Median AQI
36
Good
Nebraska · County air quality · 2025
Gage County, Nebraska
Median AQI 36 (Good). 74.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 36
- Median AQI
- 74.0%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 39%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Gage County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 36 with 74.0% of 292 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 36
- median AQI · Good
- 74.0%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 39%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 131.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 216 d · 74.0%
- Moderate · 75 d · 25.7%
- USG · 1 d · 0.3%
How did Gage County's air break down in 2025?
Across 292 monitored days, 216 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 131 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 292 days monitored. Median AQI: 36 (Good).
Insights: Gage County, Nebraska. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 292 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 216 (74%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 75 (26%) registered Moderate readings, and 1 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 58, while the worst single-day peak hit 131 (USG). Residents averaged about 22.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (292 days). Across the 2021–2025 trend window, good days shifted by +167 and the median AQI moved -19 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2021–2025 window was AQI 131, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Cass (96.5% good, AQI 20); Douglas (66.8% good, AQI 44); Hall (80.2% good, AQI 37); Knox (89.3% good, AQI 39); Lancaster (77.7% good, AQI 36); Sarpy (77.1% good, AQI 33).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
74.0%
216 of 292 monitored days
-1.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
131
USG
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 58
Gage County, Good days share 74.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Gage 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 292 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
216
74%
Moderate
75
26%
USG
1
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 Gage County.
- PM2.5 · 292 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Gage County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 74.0% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 74.0% 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 PM2.5, driving AQI on 292 of 292 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Gage County. Best year: 2023 (262 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49 | 134 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 115 |
| 2022 | 252 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 81 |
| 2023 | 262 | 86 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 163 |
| 2024 | 224 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 70 |
| 2025 | 216 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 131 |
How does Gage County compare?
How Gage County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Gage County 74.0%
Cass County, Nebraska 96.5%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Gage County 36
Cass County, Nebraska 20
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Gage County 0
Cass County, Nebraska 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Nebraska
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Nebraska.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Gage 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 Gage 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 36 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Gage County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Gage County with its Nebraska neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Nebraska
Based on 292 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 Gage County, Nebraska? ▼
Gage County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 74.0% of monitored days (216 out of 292) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Gage County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Gage County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 292 days (100% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Gage County have? ▼
In 2025, Gage County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 131.
Is the air quality in Gage County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Gage County is improving based on 5-year trends (2021-2025). Best year: 2023 with 262 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 49 good days.
What does AQI 36 mean for health? ▼
Gage 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 Gage County compare to other counties in Nebraska? ▼
Gage County has 74.0% good air days. Nearby counties in Nebraska: Cass (96.5% good), Douglas (66.8% good), Hall (80.2% good), Knox (89.3% good), Lancaster (77.7% good), Sarpy (77.1% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Gage County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Gage County is 58, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 131 (USG).
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.