Median AQI
14
Good
Arizona · County air quality · 2025
Apache County, Arizona
Median AQI 14 (Good). 99.6% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 14
- Median AQI
- 99.6%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 96%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Apache County's air is good on balance, among the cleanest 5% of US counties, a median AQI of 14 with 99.6% of 270 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM10.
- 14
- median AQI · Good
- 99.6%
- days rated Good
- PM10
- main pollutant
- 96%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 52.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 269 d · 99.6%
- Moderate · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Apache County's air break down in 2025?
Across 270 monitored days, 269 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 52 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 270 days monitored. Median AQI: 14 (Good).
Insights: Apache County, Arizona. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 14 across 270 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 269 (100%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 1 (0%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 31, while the worst single-day peak hit 52 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 29.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM10 (270 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -87 and the median AQI moved +0 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 52, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Cochise (65.6% good, AQI 46); Coconino (62.5% good, AQI 48); Gila (52.0% good, AQI 50); La Paz (68.6% good, AQI 47); Maricopa (16.4% good, AQI 71); Mohave (93.4% good, AQI 19).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
99.6%
269 of 270 monitored days
24.6pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
52
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 31
Apache County, Good days share 99.6%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Apache 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 270 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
269
100%
Moderate
1
0%
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 Apache County.
- PM10 · 270 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Apache County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 99.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 99.6% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 14. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM10, driving AQI on 270 of 270 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Apache County. Best year: 2023 (362 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 356 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 63 |
| 2021 | 353 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 90 |
| 2022 | 359 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 57 |
| 2023 | 362 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 106 |
| 2024 | 350 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 57 |
| 2025 | 269 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 52 |
How does Apache County compare?
How Apache County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Apache County 99.6%
Cochise County, Arizona 65.6%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Apache County 14
Cochise County, Arizona 46
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Apache County 0
Cochise County, Arizona 2
US average 0
Other Counties in Arizona
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Arizona.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Apache County.
Dawson County, Montana
AQI 14 · 95.0% good
Gallatin County, Montana
AQI 14 · 99.1% good
Hughes County, South Dakota
AQI 14 · 94.4% good
Klickitat County, Washington
AQI 14 · 84.2% good
Park County, Wyoming
AQI 14 · 99.5% good
Platte County, Wyoming
AQI 14 · 87.7% good
What Apache County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM10 the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM10 days, the guide explains what a median of 14 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Apache County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Apache County with its Arizona neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Arizona
Based on 270 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 Apache County, Arizona? ▼
Apache County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 14, rated "Good." 99.6% of monitored days (269 out of 270) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Apache County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Apache County is Coarse Particles (PM10), which was the main AQI driver on 270 days (100% of monitored days). Irritates airways and can aggravate asthma and bronchitis.
How many unhealthy air days does Apache County have? ▼
In 2025, Apache County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 52.
Is the air quality in Apache County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Apache County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 362 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 269 good days.
What does AQI 14 mean for health? ▼
Apache County's median AQI of 14 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 Apache County compare to other counties in Arizona? ▼
Apache County has 99.6% good air days. Nearby counties in Arizona: Cochise (65.6% good), Coconino (62.5% good), Gila (52.0% good), La Paz (68.6% good), Maricopa (16.4% good), Mohave (93.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Apache County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Apache County is 31, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 52 (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.