Median AQI
50
Good
New York · County air quality · 2025
New York County, New York
Median AQI 50 (Good). 50.1% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 50
- Median AQI
- 50.1%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 6%
- Cleaner than US counties
New York County's 2025 annual median AQI is 50 (Good), with 50.1% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, New York County, New York posted a 2025 median AQI of 50 (Good) across 365 monitored days, with 50.1% rated Good and 0 unhealthy or worse. This is an annual comparison, not today's advisory.
Data source EPA Air Quality System (AQS)
- Cleaner than US
- New York County's 50.1% Good-day share places it cleaner than 6% of US counties in 2025.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Denver County (50.4% Good, median AQI 50) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to New York County.
- 2020–2025 trend
- New York County's floor-qualifying Good-day share is worsening from 2020 to 2025 (70.5% → 50.1%).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 50
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, New York County's air is good on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 50 with 50.1% of 365 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 50
- median AQI · Good
- 50.1%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 6%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 136.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2025 EPA annual release
- New York County's Good-day share fell from 65.8% to 50.1% between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of -15.7 percentage points.
- New York County's median AQI rose from 43 to 50 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +7 points.
- New York County's peak single-day AQI fell from 150 to 136 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of -14 points.
Data updated August 2026
- Good · 183 d · 50.1%
- Moderate · 176 d · 48.2%
- USG · 6 d · 1.6%
How did New York County's air break down in 2025?
Across 365 monitored days, 183 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 136 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 365 days monitored. Median AQI: 50 (Good).
Insights: New York County, New York. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 50 across 365 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 183 (50%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 176 (48%) registered Moderate readings, and 6 (2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 69, while the worst single-day peak hit 136 (USG). Residents averaged about 15.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (274 days), Ozone (91 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by -20.4 points and the median AQI moved +10 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 136, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Albany (68.5% good, AQI 39); Bronx (59.2% good, AQI 45); Chautauqua (89.0% good, AQI 36); Dutchess (94.0% good, AQI 34); Erie (63.8% good, AQI 44); Essex (83.8% good, AQI 41).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
50.1%
183 of 365 monitored days
-24.9pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
136
USG
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 69
New York County, Good days share 50.1%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
New York 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 365 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
183
50%
Moderate
176
48%
USG
6
2%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in New York County.
- PM2.5 · 274 days · 75.1%
- Ozone · 91 days · 24.9%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
New York County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 50.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 50.1% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 50. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 274 of 365 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in New York County. Highest Good-day share: 2020 (70.5%, 258 of 366 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 258 | 107 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 108 |
| 2021 | 245 | 113 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 155 |
| 2022 | 234 | 130 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 105 |
| 2023 | 194 | 162 | 5 | 3 | 48 | 208 |
| 2024 | 241 | 122 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 150 |
| 2025 | 183 | 176 | 6 | 0 | 50 | 136 |
How does New York County compare?
How New York County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
New York County 50.1%
Denver County, Colorado 50.4%
US average 76.0%
Median AQI worse than US avg
New York County 50
Denver County, Colorado 50
US average 39
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
New York County 0
Denver County, Colorado 0
US average 1
Counties with a similar median AQI
Nationwide peers within about the same annual median AQI as New York County (50), not geographic neighbors.
Denver County, Colorado
Median AQI 50 · 50.4% Good-day share
Larimer County, Colorado
Median AQI 50 · 50.7% Good-day share
Madera County, California
Median AQI 50 · 50.4% Good-day share
Merced County, California
Median AQI 50 · 51.0% Good-day share
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Median AQI 50 · 50.4% Good-day share
San Luis Obispo County, California
Median AQI 50 · 52.3% Good-day share
Same primary pollutant: PM2.5
PM2.5 led the AQI on the most monitored days here. These peers share that driver and the closest Good-day share (a second relationship type beyond median-AQI neighbors).
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
49.9% Good-day share · median AQI 51
Webb County, Texas
49.9% Good-day share · median AQI 51
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
50.7% Good-day share · median AQI 50
East Baton Rouge County, Louisiana
49.6% Good-day share · median AQI 51
West Baton Rouge County, Louisiana
49.3% Good-day share · median AQI 51
Garland County, Arkansas
49.2% Good-day share · median AQI 51
New York counties on the map
Geographic containment only, other monitored counties in New York, independent of AQI or pollutant match.
What New York 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 50 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how New York County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare New York County with its New York neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New York
Based on 365 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
Keep exploring the annual AQI record
Air-quality reading list
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in New York County, New York? ▼
New York County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50, rated "Good." 50.1% of monitored days (183 out of 365) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in New York County? ▼
The primary pollutant in New York County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 274 days (75% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does New York County have? ▼
In 2025, New York County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 136.
Is the air quality in New York County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in New York County is worsening across floor-qualifying years (2020-2025); years with fewer than 100 monitored days are excluded from that direction. Highest qualifying Good-day share: 2020 at 70.5% (258 of 366 days). Lowest qualifying Good-day share: 2025 at 50.1% (183 of 365 days).
What does AQI 50 mean for health? ▼
New York County's median AQI of 50 falls in the "Good" category. See the AQI category guide for what each range means for health.
How does New York County compare to other counties in New York? ▼
New York County has 50.1% good air days. Nearby counties in New York: Albany (68.5% good), Bronx (59.2% good), Chautauqua (89.0% good), Dutchess (94.0% good), Erie (63.8% good), Essex (83.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in New York County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for New York County is 69, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 136 (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. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by county summary files for New York County, New York · 2020–2025
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Every figure on PlainAirData 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.