Median AQI
35
Good
Michigan · County air quality · 2025
Benzie County, Michigan
Median AQI 35 (Good). 91.1% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 35
- Median AQI
- 91.1%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 78%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Benzie County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 35 with 91.1% of 214 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 35
- median AQI · Good
- 91.1%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 78%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 80.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 195 d · 91.1%
- Moderate · 19 d · 8.9%
How did Benzie County's air break down in 2025?
Across 214 monitored days, 195 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 80 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 214 days monitored. Median AQI: 35 (Good).
Insights: Benzie County, Michigan. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 35 across 214 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 195 (91%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 19 (9%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 50, while the worst single-day peak hit 80 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 27.3 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (214 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -49 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 80, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Allegan (71.2% good, AQI 43); Bay (71.8% good, AQI 38); Berrien (80.9% good, AQI 41); Cass (85.3% good, AQI 40); Clinton (90.2% good, AQI 39); Genesee (83.2% good, AQI 38).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
91.1%
195 of 214 monitored days
16.1pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
80
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 50
Benzie County, Good days share 91.1%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Benzie 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 214 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
195
91%
Moderate
19
9%
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 Benzie County.
- Ozone · 214 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Benzie County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 91.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 91.1% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 35. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 214 of 214 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Benzie County. Best year: 2020 (244 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 244 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 164 |
| 2021 | 222 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100 |
| 2022 | 218 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 151 |
| 2023 | 198 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 156 |
| 2024 | 216 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 101 |
| 2025 | 195 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 80 |
How does Benzie County compare?
How Benzie County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Benzie County 91.1%
Allegan County, Michigan 71.2%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Benzie County 35
Allegan County, Michigan 43
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Benzie County 0
Allegan County, Michigan 1
US average 0
Other Counties in Michigan
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Michigan.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Benzie County.
Androscoggin County, Maine
AQI 35 · 85.5% good
Asotin County, Washington
AQI 35 · 73.8% good
Benton County, Washington
AQI 35 · 88.9% good
Brooke County, West Virginia
AQI 35 · 79.3% good
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
AQI 35 · 87.5% good
Carlton County, Minnesota
AQI 35 · 92.9% good
What Benzie 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 35 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Benzie County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Benzie County with its Michigan neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Michigan
Based on 214 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 Benzie County, Michigan? ▼
Benzie County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 35, rated "Good." 91.1% of monitored days (195 out of 214) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Benzie County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Benzie County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 214 days (100% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Benzie County have? ▼
In 2025, Benzie County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 80.
Is the air quality in Benzie County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Benzie County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 244 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 195 good days.
What does AQI 35 mean for health? ▼
Benzie County's median AQI of 35 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 Benzie County compare to other counties in Michigan? ▼
Benzie County has 91.1% good air days. Nearby counties in Michigan: Allegan (71.2% good), Bay (71.8% good), Berrien (80.9% good), Cass (85.3% good), Clinton (90.2% good), Genesee (83.2% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Benzie County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Benzie County is 50, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 80 (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.