Median AQI
50
Good
Arizona · County air quality · 2025
Gila County, Arizona
Median AQI 50 (Good). 52.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 50
- Median AQI
- 52.0%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 8%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Gila County's air is good on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 50 with 52.0% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 50
- median AQI · Good
- 52.0%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 8%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 196.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 142 d · 52.0%
- Moderate · 116 d · 42.5%
- USG · 14 d · 5.1%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Gila County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 142 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 196 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 50 (Good).
Insights: Gila County, Arizona. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 50 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 142 (52%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 116 (42%) registered Moderate readings, and 14 (5%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 93, while the worst single-day peak hit 196 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 15.6 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (230 days), PM10 (43 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -114 and the median AQI moved +6 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 1 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); Cochise (65.6% good, AQI 46); Coconino (62.5% good, AQI 48); La Paz (68.6% good, AQI 47); Maricopa (16.4% good, AQI 71); Mohave (93.4% good, AQI 19).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
52.0%
142 of 273 monitored days
-23.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
196
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 93
Gila County, Good days share 52.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Gila County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.4%
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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
142
52%
Moderate
116
42%
USG
14
5%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Gila County.
- Ozone · 230 days · 84.2%
- PM10 · 43 days · 15.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Gila County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 52.0% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 14 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 196. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 230 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Gila County. Best year: 2020 (256 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 256 | 99 | 8 | 3 | 44 | 174 |
| 2021 | 239 | 116 | 8 | 2 | 46 | 180 |
| 2022 | 245 | 102 | 16 | 2 | 45 | 177 |
| 2023 | 232 | 121 | 11 | 1 | 46 | 154 |
| 2024 | 193 | 144 | 27 | 2 | 50 | 159 |
| 2025 | 142 | 116 | 14 | 1 | 50 | 196 |
How does Gila County compare?
How Gila County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Gila County 52.0%
Apache County, Arizona 99.6%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Gila County 50
Apache County, Arizona 14
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Gila County 1
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 Gila County.
Adams County, Colorado
AQI 50 · 50.2% good
Albany County, Wyoming
AQI 50 · 51.9% good
Boulder County, Colorado
AQI 50 · 50.9% good
Davidson County, North Carolina
AQI 50 · 50.2% good
Davidson County, Tennessee
AQI 50 · 51.8% good
Jefferson County, Ohio
AQI 50 · 50.5% good
What Gila County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone drives 1 unhealthy-or-worse day 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 50 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Gila County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Gila 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 Gila County, Arizona? ▼
Gila County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50, rated "Good." 52.0% of monitored days (142 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Gila County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Gila County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 230 days (84% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Gila County have? ▼
In 2025, Gila County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 196.
Is the air quality in Gila County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Gila County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 256 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 142 good days.
What does AQI 50 mean for health? ▼
Gila County's median AQI of 50 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 Gila County compare to other counties in Arizona? ▼
Gila County has 52.0% good air days. Nearby counties in Arizona: Apache (99.6% good), Cochise (65.6% good), Coconino (62.5% good), La Paz (68.6% good), Maricopa (16.4% good), Mohave (93.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Gila County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Gila County is 93, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 196 (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.