Median AQI
59
Moderate
New Mexico · County air quality · 2025
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Median AQI 59 (Moderate). 23.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 59
- Median AQI
- 23.7%
- Good-air days
- 3
- Unhealthy days
- 1%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Bernalillo County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 59 with 23.7% of 274 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 59
- median AQI · Moderate
- 23.7%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 1%
- cleaner than US counties
3 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 228.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 65 d · 23.7%
- Moderate · 196 d · 71.5%
- USG · 10 d · 3.6%
- Unhealthy · 2 d · 0.7%
- Very Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Bernalillo County's air break down in 2025?
Across 274 monitored days, 65 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 3 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 228 (Very Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 274 days monitored. Median AQI: 59 (Moderate).
Insights: Bernalillo County, New Mexico. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 59 across 274 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Very Poor health grade. Of those days, 65 (24%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 196 (72%) registered Moderate readings, and 10 (4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 87, while the worst single-day peak hit 228 (Very Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 7.1 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (150 days), PM10 (69 days), PM2.5 (49 days), NO2 (5 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -40 and the median AQI moved +2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 3 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Catron (100.0% good, AQI 8); Chaves (94.4% good, AQI 16); Dona Ana (19.4% good, AQI 70); Eddy (46.9% good, AQI 51); Lea (61.5% good, AQI 47); Lincoln (89.5% good, AQI 11).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
23.7%
65 of 274 monitored days
-51.3pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
228
Very Unhealthy
Health Grade
Very Poor
90th-pct AQI 87
Bernalillo County, Good days share 23.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Bernalillo County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 1.1%
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 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
65
24%
Moderate
196
72%
USG
10
4%
Unhealthy
2
1%
Very Unhealthy
1
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Bernalillo County.
- Ozone · 150 days · 54.7%
- PM10 · 69 days · 25.2%
- PM2.5 · 49 days · 17.9%
- NO₂ · 5 days · 1.8%
- CO · 1 days · 0.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Very Poor
Bernalillo County's air quality is rated Very Poor based on 23.7% good air days. There were 3 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality reached unhealthy levels on 3 days in 2025 (2 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy). Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, and adults over 65, should review the daily breakdown below and follow local air-quality advisories on high-AQI days.
Sensitive group advisory
People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 150 of 274 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Bernalillo County. Best year: 2020 (105 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 105 | 252 | 7 | 1 | 57 | 214 |
| 2021 | 60 | 284 | 19 | 2 | 63 | 171 |
| 2022 | 81 | 251 | 28 | 2 | 63 | 825 |
| 2023 | 97 | 264 | 3 | 0 | 59 | 207 |
| 2024 | 100 | 233 | 26 | 4 | 61 | 443 |
| 2025 | 65 | 196 | 10 | 2 | 59 | 228 |
How does Bernalillo County compare?
How Bernalillo County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Bernalillo County 23.7%
Catron County, New Mexico 100.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Bernalillo County 59
Catron County, New Mexico 8
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Bernalillo County 3
Catron County, New Mexico 0
US average 0
Other Counties in New Mexico
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in New Mexico.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Bernalillo County.
Tulare County, California
AQI 59 · 29.7% good
Kern County, California
AQI 61 · 23.8% good
Tarrant County, Texas
AQI 56 · 31.5% good
Butler County, Ohio
AQI 55 · 33.3% good
Cameron County, Texas
AQI 55 · 31.7% good
Harris County, Texas
AQI 63 · 8.8% good
What Bernalillo County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone drives 3 unhealthy-or-worse days 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 59 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Bernalillo County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Bernalillo County with its New Mexico neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New Mexico
Based on 274 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 Bernalillo County, New Mexico? ▼
Bernalillo County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 59, rated "Moderate." 23.7% of monitored days (65 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Bernalillo County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Bernalillo County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 150 days (55% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Bernalillo County have? ▼
In 2025, Bernalillo County recorded 3 unhealthy air days (2 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 228.
Is the air quality in Bernalillo County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Bernalillo County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 105 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 60 good days.
What does AQI 59 mean for health? ▼
Bernalillo County's median AQI of 59 falls in the "Moderate" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Bernalillo County compare to other counties in New Mexico? ▼
Bernalillo County has 23.7% good air days. Nearby counties in New Mexico: Catron (100.0% good), Chaves (94.4% good), Dona Ana (19.4% good), Eddy (46.9% good), Lea (61.5% good), Lincoln (89.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Bernalillo County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Bernalillo County is 87, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 228 (Very 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.