Median AQI
46
Good
Illinois · County air quality · 2025
Kane County, Illinois
Median AQI 46 (Good). 60.8% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 46
- Median AQI
- 60.8%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 16%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Kane County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 46 with 60.8% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 46
- median AQI · Good
- 60.8%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 16%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 165.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 166 d · 60.8%
- Moderate · 98 d · 35.9%
- USG · 8 d · 2.9%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Kane County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 166 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 165 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 46 (Good).
Insights: Kane County, Illinois. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 46 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 166 (61%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 98 (36%) registered Moderate readings, and 8 (3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 83, while the worst single-day peak hit 165 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 18.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (142 days), Ozone (131 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -38 and the median AQI moved +4 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Adams (94.4% good, AQI 38); Champaign (63.7% good, AQI 44); Clark (92.1% good, AQI 36); Cook (40.5% good, AQI 53); DuPage (61.2% good, AQI 44); Effingham (95.7% good, AQI 35).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
60.8%
166 of 273 monitored days
-14.2pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
165
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 83
Kane County, Good days share 60.8%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Kane County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.4%
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
166
61%
Moderate
98
36%
USG
8
3%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Kane County.
- PM2.5 · 142 days · 52.0%
- Ozone · 131 days · 48.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Kane County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 60.8% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 8 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 165. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 142 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Kane County. Best year: 2024 (237 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 204 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 42 | 161 |
| 2021 | 188 | 96 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 112 |
| 2022 | 189 | 93 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 129 |
| 2023 | 178 | 89 | 16 | 5 | 46 | 174 |
| 2024 | 237 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 105 |
| 2025 | 166 | 98 | 8 | 1 | 46 | 165 |
How does Kane County compare?
How Kane County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Kane County 60.8%
Adams County, Illinois 94.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Kane County 46
Adams County, Illinois 38
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Kane County 1
Adams County, Illinois 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Illinois
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Illinois.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Kane County.
Bay County, Florida
AQI 46 · 60.6% good
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
What Kane County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 1 unhealthy-or-worse day a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- 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 Kane County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Kane County with its Illinois neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Illinois
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 Kane County, Illinois? ▼
Kane County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 60.8% of monitored days (166 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Kane County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Kane County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 142 days (52% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Kane County have? ▼
In 2025, Kane County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 165.
Is the air quality in Kane County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Kane County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 237 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 166 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
Kane 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 Kane County compare to other counties in Illinois? ▼
Kane County has 60.8% good air days. Nearby counties in Illinois: Adams (94.4% good), Champaign (63.7% good), Clark (92.1% good), Cook (40.5% good), DuPage (61.2% good), Effingham (95.7% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Kane County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Kane County is 83, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 165 (Unhealthy).
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.