Median AQI
19
Good
Nevada · County air quality · 2025
Elko County, Nevada
Median AQI 19 (Good). 90.8% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 19
- Median AQI
- 90.8%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 77%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Elko County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 19 with 90.8% of 152 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM10.
- 19
- median AQI · Good
- 90.8%
- days rated Good
- PM10
- main pollutant
- 77%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 160.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 138 d · 90.8%
- Moderate · 12 d · 7.9%
- USG · 1 d · 0.7%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.7%
How did Elko County's air break down in 2025?
Across 152 monitored days, 138 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 160 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 152 days monitored. Median AQI: 19 (Good).
Insights: Elko County, Nevada. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 19 across 152 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 138 (91%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 12 (8%) registered Moderate readings, and 1 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 50, while the worst single-day peak hit 160 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 27.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM10 (151 days), PM2.5 (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -166 and the median AQI moved -11 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: Carson City (79.3% good, AQI 45); Churchill (81.0% good, AQI 43); Clark (25.6% good, AQI 64); Douglas (90.9% good, AQI 22); Lyon (83.9% good, AQI 44); Nye (91.2% good, AQI 24).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
90.8%
138 of 152 monitored days
15.8pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
160
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 50
Elko County, Good days share 90.8%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Elko County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.7%
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 152 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
138
91%
Moderate
12
8%
USG
1
1%
Unhealthy
1
1%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Elko County.
- PM10 · 151 days · 99.3%
- PM2.5 · 1 days · 0.7%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Elko County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 90.8% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 1 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 160. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM10, driving AQI on 151 of 152 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Elko County. Best year: 2022 (321 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 304 | 55 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 169 |
| 2021 | 282 | 73 | 9 | 1 | 42 | 156 |
| 2022 | 321 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 149 |
| 2023 | 318 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 74 |
| 2024 | 318 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 113 |
| 2025 | 138 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 160 |
How does Elko County compare?
How Elko County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Elko County 90.8%
Carson City County, Nevada 79.3%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Elko County 19
Carson City County, Nevada 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Elko County 1
Carson City County, Nevada 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Nevada
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Nevada.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Elko County.
Adams County, Washington
AQI 19 · 94.7% good
Bonneville County, Idaho
AQI 19 · 94.9% good
Grays Harbor County, Washington
AQI 19 · 97.9% good
Jefferson County, Washington
AQI 19 · 96.5% good
Luna County, New Mexico
AQI 19 · 79.5% good
Mohave County, Arizona
AQI 19 · 93.4% good
What Elko County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM10 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-PM10 days, the guide explains what a median of 19 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Elko County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Elko County with its Nevada neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Nevada
Based on 152 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 Elko County, Nevada? ▼
Elko County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 19, rated "Good." 90.8% of monitored days (138 out of 152) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Elko County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Elko County is Coarse Particles (PM10), which was the main AQI driver on 151 days (99% of monitored days). Irritates airways and can aggravate asthma and bronchitis.
How many unhealthy air days does Elko County have? ▼
In 2025, Elko County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 160.
Is the air quality in Elko County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Elko County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 321 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 138 good days.
What does AQI 19 mean for health? ▼
Elko County's median AQI of 19 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 Elko County compare to other counties in Nevada? ▼
Elko County has 90.8% good air days. Nearby counties in Nevada: Carson City (79.3% good), Churchill (81.0% good), Clark (25.6% good), Douglas (90.9% good), Lyon (83.9% good), Nye (91.2% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Elko County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Elko County is 50, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 160 (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.