Median AQI
40
Good
New Jersey · County air quality · 2025
Ocean County, New Jersey
Median AQI 40 (Good). 77.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 40
- Median AQI
- 77.7%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 45%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Ocean County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 40 with 77.7% of 179 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 40
- median AQI · Good
- 77.7%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 45%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 154.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 139 d · 77.7%
- Moderate · 39 d · 21.8%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.6%
How did Ocean County's air break down in 2025?
Across 179 monitored days, 139 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 154 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 179 days monitored. Median AQI: 40 (Good).
Insights: Ocean County, New Jersey. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 40 across 179 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 139 (78%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 39 (22%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 59, while the worst single-day peak hit 154 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 23.3 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (105 days), PM2.5 (74 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -151 and the median AQI moved +2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. 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: Atlantic (79.6% good, AQI 38); Bergen (71.1% good, AQI 40); Camden (69.4% good, AQI 44); Cumberland (73.0% good, AQI 42); Gloucester (72.4% good, AQI 43); Hudson (74.7% good, AQI 41).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
77.7%
139 of 179 monitored days
2.7pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
154
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 59
Ocean County, Good days share 77.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Ocean County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.6%
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 179 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
139
78%
Moderate
39
22%
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 Ocean County.
- Ozone · 105 days · 58.7%
- PM2.5 · 74 days · 41.3%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Ocean County's air quality is rated Good based on 77.7% 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 154. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 105 of 179 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Ocean County. Best year: 2020 (290 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 290 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 84 |
| 2021 | 253 | 100 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 126 |
| 2022 | 287 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 105 |
| 2023 | 261 | 95 | 7 | 1 | 42 | 248 |
| 2024 | 280 | 82 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 140 |
| 2025 | 139 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 40 | 154 |
How does Ocean County compare?
How Ocean County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Ocean County 77.7%
Atlantic County, New Jersey 79.6%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Ocean County 40
Atlantic County, New Jersey 38
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Ocean County 1
Atlantic County, New Jersey 0
US average 0
Other Counties in New Jersey
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in New Jersey.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Ocean County.
Amador County, California
AQI 40 · 84.8% good
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
AQI 40 · 87.2% good
Arlington County, Virginia
AQI 40 · 84.8% good
Bergen County, New Jersey
AQI 40 · 71.1% good
Berkeley County, West Virginia
AQI 40 · 81.1% good
Billings County, North Dakota
AQI 40 · 80.3% good
What Ocean County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone 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-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 40 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Ocean County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Ocean County with its New Jersey neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New Jersey
Based on 179 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 Ocean County, New Jersey? ▼
Ocean County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 40, rated "Good." 77.7% of monitored days (139 out of 179) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Ocean County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Ocean County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 105 days (59% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Ocean County have? ▼
In 2025, Ocean County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 154.
Is the air quality in Ocean County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Ocean County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 290 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 139 good days.
What does AQI 40 mean for health? ▼
Ocean County's median AQI of 40 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 Ocean County compare to other counties in New Jersey? ▼
Ocean County has 77.7% good air days. Nearby counties in New Jersey: Atlantic (79.6% good), Bergen (71.1% good), Camden (69.4% good), Cumberland (73.0% good), Gloucester (72.4% good), Hudson (74.7% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Ocean County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Ocean County is 59, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 154 (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.