Median AQI
28
Good
New York · County air quality · 2025
Orange County, New York
Median AQI 28 (Good). 85.4% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 28
- Median AQI
- 85.4%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 67%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Orange County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 28 with 85.4% of 267 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 28
- median AQI · Good
- 85.4%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 67%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 108.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 228 d · 85.4%
- Moderate · 38 d · 14.2%
- USG · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Orange County's air break down in 2025?
Across 267 monitored days, 228 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 108 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 267 days monitored. Median AQI: 28 (Good).
Insights: Orange County, New York. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 28 across 267 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 228 (85%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 38 (14%) registered Moderate readings, and 1 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 55, while the worst single-day peak hit 108 (USG). Residents averaged about 25.6 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (267 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -79 and the median AQI moved -10 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 108, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Albany (67.4% good, AQI 39); Bronx (56.6% good, AQI 47); Chautauqua (88.6% good, AQI 39); Dutchess (92.7% good, AQI 37); Erie (61.3% good, AQI 44); Essex (79.8% good, AQI 42).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
85.4%
228 of 267 monitored days
10.4pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
108
USG
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 55
Orange County, Good days share 85.4%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Orange 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 267 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
228
85%
Moderate
38
14%
USG
1
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 Orange County.
- PM2.5 · 267 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Orange County's air quality is rated Good based on 85.4% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 85.4% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 28. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 267 of 267 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Orange County. Best year: 2020 (307 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 307 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 97 |
| 2021 | 294 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 149 |
| 2022 | 292 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 73 |
| 2023 | 270 | 81 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 185 |
| 2024 | 297 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 79 |
| 2025 | 228 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 108 |
How does Orange County compare?
How Orange County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Orange County 85.4%
Albany County, New York 67.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Orange County 28
Albany County, New York 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Orange County 0
Albany County, New York 0
US average 0
Other Counties in New York
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in New York.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Orange County.
Delta County, Colorado
AQI 28 · 88.0% good
Martin County, North Carolina
AQI 28 · 100.0% good
Oneida County, New York
AQI 28 · 80.8% good
Bayamon County, Puerto Rico
AQI 29 · 88.5% good
Chelan County, Washington
AQI 27 · 87.2% good
Clackamas County, Oregon
AQI 27 · 93.9% good
What Orange 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 28 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Orange County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Orange County with its New York neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New York
Based on 267 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 Orange County, New York? ▼
Orange County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 28, rated "Good." 85.4% of monitored days (228 out of 267) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Orange County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Orange County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 267 days (100% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Orange County have? ▼
In 2025, Orange County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 108.
Is the air quality in Orange County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Orange County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 307 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 228 good days.
What does AQI 28 mean for health? ▼
Orange County's median AQI of 28 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 Orange County compare to other counties in New York? ▼
Orange County has 85.4% good air days. Nearby counties in New York: Albany (67.4% good), Bronx (56.6% good), Chautauqua (88.6% good), Dutchess (92.7% good), Erie (61.3% good), Essex (79.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Orange County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Orange County is 55, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 108 (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.