Median AQI
36
Good
Kentucky · County air quality · 2025
Pike County, Kentucky
Median AQI 36 (Good). 86.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 36
- Median AQI
- 86.7%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 69%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Pike County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 36 with 86.7% of 181 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 36
- median AQI · Good
- 86.7%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 69%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 77.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 157 d · 86.7%
- Moderate · 24 d · 13.3%
How did Pike County's air break down in 2025?
Across 181 monitored days, 157 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 77 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 181 days monitored. Median AQI: 36 (Good).
Insights: Pike County, Kentucky. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 181 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 157 (87%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 24 (13%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 52, while the worst single-day peak hit 77 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 26.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (100 days), Ozone (81 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -153 and the median AQI moved -1 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 77, 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
86.7%
157 of 181 monitored days
11.7pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
77
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 52
Pike County, Good days share 86.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Pike 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 181 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
157
87%
Moderate
24
13%
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 Pike County.
- PM2.5 · 100 days · 55.2%
- Ozone · 81 days · 44.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Pike County's air quality is rated Good based on 86.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 86.7% 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 100 of 181 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Pike County. Best year: 2020 (310 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 310 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 93 |
| 2021 | 273 | 91 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 164 |
| 2022 | 296 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 92 |
| 2023 | 286 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 127 |
| 2024 | 285 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 79 |
| 2025 | 157 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 77 |
How does Pike County compare?
How Pike County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Pike County 86.7%
Bell County, Kentucky 63.5%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Pike County 36
Bell County, Kentucky 43
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Pike 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 Pike County.
Aroostook County, Maine
AQI 36 · 84.1% good
Berkeley County, South Carolina
AQI 36 · 92.2% good
Carter County, Kentucky
AQI 36 · 89.8% good
Claiborne County, Tennessee
AQI 36 · 96.3% good
Clark County, Illinois
AQI 36 · 92.1% good
Cobb County, Georgia
AQI 36 · 92.5% good
What Pike 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 Pike County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Pike County with its Kentucky neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Kentucky
Based on 181 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 Pike County, Kentucky? ▼
Pike County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 86.7% of monitored days (157 out of 181) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Pike County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Pike County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 100 days (55% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Pike County have? ▼
In 2025, Pike County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 77.
Is the air quality in Pike County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Pike County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 310 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 157 good days.
What does AQI 36 mean for health? ▼
Pike 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 Pike County compare to other counties in Kentucky? ▼
Pike County has 86.7% 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 Pike County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Pike County is 52, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 77 (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.