Median AQI
38
Good
North Dakota · County air quality · 2025
Ward County, North Dakota
Median AQI 38 (Good). 78.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 38
- Median AQI
- 78.2%
- Good-air days
- 5
- Unhealthy days
- 47%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Ward County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 38 with 78.2% of 243 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 38
- median AQI · Good
- 78.2%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 47%
- cleaner than US counties
5 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 283.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 190 d · 78.2%
- Moderate · 41 d · 16.9%
- USG · 7 d · 2.9%
- Unhealthy · 4 d · 1.6%
- Very Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Ward County's air break down in 2025?
Across 243 monitored days, 190 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 5 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 283 (Very Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 243 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).
Insights: Ward County, North Dakota. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 243 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 190 (78%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 41 (17%) registered Moderate readings, and 7 (3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 72, while the worst single-day peak hit 283 (Very Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 23.5 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (130 days), PM2.5 (113 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -154 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 5 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Billings (80.3% good, AQI 40); Burke (72.8% good, AQI 40); Burleigh (77.5% good, AQI 41); Cass (73.2% good, AQI 39); Dunn (78.6% good, AQI 40); McKenzie (79.0% good, AQI 41).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
78.2%
190 of 243 monitored days
3.2pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
283
Very Unhealthy
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 72
Ward County, Good days share 78.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Ward County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 2.1%
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 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
190
78%
Moderate
41
17%
USG
7
3%
Unhealthy
4
2%
Very Unhealthy
1
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Ward County.
- Ozone · 130 days · 53.5%
- PM2.5 · 113 days · 46.5%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Ward County's air quality is rated Good based on 78.2% good air days. There were 5 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality reached unhealthy levels on 5 days in 2025 (4 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy). Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, and adults over 65, should review the daily breakdown below and follow local air-quality advisories on high-AQI days.
Sensitive group advisory
People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 130 of 243 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Ward County. Best year: 2020 (344 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 344 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 73 |
| 2021 | 284 | 62 | 10 | 4 | 37 | 173 |
| 2022 | 315 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 79 |
| 2023 | 244 | 101 | 13 | 6 | 42 | 278 |
| 2024 | 298 | 59 | 7 | 2 | 37 | 152 |
| 2025 | 190 | 41 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 283 |
How does Ward County compare?
How Ward County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Ward County 78.2%
Billings County, North Dakota 80.3%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Ward County 38
Billings County, North Dakota 40
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Ward County 5
Billings County, North Dakota 4
US average 0
Other Counties in North Dakota
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in North Dakota.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Ward 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 Ward County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone drives 5 unhealthy-or-worse days a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- 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 Ward County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Ward County with its North Dakota neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of North Dakota
Based on 243 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 Ward County, North Dakota? ▼
Ward County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 78.2% of monitored days (190 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Ward County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Ward County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 130 days (53% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Ward County have? ▼
In 2025, Ward County recorded 5 unhealthy air days (4 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 283.
Is the air quality in Ward County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Ward County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 344 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 190 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
Ward 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 Ward County compare to other counties in North Dakota? ▼
Ward County has 78.2% good air days. Nearby counties in North Dakota: Billings (80.3% good), Burke (72.8% good), Burleigh (77.5% good), Cass (73.2% good), Dunn (78.6% good), McKenzie (79.0% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Ward County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Ward County is 72, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 283 (Very Unhealthy).
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.