Median AQI
59
Moderate
California · County air quality · 2025
Tulare County, California
Median AQI 59 (Moderate). 29.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 59
- Median AQI
- 29.7%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 1%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Tulare County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 59 with 29.7% of 232 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 59
- median AQI · Moderate
- 29.7%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 1%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 140.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 69 d · 29.7%
- Moderate · 133 d · 57.3%
- USG · 30 d · 12.9%
How did Tulare County's air break down in 2025?
Across 232 monitored days, 69 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 140 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 232 days monitored. Median AQI: 59 (Moderate).
Insights: Tulare County, California. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 59 across 232 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Poor health grade. Of those days, 69 (30%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 133 (57%) registered Moderate readings, and 30 (13%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 105, while the worst single-day peak hit 140 (USG). Residents averaged about 8.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (138 days), PM2.5 (93 days), PM10 (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by +17 and the median AQI moved -21 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 140, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Amador (84.8% good, AQI 40); Butte (66.1% good, AQI 47); Calaveras (73.9% good, AQI 43); Colusa (84.9% good, AQI 39); Del Norte (81.0% good, AQI 33); El Dorado (85.8% good, AQI 39).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
29.7%
69 of 232 monitored days
-45.3pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
140
USG
Health Grade
Poor
90th-pct AQI 105
Tulare County, Good days share 29.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Tulare 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 232 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
69
30%
Moderate
133
57%
USG
30
13%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Tulare County.
- Ozone · 138 days · 59.5%
- PM2.5 · 93 days · 40.1%
- PM10 · 1 days · 0.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Poor
Tulare County's air quality is rated Poor based on 29.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 30 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150). Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 138 of 232 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Tulare County. Best year: 2023 (94 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 52 | 179 | 103 | 30 | 80 | 225 |
| 2021 | 49 | 182 | 93 | 38 | 81 | 961 |
| 2022 | 58 | 193 | 106 | 8 | 77 | 182 |
| 2023 | 94 | 189 | 61 | 19 | 69 | 242 |
| 2024 | 76 | 179 | 83 | 28 | 71 | 185 |
| 2025 | 69 | 133 | 30 | 0 | 59 | 140 |
How does Tulare County compare?
How Tulare County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Tulare County 29.7%
Amador County, California 84.8%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Tulare County 59
Amador County, California 40
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Tulare County 0
Amador County, California 0
US average 0
Other Counties in California
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in California.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Tulare County.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
AQI 59 · 23.7% good
Kern County, California
AQI 61 · 23.8% good
Tarrant County, Texas
AQI 56 · 31.5% good
Butler County, Ohio
AQI 55 · 33.3% good
Cameron County, Texas
AQI 55 · 31.7% good
Harris County, Texas
AQI 63 · 8.8% good
What Tulare County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with Ozone the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 59 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Tulare County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Tulare County with its California neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of California
Based on 232 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 Tulare County, California? ▼
Tulare County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 59, rated "Moderate." 29.7% of monitored days (69 out of 232) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Tulare County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Tulare County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 138 days (59% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Tulare County have? ▼
In 2025, Tulare County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 140.
Is the air quality in Tulare County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Tulare County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 94 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 49 good days.
What does AQI 59 mean for health? ▼
Tulare County's median AQI of 59 falls in the "Moderate" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Tulare County compare to other counties in California? ▼
Tulare County has 29.7% good air days. Nearby counties in California: Amador (84.8% good), Butte (66.1% good), Calaveras (73.9% good), Colusa (84.9% good), Del Norte (81.0% good), El Dorado (85.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Tulare County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Tulare County is 105, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 140 (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.
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.