Median AQI
41
Good
North Carolina · County air quality · 2025
New Hanover County, North Carolina
Median AQI 41 (Good). 76.6% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 41
- Median AQI
- 76.6%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 43%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, New Hanover County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 41 with 76.6% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 41
- median AQI · Good
- 76.6%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 43%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 121.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 209 d · 76.6%
- Moderate · 62 d · 22.7%
- USG · 2 d · 0.7%
How did New Hanover County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 209 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 121 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 41 (Good).
Insights: New Hanover County, North Carolina. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 41 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 209 (77%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 62 (23%) registered Moderate readings, and 2 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 55, while the worst single-day peak hit 121 (USG). Residents averaged about 23.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (212 days), Ozone (61 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -119 and the median AQI moved +7 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 121, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Alexander (92.4% good, AQI 39); Avery (93.9% good, AQI 38); Buncombe (71.4% good, AQI 42); Caldwell (96.2% good, AQI 37); Carteret (94.2% good, AQI 37); Caswell (94.6% good, AQI 39).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
76.6%
209 of 273 monitored days
1.6pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
121
USG
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 55
New Hanover County, Good days share 76.6%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
New Hanover 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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
209
77%
Moderate
62
23%
USG
2
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 New Hanover County.
- PM2.5 · 212 days · 77.7%
- Ozone · 61 days · 22.3%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
New Hanover County's air quality is rated Good based on 76.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 76.6% 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 212 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in New Hanover County. Best year: 2020 (328 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 328 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 77 |
| 2021 | 286 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 93 |
| 2022 | 268 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 80 |
| 2023 | 237 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 142 |
| 2024 | 293 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 97 |
| 2025 | 209 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 121 |
How does New Hanover County compare?
How New Hanover County compares
Good-day share about average
New Hanover County 76.6%
Alexander County, North Carolina 92.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
New Hanover County 41
Alexander County, North Carolina 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
New Hanover 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 New Hanover 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 New Hanover 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 New Hanover County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare New Hanover County with its North Carolina neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of North Carolina
Based on 273 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 New Hanover County, North Carolina? ▼
New Hanover County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 76.6% of monitored days (209 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in New Hanover County? ▼
The primary pollutant in New Hanover County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 212 days (78% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does New Hanover County have? ▼
In 2025, New Hanover County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 121.
Is the air quality in New Hanover County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in New Hanover County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 328 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 209 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health? ▼
New Hanover 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 New Hanover County compare to other counties in North Carolina? ▼
New Hanover County has 76.6% good air days. Nearby counties in North Carolina: Alexander (92.4% good), Avery (93.9% good), Buncombe (71.4% good), Caldwell (96.2% good), Carteret (94.2% good), Caswell (94.6% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in New Hanover County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for New Hanover County is 55, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 121 (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.