Median AQI
36
Good
Virginia · County air quality · 2025
Richmond City County, Virginia
Median AQI 36 (Good). 78.9% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 36
- Median AQI
- 78.9%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 49%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Richmond City County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 36 with 78.9% of 284 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 36
- median AQI · Good
- 78.9%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 49%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 77.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 224 d · 78.9%
- Moderate · 60 d · 21.1%
How did Richmond City County's air break down in 2025?
Across 284 monitored days, 224 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 77 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 284 days monitored. Median AQI: 36 (Good).
Insights: Richmond City County, Virginia. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 36 across 284 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 224 (79%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 60 (21%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 54, while the worst single-day peak hit 77 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 23.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (233 days), NO2 (50 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -70 and the median AQI moved -1 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 77, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Albemarle (77.9% good, AQI 41); Arlington (84.8% good, AQI 40); Bristol City (78.3% good, AQI 33); Caroline (96.2% good, AQI 37); Carroll (100.0% good, AQI 9); Charles (88.6% good, AQI 38).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
78.9%
224 of 284 monitored days
3.9pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
77
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 54
Richmond City County, Good days share 78.9%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Richmond City 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 284 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
224
79%
Moderate
60
21%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Richmond City County.
- PM2.5 · 233 days · 82.0%
- NO₂ · 50 days · 17.6%
- CO · 1 days · 0.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Richmond City County's air quality is rated Good based on 78.9% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 78.9% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 36. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 233 of 284 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Richmond City County. Best year: 2020 (294 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 294 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 80 |
| 2021 | 238 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 101 |
| 2022 | 249 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 67 |
| 2023 | 227 | 134 | 1 | 3 | 45 | 158 |
| 2024 | 290 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 79 |
| 2025 | 224 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 77 |
How does Richmond City County compare?
How Richmond City County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Richmond City County 78.9%
Albemarle County, Virginia 77.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Richmond City County 36
Albemarle County, Virginia 41
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Richmond City County 0
Albemarle County, Virginia 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Virginia
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Virginia.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Richmond City County.
Aroostook County, Maine
AQI 36 · 84.1% good
Berkeley County, South Carolina
AQI 36 · 92.2% good
Carter County, Kentucky
AQI 36 · 89.8% good
Claiborne County, Tennessee
AQI 36 · 96.3% good
Clark County, Illinois
AQI 36 · 92.1% good
Cobb County, Georgia
AQI 36 · 92.5% good
What Richmond City County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM2.5 the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 36 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Richmond City County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Richmond City County with its Virginia neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Virginia
Based on 284 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 Richmond City County, Virginia? ▼
Richmond City County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 36, rated "Good." 78.9% of monitored days (224 out of 284) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Richmond City County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Richmond City County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 233 days (82% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Richmond City County have? ▼
In 2025, Richmond City County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 77.
Is the air quality in Richmond City County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Richmond City County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 294 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 224 good days.
What does AQI 36 mean for health? ▼
Richmond City County's median AQI of 36 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 Richmond City County compare to other counties in Virginia? ▼
Richmond City County has 78.9% good air days. Nearby counties in Virginia: Albemarle (77.9% good), Arlington (84.8% good), Bristol City (78.3% good), Caroline (96.2% good), Carroll (100.0% good), Charles (88.6% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Richmond City County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Richmond City County is 54, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 77 (Moderate).
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.