Median AQI
41
Good
New York · County air quality · 2025
Richmond County, New York
Median AQI 41 (Good). 75.3% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 41
- Median AQI
- 75.3%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 41%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Richmond County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 41 with 75.3% of 316 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 41
- median AQI · Good
- 75.3%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 41%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 129.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 238 d · 75.3%
- Moderate · 75 d · 23.7%
- USG · 3 d · 0.9%
How did Richmond County's air break down in 2025?
Across 316 monitored days, 238 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 129 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 316 days monitored. Median AQI: 41 (Good).
Insights: Richmond County, New York. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 41 across 316 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 238 (75%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 75 (24%) registered Moderate readings, and 3 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 61, while the worst single-day peak hit 129 (USG). Residents averaged about 22.6 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (164 days), Ozone (152 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -42 and the median AQI moved +2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 129, 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
75.3%
238 of 316 monitored days
0.3pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
129
USG
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 61
Richmond County, Good days share 75.3%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Richmond 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 316 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
238
75%
Moderate
75
24%
USG
3
1%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Richmond County.
- PM2.5 · 164 days · 51.9%
- Ozone · 152 days · 48.1%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Richmond County's air quality is rated Good based on 75.3% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 75.3% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 41. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 164 of 316 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Richmond County. Best year: 2024 (280 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 280 | 82 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 108 |
| 2021 | 264 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 149 |
| 2022 | 278 | 86 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 105 |
| 2023 | 255 | 101 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 227 |
| 2024 | 280 | 83 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 140 |
| 2025 | 238 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 129 |
How does Richmond County compare?
How Richmond County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Richmond County 75.3%
Albany County, New York 67.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Richmond County 41
Albany County, New York 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Richmond 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 Richmond County.
Albemarle County, Virginia
AQI 41 · 77.9% good
Anderson County, South Carolina
AQI 41 · 90.0% good
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
AQI 41 · 71.6% good
Berrien County, Michigan
AQI 41 · 80.9% good
Blair County, Pennsylvania
AQI 41 · 71.9% good
Bonner County, Idaho
AQI 41 · 71.3% good
What Richmond 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 41 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Richmond County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Richmond County with its New York neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of New York
Based on 316 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 Richmond County, New York? ▼
Richmond County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 75.3% of monitored days (238 out of 316) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Richmond County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Richmond County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 164 days (52% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Richmond County have? ▼
In 2025, Richmond County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 129.
Is the air quality in Richmond County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Richmond County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 280 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 238 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health? ▼
Richmond County's median AQI of 41 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 Richmond County compare to other counties in New York? ▼
Richmond County has 75.3% 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 Richmond County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Richmond County is 61, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 129 (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.