Median AQI
41
Good
Virginia · County air quality · 2025
Rockingham County, Virginia
Median AQI 41 (Good). 76.9% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 41
- Median AQI
- 76.9%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 43%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Rockingham County's air is good on balance, more polluted than the median US county, a median AQI of 41 with 76.9% of 273 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 41
- median AQI · Good
- 76.9%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 43%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 80.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 210 d · 76.9%
- Moderate · 63 d · 23.1%
How did Rockingham County's air break down in 2025?
Across 273 monitored days, 210 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 80 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 273 days monitored. Median AQI: 41 (Good).
Insights: Rockingham County, Virginia. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 41 across 273 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 210 (77%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 63 (23%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 58, while the worst single-day peak hit 80 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 23.1 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (135 days), Ozone (129 days), NO2 (9 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -134 and the median AQI moved +8 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 80, 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
76.9%
210 of 273 monitored days
1.9pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
80
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 58
Rockingham County, Good days share 76.9%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Rockingham 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 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
210
77%
Moderate
63
23%
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 Rockingham County.
- PM2.5 · 135 days · 49.5%
- Ozone · 129 days · 47.3%
- NO₂ · 9 days · 3.3%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Rockingham County's air quality is rated Good based on 76.9% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 76.9% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 41. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 135 of 273 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Rockingham County. Best year: 2020 (344 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 344 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 77 |
| 2021 | 316 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 87 |
| 2022 | 332 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 74 |
| 2023 | 322 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 168 |
| 2024 | 283 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 83 |
| 2025 | 210 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 80 |
How does Rockingham County compare?
How Rockingham County compares
Good-day share about average
Rockingham County 76.9%
Albemarle County, Virginia 77.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Rockingham County 41
Albemarle County, Virginia 41
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Rockingham 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 Rockingham County.
Albemarle County, Virginia
AQI 41 · 77.9% good
Anderson County, South Carolina
AQI 41 · 90.0% good
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
AQI 41 · 71.6% good
Berrien County, Michigan
AQI 41 · 80.9% good
Blair County, Pennsylvania
AQI 41 · 71.9% good
Bonner County, Idaho
AQI 41 · 71.3% good
What Rockingham 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 41 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Rockingham County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Rockingham County with its Virginia neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Virginia
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 Rockingham County, Virginia? ▼
Rockingham County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 76.9% of monitored days (210 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Rockingham County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Rockingham County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 135 days (49% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Rockingham County have? ▼
In 2025, Rockingham County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 80.
Is the air quality in Rockingham County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Rockingham County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 344 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 210 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health? ▼
Rockingham County's median AQI of 41 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 Rockingham County compare to other counties in Virginia? ▼
Rockingham County has 76.9% 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 Rockingham County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Rockingham County is 58, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 80 (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.