Median AQI
42
Good
Alaska · County air quality · 2025
Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska
Median AQI 42 (Good). 61.5% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 42
- Median AQI
- 61.5%
- Good-air days
- 4
- Unhealthy days
- 17%
- Cleaner than US counties
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 42 with 61.5% of 182 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 42
- median AQI · Good
- 61.5%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 17%
- cleaner than US counties
4 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 190.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 112 d · 61.5%
- Moderate · 60 d · 33.0%
- USG · 6 d · 3.3%
- Unhealthy · 4 d · 2.2%
How did Fairbanks North Star County's air break down in 2025?
Across 182 monitored days, 112 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 4 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 190 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 182 days monitored. Median AQI: 42 (Good).
Insights: Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 42 across 182 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 112 (62%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 60 (33%) registered Moderate readings, and 6 (3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 87, while the worst single-day peak hit 190 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 18.5 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (104 days), Ozone (77 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -119 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. Residents and visitors experienced 4 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Aleutians East (95.0% good, AQI 11); Anchorage (80.8% good, AQI 24); Denali (100.0% good, AQI 38); Juneau (85.1% good, AQI 21); Kenai Peninsula (100.0% good, AQI 8); Matanuska-Susitna (90.3% good, AQI 7).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
61.5%
112 of 182 monitored days
-13.5pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
190
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 87
Fairbanks North Star County, Good days share 61.5%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Fairbanks North Star County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 2.2%
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 182 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
112
62%
Moderate
60
33%
USG
6
3%
Unhealthy
4
2%
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 · 104 days · 57.1%
- Ozone · 77 days · 42.3%
- CO · 1 days · 0.5%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Fairbanks North Star County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 61.5% good air days. There were 4 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 6 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 104 of 182 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Fairbanks North Star County. Best year: 2020 (231 good 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 | 112 | 60 | 6 | 4 | 42 | 190 |
How does Fairbanks North Star County compare?
How Fairbanks North Star County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Fairbanks North Star County 61.5%
Aleutians East County, Alaska 95.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Fairbanks North Star County 42
Aleutians East County, Alaska 11
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Fairbanks North Star County 4
Aleutians East County, Alaska 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Alaska
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Alaska.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Fairbanks North Star 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
Baldwin County, Alabama
AQI 42 · 72.2% good
Belmont County, Ohio
AQI 42 · 63.0% good
What Fairbanks North Star County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 4 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 42 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 182 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 Fairbanks North Star County, Alaska? ▼
Fairbanks North Star County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 61.5% of monitored days (112 out of 182) 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 104 days (57% 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 4 unhealthy air days (4 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 stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 231 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 112 good days.
What does AQI 42 mean for health? ▼
Fairbanks North Star 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 Fairbanks North Star County compare to other counties in Alaska? ▼
Fairbanks North Star County has 61.5% good air days. Nearby counties in Alaska: Aleutians East (95.0% good), Anchorage (80.8% good), Denali (100.0% good), Juneau (85.1% good), Kenai Peninsula (100.0% good), Matanuska-Susitna (90.3% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Fairbanks North Star County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Fairbanks North Star County is 87, 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.
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.