Median AQI
44
Good
Kentucky · County air quality · 2025
Hancock County, Kentucky
Median AQI 44 (Good). 82.8% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 44
- Median AQI
- 82.8%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 59%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Hancock County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 44 with 82.8% of 122 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 44
- median AQI · Good
- 82.8%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 59%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 71.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 101 d · 82.8%
- Moderate · 21 d · 17.2%
How did Hancock County's air break down in 2025?
Across 122 monitored days, 101 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 71 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 122 days monitored. Median AQI: 44 (Good).
Insights: Hancock County, Kentucky. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 44 across 122 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 101 (83%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 21 (17%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 58, while the worst single-day peak hit 71 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 24.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (122 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -132 and the median AQI moved +7 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 71, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Bell (63.5% good, AQI 43); Boone (95.1% good, AQI 38); Boyd (82.8% good, AQI 39); Bullitt (92.7% good, AQI 39); Campbell (78.5% good, AQI 39); Carter (89.8% good, AQI 36).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
82.8%
101 of 122 monitored days
7.8pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
71
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 58
Hancock County, Good days share 82.8%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Hancock 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 122 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
101
83%
Moderate
21
17%
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 Hancock County.
- Ozone · 122 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Hancock County's air quality is rated Good based on 82.8% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 82.8% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 44. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 122 of 122 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Hancock County. Best year: 2020 (233 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 233 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 97 |
| 2021 | 220 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 90 |
| 2022 | 219 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 108 |
| 2023 | 201 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 140 |
| 2024 | 200 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 100 |
| 2025 | 101 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 71 |
How does Hancock County compare?
How Hancock County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Hancock County 82.8%
Bell County, Kentucky 63.5%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Hancock County 44
Bell County, Kentucky 43
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Hancock County 0
Bell County, Kentucky 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Kentucky
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Kentucky.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Hancock County.
Baltimore County, Maryland
AQI 44 · 70.4% good
Baltimore (City) County, Maryland
AQI 44 · 68.7% good
Bartholomew County, Indiana
AQI 44 · 69.2% good
Berks County, Pennsylvania
AQI 44 · 65.6% good
Bolivar County, Mississippi
AQI 44 · 70.3% good
Brewster County, Texas
AQI 44 · 69.0% good
What Hancock 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 44 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Hancock County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Hancock County with its Kentucky neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Kentucky
Based on 122 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 Hancock County, Kentucky? ▼
Hancock County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 44, rated "Good." 82.8% of monitored days (101 out of 122) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Hancock County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Hancock County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 122 days (100% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Hancock County have? ▼
In 2025, Hancock County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 71.
Is the air quality in Hancock County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Hancock County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 233 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 101 good days.
What does AQI 44 mean for health? ▼
Hancock County's median AQI of 44 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 Hancock County compare to other counties in Kentucky? ▼
Hancock County has 82.8% good air days. Nearby counties in Kentucky: Bell (63.5% good), Boone (95.1% good), Boyd (82.8% good), Bullitt (92.7% good), Campbell (78.5% good), Carter (89.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Hancock County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Hancock County is 58, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 71 (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.