Median AQI
46
Good
Tennessee · County air quality · 2025
Knox County, Tennessee
Median AQI 46 (Good). 61.2% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 46
- Median AQI
- 61.2%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 16%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Knox County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 46 with 61.2% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 46
- median AQI · Good
- 61.2%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 16%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 156.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 167 d · 61.2%
- Moderate · 105 d · 38.5%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Knox County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 167 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 156 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 46 (Good).
Insights: Knox County, Tennessee. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 46 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 167 (61%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 105 (38%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 60, while the worst single-day peak hit 156 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 18.4 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (201 days), Ozone (72 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -66 and the median AQI moved +2 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. Residents and visitors experienced 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Anderson (91.0% good, AQI 42); Blount (69.6% good, AQI 46); Claiborne (96.3% good, AQI 36); Davidson (51.8% good, AQI 50); DeKalb (95.4% good, AQI 35); Dyer (79.4% good, AQI 34).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
61.2%
167 of 273 monitored days
-13.8pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
156
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 60
Knox County, Good days share 61.2%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Knox County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.4%
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
167
61%
Moderate
105
38%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Knox County.
- PM2.5 · 201 days · 73.6%
- Ozone · 72 days · 26.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Knox County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 61.2% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 0 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 156. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 201 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Knox County. Best year: 2020 (233 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 233 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 91 |
| 2021 | 153 | 207 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 150 |
| 2022 | 185 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 77 |
| 2023 | 162 | 199 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 149 |
| 2024 | 205 | 160 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 105 |
| 2025 | 167 | 105 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 156 |
How does Knox County compare?
How Knox County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Knox County 61.2%
Anderson County, Tennessee 91.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Knox County 46
Anderson County, Tennessee 42
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Knox County 1
Anderson County, Tennessee 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Tennessee
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Tennessee.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Knox County.
Bay County, Florida
AQI 46 · 60.6% good
Blount County, Tennessee
AQI 46 · 69.6% good
Cache County, Utah
AQI 46 · 61.2% good
Chesterfield County, South Carolina
AQI 46 · 61.2% good
Clark County, Indiana
AQI 46 · 59.7% good
Clark County, Ohio
AQI 46 · 59.4% good
What Knox County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 1 unhealthy-or-worse day a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 46 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Knox County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Knox County with its Tennessee neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Tennessee
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 Knox County, Tennessee? ▼
Knox County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 61.2% of monitored days (167 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Knox County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Knox County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 201 days (74% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Knox County have? ▼
In 2025, Knox County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 156.
Is the air quality in Knox County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Knox County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 233 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 153 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
Knox County's median AQI of 46 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 Knox County compare to other counties in Tennessee? ▼
Knox County has 61.2% good air days. Nearby counties in Tennessee: Anderson (91.0% good), Blount (69.6% good), Claiborne (96.3% good), Davidson (51.8% good), DeKalb (95.4% good), Dyer (79.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Knox County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Knox County is 60, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 156 (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.