Median AQI
46
Good
Florida · County air quality · 2025
Bay County, Florida
Median AQI 46 (Good). 60.6% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 46
- Median AQI
- 60.6%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 15%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Bay County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 46 with 60.6% of 269 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 46
- median AQI · Good
- 60.6%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 15%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 92.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 163 d · 60.6%
- Moderate · 106 d · 39.4%
How did Bay County's air break down in 2025?
Across 269 monitored days, 163 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 92 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 269 days monitored. Median AQI: 46 (Good).
Insights: Bay County, Florida. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 46 across 269 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 163 (61%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 106 (39%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 58, while the worst single-day peak hit 92 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 18.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (204 days), Ozone (65 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -47 and the median AQI moved -1 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 92, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Alachua (90.1% good, AQI 37); Baker (69.1% good, AQI 45); Brevard (89.7% good, AQI 37); Broward (72.4% good, AQI 43); Citrus (67.8% good, AQI 44); Collier (67.4% good, AQI 43).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
60.6%
163 of 269 monitored days
-14.4pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
92
Moderate
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 58
Bay County, Good days share 60.6%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Bay 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 269 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
163
61%
Moderate
106
39%
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 Bay County.
- PM2.5 · 204 days · 75.8%
- Ozone · 65 days · 24.2%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Bay County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 60.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 60.6% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 46. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 204 of 269 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Bay County. Best year: 2021 (228 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 210 | 151 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 146 |
| 2021 | 228 | 137 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 78 |
| 2022 | 218 | 147 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 99 |
| 2023 | 176 | 189 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 95 |
| 2024 | 214 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 215 |
| 2025 | 163 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 92 |
How does Bay County compare?
How Bay County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Bay County 60.6%
Alachua County, Florida 90.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Bay County 46
Alachua County, Florida 37
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Bay County 0
Alachua County, Florida 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Florida
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Florida.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Bay County.
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
Cochise County, Arizona
AQI 46 · 65.6% good
What Bay 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 46 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Bay County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Bay County with its Florida neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Florida
Based on 269 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 Bay County, Florida? ▼
Bay County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 60.6% of monitored days (163 out of 269) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Bay County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Bay County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 204 days (76% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Bay County have? ▼
In 2025, Bay County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 92.
Is the air quality in Bay County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Bay County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2021 with 228 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 163 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
Bay 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 Bay County compare to other counties in Florida? ▼
Bay County has 60.6% good air days. Nearby counties in Florida: Alachua (90.1% good), Baker (69.1% good), Brevard (89.7% good), Broward (72.4% good), Citrus (67.8% good), Collier (67.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Bay County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Bay County is 58, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 92 (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.