Median AQI
47
Good
Texas · County air quality · 2025
Denton County, Texas
Median AQI 47 (Good). 62.3% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 47
- Median AQI
- 62.3%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 19%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Denton County's air is good on balance, among the more polluted 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 47 with 62.3% of 212 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 47
- median AQI · Good
- 62.3%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 19%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 163.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 132 d · 62.3%
- Moderate · 75 d · 35.4%
- USG · 4 d · 1.9%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.5%
How did Denton County's air break down in 2025?
Across 212 monitored days, 132 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 163 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 212 days monitored. Median AQI: 47 (Good).
Insights: Denton County, Texas. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 47 across 212 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Moderate health grade. Of those days, 132 (62%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 75 (35%) registered Moderate readings, and 4 (2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 72, while the worst single-day peak hit 163 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 18.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (134 days), PM2.5 (78 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -113 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. 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: Atascosa (58.0% good, AQI 45); Bell (61.3% good, AQI 47); Bexar (39.8% good, AQI 53); Bowie (57.3% good, AQI 47); Brazoria (84.8% good, AQI 33); Brazos (63.4% good, AQI 43).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
62.3%
132 of 212 monitored days
-12.7pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
163
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th-pct AQI 72
Denton County, Good days share 62.3%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Denton County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.5%
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 212 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
132
62%
Moderate
75
35%
USG
4
2%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Denton County.
- Ozone · 134 days · 63.2%
- PM2.5 · 78 days · 36.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Moderate
Denton County's air quality is rated Moderate based on 62.3% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 4 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 163. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 134 of 212 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Denton County. Best year: 2020 (245 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 245 | 113 | 8 | 0 | 44 | 142 |
| 2021 | 222 | 122 | 18 | 3 | 45 | 179 |
| 2022 | 209 | 136 | 19 | 1 | 47 | 187 |
| 2023 | 200 | 133 | 27 | 5 | 49 | 177 |
| 2024 | 210 | 128 | 25 | 3 | 47 | 187 |
| 2025 | 132 | 75 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 163 |
How does Denton County compare?
How Denton County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Denton County 62.3%
Atascosa County, Texas 58.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Denton County 47
Atascosa County, Texas 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Denton County 1
Atascosa County, Texas 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Texas
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Texas.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Denton County.
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
AQI 47 · 54.3% good
Bell County, Texas
AQI 47 · 61.3% good
Bowie County, Texas
AQI 47 · 57.3% good
Bronx County, New York
AQI 47 · 56.6% good
Butte County, California
AQI 47 · 66.1% good
Calcasieu County, Louisiana
AQI 47 · 61.5% good
What Denton County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but Ozone 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-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 47 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Denton County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Denton County with its Texas neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Texas
Based on 212 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 Denton County, Texas? ▼
Denton County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 47, rated "Good." 62.3% of monitored days (132 out of 212) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Denton County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Denton County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 134 days (63% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Denton County have? ▼
In 2025, Denton County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 163.
Is the air quality in Denton County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Denton County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 245 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 132 good days.
What does AQI 47 mean for health? ▼
Denton County's median AQI of 47 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 Denton County compare to other counties in Texas? ▼
Denton County has 62.3% good air days. Nearby counties in Texas: Atascosa (58.0% good), Bell (61.3% good), Bexar (39.8% good), Bowie (57.3% good), Brazoria (84.8% good), Brazos (63.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Denton County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Denton County is 72, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 163 (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.