Median AQI
26
Good
Kansas · County air quality · 2025
Ford County, Kansas
Median AQI 26 (Good). 89.4% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 26
- Median AQI
- 89.4%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 75%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Ford County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 26 with 89.4% of 180 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 26
- median AQI · Good
- 89.4%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 75%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 115.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 161 d · 89.4%
- Moderate · 18 d · 10.0%
- USG · 1 d · 0.6%
How did Ford County's air break down in 2025?
Across 180 monitored days, 161 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 115 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 180 days monitored. Median AQI: 26 (Good).
Insights: Ford County, Kansas. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 26 across 180 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 161 (89%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 18 (10%) registered Moderate readings, and 1 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 52, while the worst single-day peak hit 115 (USG). Residents averaged about 26.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (145 days), PM10 (35 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -136 and the median AQI moved +15 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 115, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Chase (88.9% good, AQI 22); Douglas (90.7% good, AQI 41); Johnson (71.8% good, AQI 43); Leavenworth (93.9% good, AQI 36); Neosho (73.5% good, AQI 43); Sedgwick (58.6% good, AQI 48).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
89.4%
161 of 180 monitored days
14.4pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
115
USG
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 52
Ford County, Good days share 89.4%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Ford 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 180 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
161
89%
Moderate
18
10%
USG
1
1%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Ford County.
- PM2.5 · 145 days · 80.6%
- PM10 · 35 days · 19.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Ford County's air quality is rated Good based on 89.4% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 89.4% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 26. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 145 of 180 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Ford County. Best year: 2021 (353 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 297 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 79 |
| 2021 | 353 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 80 |
| 2022 | 339 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 169 |
| 2023 | 289 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 147 |
| 2024 | 317 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 80 |
| 2025 | 161 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 115 |
How does Ford County compare?
How Ford County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Ford County 89.4%
Chase County, Kansas 88.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Ford County 26
Chase County, Kansas 22
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Ford County 0
Chase County, Kansas 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Kansas
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Kansas.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Ford County.
Clallam County, Washington
AQI 26 · 88.5% good
Grant County, Washington
AQI 26 · 89.7% good
Harney County, Oregon
AQI 26 · 70.7% good
Taney County, Missouri
AQI 26 · 100.0% good
Thurston County, Washington
AQI 26 · 98.1% good
Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
AQI 26 · 83.1% good
What Ford 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 26 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Ford County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Ford County with its Kansas neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Kansas
Based on 180 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 Ford County, Kansas? ▼
Ford County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 26, rated "Good." 89.4% of monitored days (161 out of 180) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Ford County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Ford County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 145 days (81% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Ford County have? ▼
In 2025, Ford County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 115.
Is the air quality in Ford County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Ford County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2021 with 353 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 161 good days.
What does AQI 26 mean for health? ▼
Ford County's median AQI of 26 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 Ford County compare to other counties in Kansas? ▼
Ford County has 89.4% good air days. Nearby counties in Kansas: Chase (88.9% good), Douglas (90.7% good), Johnson (71.8% good), Leavenworth (93.9% good), Neosho (73.5% good), Sedgwick (58.6% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Ford County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Ford County is 52, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 115 (USG).
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.