Minnesota · County air quality · 2025

Ramsey County, Minnesota

Median AQI 31 (Good). 76.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.

31
Median AQI
76.0%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
42%
Cleaner than US counties

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Ramsey County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 31 with 76.0% of 121 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.

31
median AQI · Good
76.0%
days rated Good
PM2.5
main pollutant
42%
cleaner than US counties

1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 155.

Data updated July 2026

Ramsey County AQI category distribution Stacked-segment bar showing the share of monitored days that fell in each EPA AQI category, Good, Moderate, USG, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, Hazardous, with median AQI marker. AQI category distribution 121 monitored days G M Median AQI 31 0 50 100 150 200 300 500 Ramsey County
  • Good · 92 d · 76.0%
  • Moderate · 28 d · 23.1%
  • Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.8%

How did Ramsey County's air break down in 2025?

Across 121 monitored days, 92 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 155 (Unhealthy).

EPA AQS →

Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 121 days monitored. Median AQI: 31 (Good).

Insights: Ramsey County, Minnesota. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 31 across 121 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 92 (76%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 28 (23%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 56, while the worst single-day peak hit 155 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 22.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.

The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (114 days), PM10 (7 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -160 and the median AQI moved -9 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. Residents and visitors experienced 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. 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

Median AQI

31

Good

Good Days

76.0%

92 of 121 monitored days

1.0pp vs 75% target

Max AQI Recorded

155

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Good

90th-pct AQI 56

Ramsey County, Good days share 76.0%
National avg

Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).

Ramsey County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.8%
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 121 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

92

76%

Moderate

28

23%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

1

1%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Pollutant Breakdown

Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Ramsey County.

Ramsey County, Minnesota criteria pollutant distribution Stratified-band visualization showing the share of monitored days each criteria pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO) was the primary AQI driver. PM2.5 · 94.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Ramsey County, Minnesota · 121 monitored days Criteria pollutant column
  • PM2.5 · 114 days · 94.2%
  • PM10 · 7 days · 5.8%
Fine Particles (PM2.5) 114 days (94%)

How PM2.5 affects health →

Coarse Particles (PM10) 7 days (6%)

How PM10 affects health →

Health Impact Assessment

Good

Ramsey County's air quality is rated Good based on 76.0% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 0 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 155. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 114 of 121 monitored days.

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in Ramsey County. Best year: 2022 (267 good days).

Year Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 252 113 0 1 40
2021 252 110 3 0 39
2022 267 98 0 0 36
2023 188 167 7 3 49
2024 265 100 1 0 36
2025 92 28 0 1 31

How does Ramsey County compare?

How Ramsey County compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Ramsey County 76.0%
Anoka County, Minnesota 82.1%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Ramsey County 31
Anoka County, Minnesota 38
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Ramsey County 1
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 Ramsey County.

What Ramsey County's air means for you

On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 1 unhealthy-or-worse day a year that sensitive groups should plan around.

  • Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 31 means for exposure. Health guidance
  • See how Ramsey County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
  • Compare Ramsey County with its Minnesota neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Minnesota

Based on 121 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 Ramsey County, Minnesota?
Ramsey County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 31, rated "Good." 76.0% of monitored days (92 out of 121) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Ramsey County?
The primary pollutant in Ramsey County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 114 days (94% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Ramsey County have?
In 2025, Ramsey County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 155.
Is the air quality in Ramsey County getting better or worse?
Air quality in Ramsey County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 267 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 92 good days.
What does AQI 31 mean for health?
Ramsey County's median AQI of 31 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 Ramsey County compare to other counties in Minnesota?
Ramsey County has 76.0% 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 Ramsey County?
The 90th percentile AQI for Ramsey County is 56, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 155 (Unhealthy).

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.