Median AQI
36
Good
Georgia · County air quality · 2024
Columbia County, Georgia
Median AQI 36 (Good). 94.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 36
- Median AQI
- 94.2%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 87%
- Cleaner than US counties
Columbia County's 2024 annual median AQI is 36 (Good), with 94.2% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, Columbia County, Georgia posted a 2024 median AQI of 36 (Good) across 172 monitored days, with 94.2% 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
- Columbia County's 94.2% Good-day share places it cleaner than 87% of US counties in 2024.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Sumter County (93.4% Good, median AQI 38) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Columbia County.
- 2020–2024 trend
- Columbia County's floor-qualifying Good-day share is worsening from 2020 to 2024 (99.2% → 94.2%).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 36
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Columbia County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 36 with 94.2% of 172 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 36
- median AQI · Good
- 94.2%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 87%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 90.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2024 EPA annual release
- Columbia County's Good-day share fell from 96.3% to 94.2% between the 2023 and 2024 EPA annual releases, a change of -2.1 percentage points.
- Columbia County's peak single-day AQI rose from 74 to 90 between the 2023 and 2024 EPA annual releases, a change of +16 points.
Data updated August 2026
- Good · 162 d · 94.2%
- Moderate · 10 d · 5.8%
How did Columbia County's air break down in 2024?
Across 172 monitored days, 162 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 90 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2024). 172 days monitored. Median AQI: 36 (Good).
Insights: Columbia County, Georgia. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 172 measured days in 2024, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 162 (94%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 10 (6%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 48, while the worst single-day peak hit 90 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 28.3 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (172 days). Across the 2020–2024 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by -5.0 points (measured against 241 monitored days in 2020 and 172 in 2024, so raw day counts are not comparable) and the median AQI moved +5 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2024 window was AQI 90, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Bibb (42.7% good, AQI 52); Charlton (92.6% good, AQI 27); Chatham (58.6% good, AQI 47); Chattooga (96.3% good, AQI 39); Clarke (57.8% good, AQI 46); Clayton (54.1% good, AQI 48).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
94.2%
162 of 172 monitored days
19.2pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
90
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 48
Columbia County, Good days share 94.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Columbia 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 172 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
162
94%
Moderate
10
6%
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 Columbia County.
- Ozone · 172 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Columbia County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 94.2% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2024.
Air quality was acceptable on 94.2% of monitored days in 2024, with a median AQI of 36. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 172 of 172 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Columbia County. Highest Good-day share: 2020 (99.2%, 239 of 241 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 239 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 51 |
| 2021 | 239 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 67 |
| 2022 | 238 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 71 |
| 2023 | 233 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 74 |
| 2024 | 162 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 90 |
How does Columbia County compare?
How Columbia County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Columbia County 94.2%
Sumter County, Georgia 93.4%
US average 76.0%
Median AQI better than US avg
Columbia County 36
Sumter County, Georgia 38
US average 39
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Columbia County 0
Sumter County, Georgia 0
US average 1
Counties with a similar median AQI
Nationwide peers within about the same annual median AQI as Columbia County (36), not geographic neighbors.
Sumter County, Georgia
Median AQI 38 · 93.4% Good-day share
Big Horn County, Wyoming
Median AQI 39 · 89.2% Good-day share
Chattooga County, Georgia
Median AQI 39 · 96.3% Good-day share
San Francisco County, California
Median AQI 33 · 76.0% Good-day share
Weston County, Wyoming
Median AQI 39 · 87.7% Good-day share
Jefferson County, Oklahoma
Median AQI 42 · 81.0% Good-day share
Same primary pollutant: Ozone
Ozone 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).
Georgia counties on the map
Geographic containment only, other monitored counties in Georgia, independent of AQI or pollutant match.
What Columbia 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 36 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Columbia County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Columbia County with its Georgia neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Georgia
Based on 172 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 Columbia County, Georgia? ▼
Columbia County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 94.2% of monitored days (162 out of 172) had good air quality in 2024.
What is the main pollutant in Columbia County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Columbia County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 172 days (100% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Columbia County have? ▼
In 2024, Columbia County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 90.
Is the air quality in Columbia County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Columbia County is worsening across floor-qualifying years (2020-2024); years with fewer than 100 monitored days are excluded from that direction. Highest qualifying Good-day share: 2020 at 99.2% (239 of 241 days). Lowest qualifying Good-day share: 2024 at 94.2% (162 of 172 days).
What does AQI 36 mean for health? ▼
Columbia County's median AQI of 36 falls in the "Good" category. See the AQI category guide for what each range means for health.
How does Columbia County compare to other counties in Georgia? ▼
Columbia County has 94.2% good air days. Nearby counties in Georgia: Bibb (42.7% good), Charlton (92.6% good), Chatham (58.6% good), Chattooga (96.3% good), Clarke (57.8% good), Clayton (54.1% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Columbia County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Columbia County is 48, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 90 (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. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by county summary files for Columbia County, Georgia · 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.