Median AQI
38
Good
Minnesota · County air quality · 2025
Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Median AQI 38 (Good). 82.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 38
- Median AQI
- 82.7%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 59%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Blue Earth County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 38 with 82.7% of 173 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 38
- median AQI · Good
- 82.7%
- 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 100.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 143 d · 82.7%
- Moderate · 30 d · 17.3%
How did Blue Earth County's air break down in 2025?
Across 173 monitored days, 143 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 100 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 173 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).
Insights: Blue Earth County, Minnesota. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 173 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 143 (83%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 30 (17%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 61, while the worst single-day peak hit 100 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 24.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (112 days), PM2.5 (61 days). Across the 2024–2025 trend window, good days shifted by +53 and the median AQI moved -7 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2024–2025 window was AQI 100, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Anoka (82.1% good, AQI 38); Becker (84.7% good, AQI 38); Beltrami (88.8% good, AQI 37); Carlton (92.9% good, AQI 35); Cass (94.4% good, AQI 22); Cook (100.0% good, AQI 12).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
82.7%
143 of 173 monitored days
7.7pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
100
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 61
Blue Earth County, Good days share 82.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Blue Earth 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 173 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
143
83%
Moderate
30
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 Blue Earth County.
- Ozone · 112 days · 64.7%
- PM2.5 · 61 days · 35.3%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Blue Earth County's air quality is rated Good based on 82.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 82.7% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 38. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 112 of 173 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Blue Earth County. Best year: 2025 (143 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 80 |
| 2025 | 143 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 100 |
How does Blue Earth County compare?
How Blue Earth County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Blue Earth County 82.7%
Anoka County, Minnesota 82.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Blue Earth County 38
Anoka County, Minnesota 38
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Blue Earth County 0
Anoka County, Minnesota 1
US average 0
Other Counties in Minnesota
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Minnesota.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Blue Earth County.
Adams County, Illinois
AQI 38 · 94.4% good
Anoka County, Minnesota
AQI 38 · 82.1% good
Atlantic County, New Jersey
AQI 38 · 79.6% good
Avery County, North Carolina
AQI 38 · 93.9% good
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
AQI 38 · 92.5% good
Bay County, Michigan
AQI 38 · 71.8% good
What Blue Earth 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 38 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Blue Earth County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Blue Earth County with its Minnesota neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Minnesota
Based on 173 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 Blue Earth County, Minnesota? ▼
Blue Earth County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 82.7% of monitored days (143 out of 173) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Blue Earth County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Blue Earth County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 112 days (65% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Blue Earth County have? ▼
In 2025, Blue Earth County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 100.
Is the air quality in Blue Earth County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Blue Earth County is improving based on 5-year trends (2024-2025). Best year: 2025 with 143 good days. Worst year: 2024 with 90 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
Blue Earth County's median AQI of 38 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 Blue Earth County compare to other counties in Minnesota? ▼
Blue Earth County has 82.7% good air days. Nearby counties in Minnesota: Anoka (82.1% good), Becker (84.7% good), Beltrami (88.8% good), Carlton (92.9% good), Cass (94.4% good), Cook (100.0% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Blue Earth County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Blue Earth County is 61, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 100 (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.