New Hampshire · County air quality · 2025

Grafton County, New Hampshire

Median AQI 38 (Good). 81.3% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.

38
Median AQI
81.3%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
56%
Cleaner than US counties

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Grafton County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 38 with 81.3% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.

38
median AQI · Good
81.3%
days rated Good
Ozone
main pollutant
56%
cleaner than US counties

Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 113.

Data updated July 2026

Grafton 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 273 monitored days G M Median AQI 38 0 50 100 150 200 300 500 Grafton County
  • Good · 222 d · 81.3%
  • Moderate · 48 d · 17.6%
  • USG · 3 d · 1.1%

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

Across 273 monitored days, 222 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 113 (USG).

EPA AQS →

Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).

Insights: Grafton County, New Hampshire. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 222 (81%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 48 (18%) registered Moderate readings, and 3 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 56, while the worst single-day peak hit 113 (USG). Residents averaged about 24.4 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.

The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (157 days), PM2.5 (116 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -122 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 113, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Belknap (87.9% good, AQI 34); Cheshire (76.9% good, AQI 38); Coos (85.4% good, AQI 40); Hillsborough (82.5% good, AQI 38); Merrimack (95.9% good, AQI 38); Rockingham (82.5% good, AQI 39).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

38

Good

Good Days

81.3%

222 of 273 monitored days

6.3pp vs 75% target

Max AQI Recorded

113

USG

Health Grade

Good

90th-pct AQI 56

Grafton County, Good days share 81.3%
National avg

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

Grafton 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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

222

81%

Moderate

48

18%

USG

3

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Pollutant Breakdown

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

Grafton County, New Hampshire 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. Ozone · 57.5% PM2.5 · 42.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Grafton County, New Hampshire · 273 monitored days Criteria pollutant column
  • Ozone · 157 days · 57.5%
  • PM2.5 · 116 days · 42.5%
Ozone (O3) 157 days (58%)

How Ozone affects health →

Fine Particles (PM2.5) 116 days (42%)

How PM2.5 affects health →

Health Impact Assessment

Good

Grafton County's air quality is rated Good based on 81.3% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality was acceptable on 81.3% 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 157 of 273 monitored days.

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in Grafton County. Best year: 2020 (344 good days).

Year Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 344 22 0 0 35
2021 313 51 1 0 36
2022 330 35 0 0 36
2023 311 54 0 0 37
2024 334 32 0 0 35
2025 222 48 3 0 38

How does Grafton County compare?

How Grafton County compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Grafton County 81.3%
Belknap County, New Hampshire 87.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Grafton County 38
Belknap County, New Hampshire 34
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Grafton County 0
Belknap County, New Hampshire 0
US average 0

Other Counties in New Hampshire

Air quality comparison for nearby counties in New Hampshire.

Counties with Similar Air Quality

Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Grafton County.

What Grafton 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 Grafton County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
  • Compare Grafton County with its New Hampshire neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New Hampshire

Based on 273 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 Grafton County, New Hampshire?
Grafton County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 81.3% of monitored days (222 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Grafton County?
The primary pollutant in Grafton County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 157 days (58% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Grafton County have?
In 2025, Grafton County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 113.
Is the air quality in Grafton County getting better or worse?
Air quality in Grafton County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 344 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 222 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health?
Grafton 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 Grafton County compare to other counties in New Hampshire?
Grafton County has 81.3% good air days. Nearby counties in New Hampshire: Belknap (87.9% good), Cheshire (76.9% good), Coos (85.4% good), Hillsborough (82.5% good), Merrimack (95.9% good), Rockingham (82.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Grafton County?
The 90th percentile AQI for Grafton County is 56, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 113 (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.