% → 56.4%).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 44
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Fairbanks North Star County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 44 with 56.4% of 365 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 44
- median AQI · Good
- 56.4%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 11%
- cleaner than US counties
10 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 190.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2025 EPA annual release
- Fairbanks North Star County's peak single-day AQI fell from 325 to 190 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of -135 points.
- Fairbanks North Star County's Unhealthy-category days rose from 8 to 10 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +2 days.
- Fairbanks North Star County's Good-day share fell from 58.2% to 56.4% between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of -1.8 percentage points.
Data updated August 2026
- Good · 206 d · 56.4%
- Moderate · 139 d · 38.1%
- USG · 10 d · 2.7%
- Unhealthy · 10 d · 2.7%
How did Fairbanks North Star County's air break down in 2025?
Across 365 monitored days, 206 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 10 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 190 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 365 days monitored. Median AQI: 44 (Good).
Insights: Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 44 across 365 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 206 (56%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 139 (38%) registered Moderate readings, and 10 (3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 85, while the worst single-day peak hit 190 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 16.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (276 days), Ozone (89 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by -6.7 points and the median AQI moved +5 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The annual record contains 10 days at Unhealthy or worse. On those days, the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Aleutians East (99.0% good, AQI 11); Anchorage (79.2% good, AQI 26); Denali (99.7% good, AQI 33); Juneau (84.3% good, AQI 23); Kenai Peninsula (100.0% good, AQI 9); Matanuska-Susitna (91.5% good, AQI 9).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
56.4%
206 of 365 monitored days
-18.6pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
190
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 85
Fairbanks North Star County, Good days share 56.4%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Fairbanks North Star County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 27.4%
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 365 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
206
56%
Moderate
139
38%
USG
10
3%
Unhealthy
10
3%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Fairbanks North Star County.
- PM2.5 · 276 days · 75.6%
- Ozone · 89 days · 24.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Fairbanks North Star County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 56.4% good air days. There were 10 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 10 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 190. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 276 of 365 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Fairbanks North Star County. Highest Good-day share: 2020 (63.1%, 231 of 366 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 231 | 98 | 17 | 20 | 39 | 177 |
| 2021 | 211 | 120 | 21 | 13 | 42 | 189 |
| 2022 | 213 | 105 | 18 | 27 | 43 | 310 |
| 2023 | 224 | 109 | 21 | 10 | 41 | 231 |
| 2024 | 213 | 128 | 15 | 8 | 42 | 325 |
| 2025 | 206 | 139 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 190 |
How does Fairbanks North Star County compare?
How Fairbanks North Star County compares
Good-day share worse than typical
Fairbanks North Star County 56.4%
Allegan County, Michigan 63.9%
Typical US county 76.0%
Median AQI worse than typical
Fairbanks North Star County 44
Allegan County, Michigan 44
Typical US county 39
Unhealthy days / yr worse than typical
Fairbanks North Star County 10
Allegan County, Michigan 2
Typical US county 1
Counties with a similar median AQI
Nationwide peers within about the same annual median AQI as Fairbanks North Star County (44), not geographic neighbors.
Allegan County, Michigan
Median AQI 44 · 63.9% Good-day share
Allen County, Indiana
Median AQI 44 · 60.0% Good-day share
Baker County, Florida
Median AQI 44 · 69.5% Good-day share
Bay County, Florida
Median AQI 44 · 66.4% Good-day share
Blount County, Tennessee
Median AQI 44 · 71.5% Good-day share
Cache County, Utah
Median AQI 44 · 66.0% Good-day share
Same primary pollutant: PM2.5
PM2.5 led the AQI on the most monitored days here. These peers share that driver and the closest Good-day share (a second relationship type beyond median-AQI neighbors).
Buchanan County, Missouri
56.4% Good-day share · median AQI 46
Lane County, Oregon
56.4% Good-day share · median AQI 46
Leon County, Florida
56.4% Good-day share · median AQI 48
Miami-Dade County, Florida
56.4% Good-day share · median AQI 47
Okanogan County, Washington
56.5% Good-day share · median AQI 41
Shoshone County, Idaho
56.2% Good-day share · median AQI 44
Alaska counties on the map
Geographic containment only, other monitored counties in Alaska, independent of AQI or pollutant match.
What Fairbanks North Star County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 10 unhealthy-or-worse days a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 44 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Fairbanks North Star County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Fairbanks North Star County with its Alaska neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Alaska
Based on 365 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
Keep exploring the annual AQI record
Air-quality reading list
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska? ▼
Fairbanks North Star County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 44, rated "Good." 56.4% of monitored days (206 out of 365) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Fairbanks North Star County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Fairbanks North Star County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 276 days (76% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Fairbanks North Star County have? ▼
In 2025, Fairbanks North Star County recorded 10 unhealthy air days (10 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 190.
Is the air quality in Fairbanks North Star County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Fairbanks North Star County is worsening across floor-qualifying years (2020-2025); years with fewer than 100 monitored days are excluded from that direction. Highest qualifying Good-day share: 2020 at 63.1% (231 of 366 days). Lowest qualifying Good-day share: 2025 at 56.4% (206 of 365 days).
What does AQI 44 mean for health? ▼
Fairbanks North Star County's median AQI of 44 falls in the "Good" category. See the AQI category guide for what each range means for health.
How does Fairbanks North Star County compare to other counties in Alaska? ▼
Fairbanks North Star County has 56.4% good air days. Nearby counties in Alaska: Aleutians East (99.0% good), Anchorage (79.2% good), Denali (99.7% good), Juneau (84.3% good), Kenai Peninsula (100.0% good), Matanuska-Susitna (91.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Fairbanks North Star County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Fairbanks North Star County is 85, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 190 (Unhealthy).
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. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by county summary files for Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska · 2020–2025
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Every figure on PlainAirData 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.