Median AQI
35
Good
Virginia · County air quality · 2025
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Median AQI 35 (Good). 96.5% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 35
- Median AQI
- 96.5%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 93%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Rockbridge County's air is good on balance, among the cleanest 10% of US counties, a median AQI of 35 with 96.5% of 232 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 35
- median AQI · Good
- 96.5%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 93%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 67.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 224 d · 96.6%
- Moderate · 8 d · 3.4%
How did Rockbridge County's air break down in 2025?
Across 232 monitored days, 224 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 67 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 232 days monitored. Median AQI: 35 (Good).
Insights: Rockbridge County, Virginia. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 35 across 232 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 224 (97%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 8 (3%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 45, while the worst single-day peak hit 67 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 29.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (213 days), PM2.5 (19 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -58 and the median AQI moved +4 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at stable. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 67, 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
96.5%
224 of 232 monitored days
21.5pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
67
Moderate
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 45
Rockbridge County, Good days share 96.5%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Rockbridge 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 232 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
224
97%
Moderate
8
3%
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 Rockbridge County.
- Ozone · 213 days · 91.8%
- PM2.5 · 19 days · 8.2%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Rockbridge County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 96.5% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 96.5% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 35. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 213 of 232 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in Rockbridge County. Best year: 2020 (282 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 282 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 54 |
| 2021 | 267 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 64 |
| 2022 | 277 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 71 |
| 2023 | 261 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 240 |
| 2024 | 273 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 64 |
| 2025 | 224 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 67 |
How does Rockbridge County compare?
How Rockbridge County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Rockbridge County 96.5%
Albemarle County, Virginia 77.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Rockbridge County 35
Albemarle County, Virginia 41
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County.
Androscoggin County, Maine
AQI 35 · 85.5% good
Asotin County, Washington
AQI 35 · 73.8% good
Benton County, Washington
AQI 35 · 88.9% good
Benzie County, Michigan
AQI 35 · 91.1% good
Brooke County, West Virginia
AQI 35 · 79.3% good
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
AQI 35 · 87.5% good
What Rockbridge 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 35 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Rockbridge County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Rockbridge County with its Virginia neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Virginia
Based on 232 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 Rockbridge County, Virginia? ▼
Rockbridge County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 35, rated "Good." 96.5% of monitored days (224 out of 232) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Rockbridge County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Rockbridge County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 213 days (92% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Rockbridge County have? ▼
In 2025, Rockbridge County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 67.
Is the air quality in Rockbridge County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Rockbridge County is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 282 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 224 good days.
What does AQI 35 mean for health? ▼
Rockbridge County's median AQI of 35 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 Rockbridge County compare to other counties in Virginia? ▼
Rockbridge County has 96.5% 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 Rockbridge County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Rockbridge County is 45, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 67 (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.