Median AQI
47
Good
California · County air quality · 2024
Santa Clara County, California
Median AQI 47 (Good). 55.4% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 47
- Median AQI
- 55.4%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 13%
- Cleaner than US counties
Santa Clara County's 2024 annual median AQI is 47 (Good), with 55.4% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, Santa Clara County, California posted a 2024 median AQI of 47 (Good) across 363 monitored days, with 55.4% rated Good and 0 unhealthy or worse. This is an annual comparison, not today's advisory.
Data source EPA Air Quality System (AQS)
- Cleaner than US
- Santa Clara County's 55.4% Good-day share places it cleaner than 13% of US counties in 2024.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Contra Costa County (53.5% Good, median AQI 48) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Santa Clara County.
- 2020–2024 trend
- Santa Clara County's floor-qualifying Good-day share is improving from 2020 to 2024 (47.5% → 55.4%).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 47
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Santa Clara County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 47 with 55.4% of 363 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 47
- median AQI · Good
- 55.4%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 13%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 111.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2024 EPA annual release
- Santa Clara County's Good-day share fell from 65.8% to 55.4% between the 2023 and 2024 EPA annual releases, a change of -10.4 percentage points.
- Santa Clara County's peak single-day AQI fell from 134 to 111 between the 2023 and 2024 EPA annual releases, a change of -23 points.
- Santa Clara County's median AQI rose from 43 to 47 between the 2023 and 2024 EPA annual releases, a change of +4 points.
Data updated August 2026
- Good · 201 d · 55.4%
- Moderate · 161 d · 44.4%
- USG · 1 d · 0.3%
How did Santa Clara County's air break down in 2024?
Across 363 monitored days, 201 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 111 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2024). 363 days monitored. Median AQI: 47 (Good).
Insights: Santa Clara County, California. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 47 across 363 measured days in 2024, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 201 (55%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 161 (44%) registered Moderate readings, and 1 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 63, while the worst single-day peak hit 111 (USG). Residents averaged about 16.6 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (334 days), Ozone (28 days), NO2 (1 days). Across the 2020–2024 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by +7.8 points and the median AQI moved -5 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2024 window was AQI 111, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Alameda (53.0% good, AQI 49); Amador (87.4% good, AQI 38); Butte (65.2% good, AQI 46); Calaveras (82.2% good, AQI 40); Colusa (79.2% good, AQI 40); Contra Costa (53.5% good, AQI 48).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
55.4%
201 of 363 monitored days
-19.6pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
111
USG
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 63
Santa Clara County, Good days share 55.4%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Santa Clara 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 (2024)
Distribution of 363 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
201
55%
Moderate
161
44%
USG
1
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 Santa Clara County.
- PM2.5 · 334 days · 92.0%
- Ozone · 28 days · 7.7%
- NO₂ · 1 days · 0.3%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Santa Clara County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 55.4% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2024.
Air quality was acceptable on 55.4% of monitored days in 2024, with a median AQI of 47. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 334 of 363 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Santa Clara County. Highest Good-day share: 2023 (65.8%, 240 of 365 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 174 | 172 | 11 | 9 | 52 | 198 |
| 2021 | 147 | 211 | 7 | 0 | 53 | 147 |
| 2022 | 188 | 172 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 119 |
| 2023 | 240 | 121 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 134 |
| 2024 | 201 | 161 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 111 |
How does Santa Clara County compare?
How Santa Clara County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Santa Clara County 55.4%
Contra Costa County, California 53.5%
US average 76.0%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Santa Clara County 47
Contra Costa County, California 48
US average 39
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Santa Clara County 0
Contra Costa County, California 0
US average 1
Counties with a similar median AQI
Nationwide peers within about the same annual median AQI as Santa Clara County (47), not geographic neighbors.
Contra Costa County, California
Median AQI 48 · 53.5% Good-day share
Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Median AQI 46 · 72.7% Good-day share
Alameda County, California
Median AQI 49 · 53.0% Good-day share
Johnston County, Oklahoma
Median AQI 44 · 74.7% Good-day share
Yancey County, North Carolina
Median AQI 44 · 81.9% Good-day share
Pontotoc County, Oklahoma
Median AQI 43 · 71.6% 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).
California counties on the map
Geographic containment only, other monitored counties in California, independent of AQI or pollutant match.
What Santa Clara County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM2.5 the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 47 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Santa Clara County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Santa Clara County with its California neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of California
Based on 363 EPA-monitored days in 2024; 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 Santa Clara County, California? ▼
Santa Clara County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 47, rated "Good." 55.4% of monitored days (201 out of 363) had good air quality in 2024.
What is the main pollutant in Santa Clara County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Santa Clara County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 334 days (92% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Santa Clara County have? ▼
In 2024, Santa Clara County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 111.
Is the air quality in Santa Clara County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Santa Clara County is improving across floor-qualifying years (2020-2024); years with fewer than 100 monitored days are excluded from that direction. Highest qualifying Good-day share: 2023 at 65.8% (240 of 365 days). Lowest qualifying Good-day share: 2021 at 40.3% (147 of 365 days).
What does AQI 47 mean for health? ▼
Santa Clara County's median AQI of 47 falls in the "Good" category. See the AQI category guide for what each range means for health.
How does Santa Clara County compare to other counties in California? ▼
Santa Clara County has 55.4% good air days. Nearby counties in California: Alameda (53.0% good), Amador (87.4% good), Butte (65.2% good), Calaveras (82.2% good), Colusa (79.2% good), Contra Costa (53.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Santa Clara County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Santa Clara County is 63, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 111 (USG).
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 Santa Clara County, California · 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.