Median AQI
56
Moderate
Texas · County air quality · 2025
Tarrant County, Texas
Median AQI 56 (Moderate). 31.5% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 56
- Median AQI
- 31.5%
- Good-air days
- 1
- Unhealthy days
- 2%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Tarrant County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 56 with 31.5% of 213 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 56
- median AQI · Moderate
- 31.5%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 2%
- cleaner than US counties
1 day reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 162.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 67 d · 31.5%
- Moderate · 137 d · 64.3%
- USG · 8 d · 3.8%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.5%
How did Tarrant County's air break down in 2025?
Across 213 monitored days, 67 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 1 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 162 (Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 213 days monitored. Median AQI: 56 (Moderate).
Insights: Tarrant County, Texas. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 56 across 213 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Poor health grade. Of those days, 67 (31%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 137 (64%) registered Moderate readings, and 8 (4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 79, while the worst single-day peak hit 162 (Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 9.4 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (144 days), Ozone (67 days), NO2 (1 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -96 and the median AQI moved +4 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
31.5%
67 of 213 monitored days
-43.5pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
162
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Poor
90th-pct AQI 79
Tarrant County, Good days share 31.5%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Tarrant 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 213 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
67
31%
Moderate
137
64%
USG
8
4%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Tarrant County.
- PM2.5 · 144 days · 67.6%
- Ozone · 67 days · 31.5%
- NO₂ · 1 days · 0.5%
- CO · 1 days · 0.5%
Health Impact Assessment
Poor
Tarrant County's air quality is rated Poor based on 31.5% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 8 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (AQI 101-150) and peak AQI reached 162. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 144 of 213 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Tarrant County. Best year: 2020 (163 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 163 | 187 | 13 | 3 | 52 | 159 |
| 2021 | 161 | 190 | 12 | 1 | 52 | 209 |
| 2022 | 132 | 211 | 20 | 2 | 54 | 172 |
| 2023 | 99 | 239 | 23 | 4 | 57 | 172 |
| 2024 | 130 | 205 | 25 | 5 | 54 | 203 |
| 2025 | 67 | 137 | 8 | 1 | 56 | 162 |
How does Tarrant County compare?
How Tarrant County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Tarrant County 31.5%
Atascosa County, Texas 58.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Tarrant County 56
Atascosa County, Texas 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Tarrant 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 Tarrant County.
Butler County, Ohio
AQI 55 · 33.3% good
Cameron County, Texas
AQI 55 · 31.7% good
Montgomery County, Texas
AQI 55 · 30.7% good
Nueces County, Texas
AQI 55 · 35.0% good
Pima County, Arizona
AQI 55 · 37.0% good
Denver County, Colorado
AQI 54 · 44.2% good
What Tarrant 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 56 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Tarrant County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Tarrant County with its Texas neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Texas
Based on 213 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 Tarrant County, Texas? ▼
Tarrant County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 56, rated "Moderate." 31.5% of monitored days (67 out of 213) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Tarrant County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Tarrant County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 144 days (68% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Tarrant County have? ▼
In 2025, Tarrant County recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 162.
Is the air quality in Tarrant County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Tarrant County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 163 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 67 good days.
What does AQI 56 mean for health? ▼
Tarrant County's median AQI of 56 falls in the "Moderate" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Tarrant County compare to other counties in Texas? ▼
Tarrant County has 31.5% 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 Tarrant County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Tarrant County is 79, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 162 (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.