Median AQI
42
Good
Rhode Island · County air quality · 2025
Washington County, Rhode Island
Median AQI 42 (Good). 75.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 42
- Median AQI
- 75.7%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 42%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Washington County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 42 with 75.7% of 243 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 42
- median AQI · Good
- 75.7%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 42%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 129.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 184 d · 75.7%
- Moderate · 55 d · 22.6%
- USG · 4 d · 1.6%
How did Washington County's air break down in 2025?
Across 243 monitored days, 184 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 129 (USG).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 243 days monitored. Median AQI: 42 (Good).
Insights: Washington County, Rhode Island. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 42 across 243 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 184 (76%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 55 (23%) registered Moderate readings, and 4 (2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 66, while the worst single-day peak hit 129 (USG). Residents averaged about 22.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (152 days), PM2.5 (91 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -143 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 129, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Kent (90.4% good, AQI 35); Providence (69.5% good, AQI 40).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
75.7%
184 of 243 monitored days
0.7pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
129
USG
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 66
Washington County, Good days share 75.7%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Washington 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 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
184
76%
Moderate
55
23%
USG
4
2%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Washington County.
- Ozone · 152 days · 62.6%
- PM2.5 · 91 days · 37.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Washington County's air quality is rated Good based on 75.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 75.7% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 42. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 152 of 243 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Washington County. Best year: 2020 (327 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 327 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 154 |
| 2021 | 306 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 143 |
| 2022 | 313 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 164 |
| 2023 | 287 | 58 | 10 | 0 | 40 | 140 |
| 2024 | 316 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 147 |
| 2025 | 184 | 55 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 129 |
How does Washington County compare?
How Washington County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Washington County 75.7%
Kent County, Rhode Island 90.4%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Washington County 42
Kent County, Rhode Island 35
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Washington County 0
Kent County, Rhode Island 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Rhode Island
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Rhode Island.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Washington County.
Adams County, Pennsylvania
AQI 42 · 73.8% good
Anderson County, Tennessee
AQI 42 · 91.0% good
Andrew County, Missouri
AQI 42 · 84.3% good
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
AQI 42 · 68.1% good
Baldwin County, Alabama
AQI 42 · 72.2% good
Belmont County, Ohio
AQI 42 · 63.0% good
What Washington 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 42 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Washington County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Washington County with its Rhode Island neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Rhode Island
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 Washington County, Rhode Island? ▼
Washington County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 75.7% of monitored days (184 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Washington County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Washington County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 152 days (63% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Washington County have? ▼
In 2025, Washington County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 129.
Is the air quality in Washington County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Washington County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 327 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 184 good days.
What does AQI 42 mean for health? ▼
Washington County's median AQI of 42 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 Washington County compare to other counties in Rhode Island? ▼
Washington County has 75.7% good air days. Nearby counties in Rhode Island: Kent (90.4% good), Providence (69.5% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Washington County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Washington County is 66, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 129 (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.