Median AQI
38
Good
North Carolina · County air quality · 2025
Pitt County, North Carolina
Median AQI 38 (Good). 88.8% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 38
- Median AQI
- 88.8%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 73%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Pitt County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 38 with 88.8% of 267 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 38
- median AQI · Good
- 88.8%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 73%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 71.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 237 d · 88.8%
- Moderate · 30 d · 11.2%
How did Pitt County's air break down in 2025?
Across 267 monitored days, 237 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 71 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 267 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).
Insights: Pitt County, North Carolina. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 267 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 237 (89%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 30 (11%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 51, while the worst single-day peak hit 71 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 26.6 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (161 days), Ozone (106 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -76 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 71, moderate 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
88.8%
237 of 267 monitored days
13.8pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
71
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 51
Pitt County, Good days share 88.8%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Pitt 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
237
89%
Moderate
30
11%
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 Pitt County.
- PM2.5 · 161 days · 60.3%
- Ozone · 106 days · 39.7%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Pitt County's air quality is rated Good based on 88.8% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 88.8% 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 PM2.5, driving AQI on 161 of 267 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Pitt County. Best year: 2020 (313 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 313 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 95 |
| 2021 | 288 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 81 |
| 2022 | 305 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 97 |
| 2023 | 256 | 107 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 118 |
| 2024 | 302 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 74 |
| 2025 | 237 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 71 |
How does Pitt County compare?
How Pitt County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Pitt County 88.8%
Alexander County, North Carolina 92.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Pitt County 38
Alexander County, North Carolina 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Pitt 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 Pitt 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
Avery County, North Carolina
AQI 38 · 93.9% good
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
AQI 38 · 92.5% good
Bay County, Michigan
AQI 38 · 71.8% good
What Pitt 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 38 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Pitt County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Pitt County with its North Carolina neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of North Carolina
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 Pitt County, North Carolina? ▼
Pitt County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 88.8% of monitored days (237 out of 267) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Pitt County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Pitt County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 161 days (60% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Pitt County have? ▼
In 2025, Pitt County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 71.
Is the air quality in Pitt County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Pitt County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 313 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 237 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
Pitt 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 Pitt County compare to other counties in North Carolina? ▼
Pitt County has 88.8% 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 Pitt County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Pitt County is 51, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 71 (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.