Median AQI
11
Good
New Mexico · County air quality · 2025
Lincoln County, New Mexico
Median AQI 11 (Good). 89.5% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 11
- Median AQI
- 89.5%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 75%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Lincoln County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 11 with 89.5% of 19 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 11
- median AQI · Good
- 89.5%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 75%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 65.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 17 d · 89.5%
- Moderate · 2 d · 10.5%
How did Lincoln County's air break down in 2025?
Across 19 monitored days, 17 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 65 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 19 days monitored. Median AQI: 11 (Good).
Insights: Lincoln County, New Mexico. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 11 across 19 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 17 (89%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 2 (11%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 52, while the worst single-day peak hit 65 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 26.8 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (19 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -96 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 65, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Bernalillo (23.7% good, AQI 59); 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).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
89.5%
17 of 19 monitored days
14.5pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
65
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 52
Lincoln County, Good days share 89.5%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Lincoln 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 19 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
17
89%
Moderate
2
11%
USG
0
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 Lincoln County.
- PM2.5 · 19 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Lincoln County's air quality is rated Good based on 89.5% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 89.5% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 11. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 19 of 19 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Lincoln County. Best year: 2021 (117 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 113 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 57 |
| 2021 | 117 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 58 |
| 2022 | 105 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 79 |
| 2023 | 116 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 55 |
| 2024 | 114 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 84 |
| 2025 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 65 |
How does Lincoln County compare?
How Lincoln County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Lincoln County 89.5%
Bernalillo County, New Mexico 23.7%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Lincoln County 11
Bernalillo County, New Mexico 59
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Lincoln County 0
Bernalillo County, New Mexico 3
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 Lincoln County.
Aleutians East County, Alaska
AQI 11 · 95.0% good
Beaverhead County, Montana
AQI 12 · 100.0% good
Columbiana County, Ohio
AQI 12 · 100.0% good
Cook County, Minnesota
AQI 12 · 100.0% good
Lincoln County, Wyoming
AQI 10 · 97.8% good
Los Alamos County, New Mexico
AQI 10 · 100.0% good
What Lincoln 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 11 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Lincoln County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Lincoln County with its New Mexico neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New Mexico
Based on 19 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 Lincoln County, New Mexico? ▼
Lincoln County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 11, rated "Good." 89.5% of monitored days (17 out of 19) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Lincoln County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Lincoln County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 19 days (100% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Lincoln County have? ▼
In 2025, Lincoln County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 65.
Is the air quality in Lincoln County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Lincoln County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2021 with 117 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 17 good days.
What does AQI 11 mean for health? ▼
Lincoln County's median AQI of 11 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 Lincoln County compare to other counties in New Mexico? ▼
Lincoln County has 89.5% good air days. Nearby counties in New Mexico: Bernalillo (23.7% good), Catron (100.0% good), Chaves (94.4% good), Dona Ana (19.4% good), Eddy (46.9% good), Lea (61.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Lincoln County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Lincoln County is 52, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 65 (Moderate).
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.