Indiana · County air quality · 2025

Monroe County, Indiana

Median AQI 36 (Good). 71.8% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.

36
Median AQI
71.8%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
35%
Cleaner than US counties

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Monroe County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 36 with 71.8% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.

36
median AQI · Good
71.8%
days rated Good
PM2.5
main pollutant
35%
cleaner than US counties

Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 84.

Data updated July 2026

Monroe County AQI category distribution Stacked-segment bar showing the share of monitored days that fell in each EPA AQI category, Good, Moderate, USG, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, Hazardous, with median AQI marker. AQI category distribution 273 monitored days G M Median AQI 36 0 50 100 150 200 300 500 Monroe County
  • Good · 196 d · 71.8%
  • Moderate · 77 d · 28.2%

How did Monroe County's air break down in 2025?

Across 273 monitored days, 196 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: 36 (Good).

Insights: Monroe County, Indiana. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 196 (72%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 77 (28%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 59, while the worst single-day peak hit 84 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 21.5 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.

The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (273 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -44 and the median AQI moved -5 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 84, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Allen (58.2% good, AQI 45); Bartholomew (69.2% good, AQI 44); Boone (86.9% good, AQI 38); Brown (94.5% good, AQI 37); Carroll (87.8% good, AQI 37); Clark (59.7% good, AQI 46).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

36

Good

Good Days

71.8%

196 of 273 monitored days

-3.2pp vs 75% target

Max AQI Recorded

84

Moderate

Health Grade

Moderate

90th-pct AQI 59

Monroe County, Good days share 71.8%
National avg

Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).

Monroe 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

196

72%

Moderate

77

28%

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 Monroe County.

Monroe County, Indiana criteria pollutant distribution Stratified-band visualization showing the share of monitored days each criteria pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO) was the primary AQI driver. PM2.5 · 100.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Monroe County, Indiana · 273 monitored days Criteria pollutant column
  • PM2.5 · 273 days · 100.0%
Fine Particles (PM2.5) 273 days (100%)

How PM2.5 affects health →

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

Monroe County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 71.8% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality was acceptable on 71.8% of monitored days in 2025, 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 PM2.5, driving AQI on 273 of 273 monitored days.

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in Monroe County. Best year: 2024 (290 good days).

Year Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 240 117 0 0 41
2021 223 129 0 0 43
2022 265 82 0 0 38
2023 245 115 3 1 40
2024 290 69 0 0 34
2025 196 77 0 0 36

How does Monroe County compare?

How Monroe County compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Monroe County 71.8%
Allen County, Indiana 58.2%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Monroe County 36
Allen County, Indiana 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Monroe County 0
Allen County, Indiana 0
US average 0

Other Counties in Indiana

Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Indiana.

Counties with Similar Air Quality

Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Monroe County.

What Monroe 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 36 means for exposure. Health guidance
  • See how Monroe County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
  • Compare Monroe County with its Indiana neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Indiana

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 Monroe County, Indiana?
Monroe County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 71.8% of monitored days (196 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Monroe County?
The primary pollutant in Monroe County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 273 days (100% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Monroe County have?
In 2025, Monroe County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 84.
Is the air quality in Monroe County getting better or worse?
Air quality in Monroe County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 290 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 196 good days.
What does AQI 36 mean for health?
Monroe County's median AQI of 36 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 Monroe County compare to other counties in Indiana?
Monroe County has 71.8% good air days. Nearby counties in Indiana: Allen (58.2% good), Bartholomew (69.2% good), Boone (86.9% good), Brown (94.5% good), Carroll (87.8% good), Clark (59.7% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Monroe County?
The 90th percentile AQI for Monroe County is 59, 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.