Median AQI
46
Good
Arizona · County air quality · 2025
Cochise County, Arizona
Median AQI 46 (Good). 65.6% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 46
- Median AQI
- 65.6%
- Good-air days
- 2
- Unhealthy days
- 23%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Cochise County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 46 with 65.6% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 46
- median AQI · Good
- 65.6%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 23%
- cleaner than US counties
2 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 328.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 179 d · 65.6%
- Moderate · 90 d · 33.0%
- USG · 2 d · 0.7%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
- Hazardous · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Cochise County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 179 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 2 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 328 (Hazardous).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 46 (Good).
Insights: Cochise County, Arizona. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 46 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 179 (66%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 90 (33%) registered Moderate readings, and 2 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 77, while the worst single-day peak hit 328 (Hazardous). Residents averaged about 19.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (190 days), PM10 (83 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -92 and the median AQI moved +1 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 2 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Apache (99.6% good, AQI 14); 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
65.6%
179 of 273 monitored days
-9.4pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
328
Hazardous
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 77
Cochise County, Good days share 65.6%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Cochise County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.7%
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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
179
66%
Moderate
90
33%
USG
2
1%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
1
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Cochise County.
- Ozone · 190 days · 69.6%
- PM10 · 83 days · 30.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Cochise County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 65.6% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality posed significant health risk in 2025. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, pregnant women, and adults over 65, should monitor AirNow.gov alerts and limit outdoor activity on Unhealthy (AQI 151+) and Very Unhealthy (201+) days. Peak readings reached AQI 328, well into the Hazardous range.
Sensitive group advisory
People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 190 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Cochise County. Best year: 2022 (291 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 271 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 108 |
| 2021 | 259 | 104 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 105 |
| 2022 | 291 | 73 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 101 |
| 2023 | 272 | 90 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 108 |
| 2024 | 225 | 128 | 11 | 1 | 48 | 307 |
| 2025 | 179 | 90 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 328 |
How does Cochise County compare?
How Cochise County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Cochise County 65.6%
Apache County, Arizona 99.6%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Cochise County 46
Apache County, Arizona 14
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Cochise County 2
Apache County, Arizona 0
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 Cochise County.
Bay County, Florida
AQI 46 · 60.6% good
Blount County, Tennessee
AQI 46 · 69.6% good
Cache County, Utah
AQI 46 · 61.2% good
Chesterfield County, South Carolina
AQI 46 · 61.2% good
Clark County, Indiana
AQI 46 · 59.7% good
Clark County, Ohio
AQI 46 · 59.4% good
What Cochise County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone drives 2 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-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 46 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Cochise County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Cochise County with its Arizona neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Arizona
Based on 273 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 Cochise County, Arizona? ▼
Cochise County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 65.6% of monitored days (179 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Cochise County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Cochise County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 190 days (70% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Cochise County have? ▼
In 2025, Cochise County recorded 2 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 1 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 328.
Is the air quality in Cochise County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Cochise County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 291 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 179 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
Cochise County's median AQI of 46 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 Cochise County compare to other counties in Arizona? ▼
Cochise County has 65.6% good air days. Nearby counties in Arizona: Apache (99.6% 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 Cochise County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Cochise County is 77, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 328 (Hazardous).
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.