Median AQI
36
Good
Minnesota · County air quality · 2025
Olmsted County, Minnesota
Median AQI 36 (Good). 83.1% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 36
- Median AQI
- 83.1%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 60%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Olmsted County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 36 with 83.1% of 160 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 36
- median AQI · Good
- 83.1%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 60%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 100.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 133 d · 83.1%
- Moderate · 27 d · 16.9%
How did Olmsted County's air break down in 2025?
Across 160 monitored days, 133 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). 160 days monitored. Median AQI: 36 (Good).
Insights: Olmsted County, Minnesota. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 160 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 133 (83%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 27 (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 100 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 24.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (113 days), PM2.5 (47 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -159 and the median AQI moved -2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 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); Blue Earth (82.7% good, AQI 38); Carlton (92.9% good, AQI 35); Cass (94.4% good, AQI 22).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
83.1%
133 of 160 monitored days
8.1pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
100
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 58
Olmsted County, Good days share 83.1%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Olmsted 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 160 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
133
83%
Moderate
27
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 Olmsted County.
- Ozone · 113 days · 70.6%
- PM2.5 · 47 days · 29.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Olmsted County's air quality is rated Good based on 83.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 83.1% 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 Ozone, driving AQI on 113 of 160 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Olmsted County. Best year: 2020 (292 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 292 | 73 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 111 |
| 2021 | 275 | 84 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 125 |
| 2022 | 280 | 78 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 110 |
| 2023 | 189 | 161 | 14 | 1 | 49 | 167 |
| 2024 | 234 | 131 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 155 |
| 2025 | 133 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 100 |
How does Olmsted County compare?
How Olmsted County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Olmsted County 83.1%
Anoka County, Minnesota 82.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Olmsted County 36
Anoka County, Minnesota 38
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Olmsted 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 Olmsted 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 Olmsted 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 36 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Olmsted County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Olmsted County with its Minnesota neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Minnesota
Based on 160 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 Olmsted County, Minnesota? ▼
Olmsted County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 83.1% of monitored days (133 out of 160) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Olmsted County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Olmsted County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 113 days (71% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Olmsted County have? ▼
In 2025, Olmsted County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 100.
Is the air quality in Olmsted County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Olmsted County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 292 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 133 good days.
What does AQI 36 mean for health? ▼
Olmsted 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 Olmsted County compare to other counties in Minnesota? ▼
Olmsted County has 83.1% good air days. Nearby counties in Minnesota: Anoka (82.1% good), Becker (84.7% good), Beltrami (88.8% good), Blue Earth (82.7% good), Carlton (92.9% good), Cass (94.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Olmsted County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Olmsted County is 58, 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.