Median AQI
35
Good
Washington · County air quality · 2025
Benton County, Washington
Median AQI 35 (Good). 88.9% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 35
- Median AQI
- 88.9%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 73%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Benton County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 35 with 88.9% of 243 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 35
- median AQI · Good
- 88.9%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 73%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 68.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 216 d · 88.9%
- Moderate · 27 d · 11.1%
How did Benton County's air break down in 2025?
Across 243 monitored days, 216 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 68 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 243 days monitored. Median AQI: 35 (Good).
Insights: Benton County, Washington. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 35 across 243 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 216 (89%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 27 (11%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 51, while the worst single-day peak hit 68 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 26.7 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (108 days), Ozone (101 days), PM10 (34 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -68 and the median AQI moved +0 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 68, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Adams (94.7% good, AQI 19); Asotin (73.8% good, AQI 35); Chelan (87.2% good, AQI 27); Clallam (88.5% good, AQI 26); Clark (89.3% good, AQI 31); Columbia (93.0% good, AQI 37).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
88.9%
216 of 243 monitored days
13.9pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
68
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 51
Benton County, Good days share 88.9%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Benton 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 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
216
89%
Moderate
27
11%
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 Benton County.
- PM2.5 · 108 days · 44.4%
- Ozone · 101 days · 41.6%
- PM10 · 34 days · 14.0%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Benton County's air quality is rated Good based on 88.9% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 88.9% 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 PM2.5, driving AQI on 108 of 243 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Benton County. Best year: 2024 (299 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 284 | 69 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 954 |
| 2021 | 283 | 73 | 6 | 3 | 36 | 180 |
| 2022 | 278 | 84 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 151 |
| 2023 | 262 | 99 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 261 |
| 2024 | 299 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 126 |
| 2025 | 216 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 68 |
How does Benton County compare?
How Benton County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Benton County 88.9%
Adams County, Washington 94.7%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Benton County 35
Adams County, Washington 19
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Benton County 0
Adams County, Washington 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Washington
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Washington.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Benton County.
Androscoggin County, Maine
AQI 35 · 85.5% good
Asotin County, Washington
AQI 35 · 73.8% 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
Carlton County, Minnesota
AQI 35 · 92.9% good
What Benton 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 35 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Benton County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Benton County with its Washington neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Washington
Based on 243 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 Benton County, Washington? ▼
Benton County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 35, rated "Good." 88.9% of monitored days (216 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Benton County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Benton County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 108 days (44% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Benton County have? ▼
In 2025, Benton County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 68.
Is the air quality in Benton County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Benton County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 299 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 216 good days.
What does AQI 35 mean for health? ▼
Benton 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 Benton County compare to other counties in Washington? ▼
Benton County has 88.9% good air days. Nearby counties in Washington: Adams (94.7% good), Asotin (73.8% good), Chelan (87.2% good), Clallam (88.5% good), Clark (89.3% good), Columbia (93.0% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Benton County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Benton County is 51, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 68 (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.