Median AQI
30
Good
Virginia · County air quality · 2025
Salem City County, Virginia
Median AQI 30 (Good). 79.6% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 30
- Median AQI
- 79.6%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 51%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Salem City County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 30 with 79.6% of 98 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 30
- median AQI · Good
- 79.6%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 51%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 76.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 78 d · 79.6%
- Moderate · 20 d · 20.4%
How did Salem City County's air break down in 2025?
Across 98 monitored days, 78 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 76 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 98 days monitored. Median AQI: 30 (Good).
Insights: Salem City County, Virginia. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 30 across 98 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 78 (80%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 20 (20%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 55, while the worst single-day peak hit 76 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 23.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (98 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -16 and the median AQI moved -1 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 76, 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
79.6%
78 of 98 monitored days
4.6pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
76
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 55
Salem City County, Good days share 79.6%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Salem 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 98 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
78
80%
Moderate
20
20%
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 Salem City County.
- PM2.5 · 98 days · 100.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Salem City County's air quality is rated Good based on 79.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 79.6% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 30. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 98 of 98 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Salem City County. Best year: 2024 (99 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 94 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 69 |
| 2021 | 95 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 91 |
| 2022 | 98 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 66 |
| 2023 | 87 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 146 |
| 2024 | 99 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 67 |
| 2025 | 78 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 76 |
How does Salem City County compare?
How Salem City County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Salem City County 79.6%
Albemarle County, Virginia 77.9%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Salem City County 30
Albemarle County, Virginia 41
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Salem 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 Salem City County.
Canyon County, Idaho
AQI 30 · 87.2% good
Guaynabo County, Puerto Rico
AQI 30 · 86.0% good
Hawaii County, Hawaii
AQI 30 · 81.1% good
Lynchburg City County, Virginia
AQI 30 · 84.2% good
Putnam County, Tennessee
AQI 30 · 88.6% good
Whatcom County, Washington
AQI 30 · 96.6% good
What Salem 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 30 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Salem City County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Salem City County with its Virginia neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Virginia
Based on 98 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 Salem City County, Virginia? ▼
Salem City County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 30, rated "Good." 79.6% of monitored days (78 out of 98) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Salem City County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Salem City County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 98 days (100% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Salem City County have? ▼
In 2025, Salem City County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 76.
Is the air quality in Salem City County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Salem City County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 99 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 78 good days.
What does AQI 30 mean for health? ▼
Salem City County's median AQI of 30 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 Salem City County compare to other counties in Virginia? ▼
Salem City County has 79.6% 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 Salem City County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Salem City County is 55, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 76 (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.