Median AQI
41
Good
North Carolina · County air quality · 2025
Union County, North Carolina
Median AQI 41 (Good). 90.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 41
- Median AQI
- 90.2%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 76%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Union County's air is good on balance, cleaner than most US counties, a median AQI of 41 with 90.2% of 184 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 41
- median AQI · Good
- 90.2%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 76%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 90.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 166 d · 90.2%
- Moderate · 18 d · 9.8%
How did Union County's air break down in 2025?
Across 184 monitored days, 166 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). 184 days monitored. Median AQI: 41 (Good).
Insights: Union County, North Carolina. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 41 across 184 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 166 (90%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 18 (10%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 50, while the worst single-day peak hit 90 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 27.1 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (184 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -76 and the median AQI moved +10 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. 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); 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
90.2%
166 of 184 monitored days
15.2pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
90
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 50
Union County, Good days share 90.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Union 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 184 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
166
90%
Moderate
18
10%
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 Union County.
- Ozone · 184 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Union County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 90.2% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 90.2% 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 Ozone, driving AQI on 184 of 184 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Union County. Best year: 2020 (242 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 242 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 50 |
| 2021 | 209 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 101 |
| 2022 | 218 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 100 |
| 2023 | 201 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 101 |
| 2024 | 212 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 97 |
| 2025 | 166 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 90 |
How does Union County compare?
How Union County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Union County 90.2%
Alexander County, North Carolina 92.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Union County 41
Alexander County, North Carolina 39
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Union 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 Union 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 Union 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 41 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Union County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Union County with its North Carolina neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of North Carolina
Based on 184 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 Union County, North Carolina? ▼
Union County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 90.2% of monitored days (166 out of 184) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Union County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Union County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 184 days (100% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Union County have? ▼
In 2025, Union County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 90.
Is the air quality in Union County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Union County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 242 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 166 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health? ▼
Union 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 Union County compare to other counties in North Carolina? ▼
Union County has 90.2% 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 Union County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Union County is 50, 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.