Median AQI
47
Good
Florida · County air quality · 2025
Sarasota County, Florida
Median AQI 47 (Good). 59.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 47
- Median AQI
- 59.7%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 14%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Sarasota County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 47 with 59.7% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 47
- median AQI · Good
- 59.7%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 14%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 84.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 163 d · 59.7%
- Moderate · 110 d · 40.3%
How did Sarasota County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 163 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 84 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 47 (Good).
Insights: Sarasota County, Florida. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 47 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 163 (60%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 110 (40%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 60, while the worst single-day peak hit 84 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 17.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (183 days), Ozone (90 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -81 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 84, 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
59.7%
163 of 273 monitored days
-15.3pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
84
Moderate
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 60
Sarasota County, Good days share 59.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Sarasota 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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
163
60%
Moderate
110
40%
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 Sarasota County.
- PM2.5 · 183 days · 67.0%
- Ozone · 90 days · 33.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Sarasota County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 59.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 59.7% of monitored days in 2025, 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 183 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Sarasota County. Best year: 2020 (244 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 244 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 90 |
| 2021 | 241 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 90 |
| 2022 | 234 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 100 |
| 2023 | 232 | 132 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 143 |
| 2024 | 242 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 115 |
| 2025 | 163 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 84 |
How does Sarasota County compare?
How Sarasota County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Sarasota County 59.7%
Alachua County, Florida 90.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Sarasota County 47
Alachua County, Florida 37
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Sarasota 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 Sarasota County.
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
AQI 47 · 54.3% good
Bell County, Texas
AQI 47 · 61.3% good
Bowie County, Texas
AQI 47 · 57.3% good
Bronx County, New York
AQI 47 · 56.6% good
Butte County, California
AQI 47 · 66.1% good
Calcasieu County, Louisiana
AQI 47 · 61.5% good
What Sarasota 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 Sarasota County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Sarasota County with its Florida neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Florida
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 Sarasota County, Florida? ▼
Sarasota County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 47, rated "Good." 59.7% of monitored days (163 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Sarasota County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Sarasota County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 183 days (67% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Sarasota County have? ▼
In 2025, Sarasota County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 84.
Is the air quality in Sarasota County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Sarasota County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 244 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 163 good days.
What does AQI 47 mean for health? ▼
Sarasota County's median AQI of 47 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 Sarasota County compare to other counties in Florida? ▼
Sarasota County has 59.7% 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 Sarasota County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Sarasota County is 60, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 84 (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.