Median AQI
34
Good
Florida · County air quality · 2025
Highlands County, Florida
Median AQI 34 (Good). 93.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 34
- Median AQI
- 93.2%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 84%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Highlands County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 34 with 93.2% of 265 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 34
- median AQI · Good
- 93.2%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 84%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 80.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 247 d · 93.2%
- Moderate · 18 d · 6.8%
How did Highlands County's air break down in 2025?
Across 265 monitored days, 247 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 80 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 265 days monitored. Median AQI: 34 (Good).
Insights: Highlands County, Florida. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 34 across 265 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 247 (93%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 18 (7%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 49, while the worst single-day peak hit 80 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 28.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (265 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -98 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 80, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Alachua (90.1% good, AQI 37); Baker (69.1% good, AQI 45); Bay (60.6% good, AQI 46); Brevard (89.7% good, AQI 37); Broward (72.4% good, AQI 43); Citrus (67.8% good, AQI 44).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
93.2%
247 of 265 monitored days
18.2pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
80
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 49
Highlands County, Good days share 93.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Highlands 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 265 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
247
93%
Moderate
18
7%
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 Highlands County.
- Ozone · 265 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Highlands County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 93.2% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 93.2% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 34. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 265 of 265 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Highlands County. Best year: 2023 (345 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 345 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 74 |
| 2021 | 344 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 93 |
| 2022 | 337 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 112 |
| 2023 | 345 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 108 |
| 2024 | 333 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 77 |
| 2025 | 247 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 80 |
How does Highlands County compare?
How Highlands County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Highlands County 93.2%
Alachua County, Florida 90.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Highlands County 34
Alachua County, Florida 37
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Highlands 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 Highlands County.
Belknap County, New Hampshire
AQI 34 · 87.9% good
Dyer County, Tennessee
AQI 34 · 79.4% good
Flagler County, Florida
AQI 34 · 97.4% good
Grant County, Oregon
AQI 34 · 66.7% good
Johnson County, Texas
AQI 34 · 91.6% good
Knox County, Maine
AQI 34 · 97.3% good
What Highlands 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 34 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Highlands County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Highlands County with its Florida neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Florida
Based on 265 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 Highlands County, Florida? ▼
Highlands County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 34, rated "Good." 93.2% of monitored days (247 out of 265) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Highlands County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Highlands County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 265 days (100% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Highlands County have? ▼
In 2025, Highlands County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 80.
Is the air quality in Highlands County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Highlands County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 345 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 247 good days.
What does AQI 34 mean for health? ▼
Highlands County's median AQI of 34 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 Highlands County compare to other counties in Florida? ▼
Highlands County has 93.2% good air days. Nearby counties in Florida: Alachua (90.1% good), Baker (69.1% good), Bay (60.6% good), Brevard (89.7% good), Broward (72.4% good), Citrus (67.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Highlands County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Highlands County is 49, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 80 (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.