Median AQI
38
Good
North Carolina · County air quality · 2025
Avery County, North Carolina
Median AQI 38 (Good). 93.9% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 38
- Median AQI
- 93.9%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 85%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Avery County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 38 with 93.9% of 197 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 38
- median AQI · Good
- 93.9%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 85%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 90.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 185 d · 93.9%
- Moderate · 12 d · 6.1%
How did Avery County's air break down in 2025?
Across 197 monitored days, 185 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 90 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 197 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).
Insights: Avery County, North Carolina. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 197 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 185 (94%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 12 (6%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 48, while the worst single-day peak hit 90 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 28.2 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (178 days), PM2.5 (19 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -165 and the median AQI moved +0 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 90, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Alexander (92.4% good, AQI 39); Buncombe (71.4% good, AQI 42); Caldwell (96.2% good, AQI 37); Carteret (94.2% good, AQI 37); Caswell (94.6% good, AQI 39); Catawba (67.2% good, AQI 43).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
93.9%
185 of 197 monitored days
18.9pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
90
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 48
Avery County, Good days share 93.9%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Avery 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 197 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
185
94%
Moderate
12
6%
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 Avery County.
- Ozone · 178 days · 90.4%
- PM2.5 · 19 days · 9.6%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Avery County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 93.9% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 93.9% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 38. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 178 of 197 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Avery County. Best year: 2020 (350 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 350 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 80 |
| 2021 | 331 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 74 |
| 2022 | 297 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 77 |
| 2023 | 246 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 98 |
| 2024 | 222 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 90 |
| 2025 | 185 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 90 |
How does Avery County compare?
How Avery County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Avery County 93.9%
Alexander County, North Carolina 92.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Avery County 38
Alexander County, North Carolina 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Avery County 0
Alexander County, North Carolina 0
US average 0
Other Counties in North Carolina
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in North Carolina.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Avery County.
Adams County, Illinois
AQI 38 · 94.4% good
Anoka County, Minnesota
AQI 38 · 82.1% good
Atlantic County, New Jersey
AQI 38 · 79.6% good
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
AQI 38 · 92.5% good
Bay County, Michigan
AQI 38 · 71.8% good
Becker County, Minnesota
AQI 38 · 84.7% good
What Avery County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with Ozone the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 38 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Avery County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Avery County with its North Carolina neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of North Carolina
Based on 197 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 Avery County, North Carolina? ▼
Avery County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 93.9% of monitored days (185 out of 197) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Avery County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Avery County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 178 days (90% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Avery County have? ▼
In 2025, Avery County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 90.
Is the air quality in Avery County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Avery County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 350 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 185 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
Avery County's median AQI of 38 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 Avery County compare to other counties in North Carolina? ▼
Avery County has 93.9% good air days. Nearby counties in North Carolina: Alexander (92.4% good), Buncombe (71.4% good), Caldwell (96.2% good), Carteret (94.2% good), Caswell (94.6% good), Catawba (67.2% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Avery County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Avery County is 48, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 90 (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.