Metro area air quality · 2025

Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC

Median AQI 51 (Moderate). 47.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

51
Median AQI
47.6%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
11%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 273 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 51 with 47.6% of 273 monitored days in the Good band.

51
median AQI · Moderate
47.6%
days rated Good
11%
cleaner than US metros
130
worst single reading

No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 51 over 273 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 130 Good days (48%), 142 Moderate (52%), and 1 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 68 while the highest single-day reading hit 130 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 14.3 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -36 and the median AQI moved -1 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. The metro avoided any Unhealthy-tier days entirely, an outcome that typically reflects favorable wind patterns, lower industrial density, or effective regional emission controls. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Canton-Massillon, OH (49.5% good, AQI 51); Carlsbad-Artesia, NM (46.9% good, AQI 51); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (46.9% good, AQI 51).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

51

Moderate

Good Days

47.6%

130 of 273 days

Max AQI

130

USG

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 68

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

130

48%

Moderate

142

52%

USG

1

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 47.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality is generally acceptable. Unusually sensitive people should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.

How does the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro compare?

How Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 47.6%
Canton-Massillon, OH 49.5%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 51
Canton-Massillon, OH 51
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 0
Canton-Massillon, OH 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro. Best year: 2022 (181 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 166 199 0 52
2021 158 200 0 52
2022 181 184 0 51
2023 160 205 0 52
2024 159 205 0 52
2025 130 142 0 51

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC.

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area?
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 51, rated "Moderate." 47.6% of monitored days (130 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC have?
In 2025, the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 130.
Is air quality in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 181 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 130 good days.
What does AQI 51 mean for health?
An AQI of 51 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area is 68, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 130 (USG).
How does Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC compare to other metro areas?
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro has 47.6% good air days. Similar metros: Canton-Massillon, OH (49.5% good), Carlsbad-Artesia, NM (46.9% good), Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (46.9% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2025. See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2025

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.