Median AQI
41
Good
Kentucky · County air quality · 2025
Pulaski County, Kentucky
Median AQI 41 (Good). 84.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 41
- Median AQI
- 84.0%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 63%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Pulaski County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 41 with 84.0% of 181 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 41
- median AQI · Good
- 84.0%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 63%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 73.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 152 d · 84.0%
- Moderate · 29 d · 16.0%
How did Pulaski County's air break down in 2025?
Across 181 monitored days, 152 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 73 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 181 days monitored. Median AQI: 41 (Good).
Insights: Pulaski County, Kentucky. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 41 across 181 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 152 (84%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 29 (16%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 55, while the worst single-day peak hit 73 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 25.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (94 days), Ozone (87 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -94 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 73, 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
84.0%
152 of 181 monitored days
9.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
73
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 55
Pulaski County, Good days share 84.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Pulaski 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
152
84%
Moderate
29
16%
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 Pulaski County.
- PM2.5 · 94 days · 51.9%
- Ozone · 87 days · 48.1%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Pulaski County's air quality is rated Good based on 84.0% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 84.0% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 41. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 94 of 181 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Pulaski County. Best year: 2024 (292 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 246 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 77 |
| 2021 | 229 | 131 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 101 |
| 2022 | 259 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 82 |
| 2023 | 232 | 129 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 120 |
| 2024 | 292 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 68 |
| 2025 | 152 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 73 |
How does Pulaski County compare?
How Pulaski County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Pulaski County 84.0%
Bell County, Kentucky 63.5%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Pulaski County 41
Bell County, Kentucky 43
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Pulaski 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 Pulaski County.
Albemarle County, Virginia
AQI 41 · 77.9% good
Anderson County, South Carolina
AQI 41 · 90.0% good
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
AQI 41 · 71.6% good
Berrien County, Michigan
AQI 41 · 80.9% good
Blair County, Pennsylvania
AQI 41 · 71.9% good
Bonner County, Idaho
AQI 41 · 71.3% good
What Pulaski 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 41 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Pulaski County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Kentucky? ▼
Pulaski County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 84.0% of monitored days (152 out of 181) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Pulaski County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Pulaski County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 94 days (52% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Pulaski County have? ▼
In 2025, Pulaski County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 73.
Is the air quality in Pulaski County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Pulaski County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 292 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 152 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health? ▼
Pulaski County's median AQI of 41 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 Pulaski County compare to other counties in Kentucky? ▼
Pulaski County has 84.0% 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 Pulaski County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Pulaski County is 55, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 73 (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.