Metro area air quality · 2024

Morehead City, NC

Median AQI 35 (Good). 98.1% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

35
Median AQI
98.1%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
97%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 364 monitored days. EPA AQS → · NOAA →

Insights: Morehead City, NC metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 35 over 364 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Excellent metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 357 Good days (98%), 7 Moderate (2%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 45 while the highest single-day reading hit 71 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 29.4 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by -2 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 Arkadelphia, AR (93.3% good, AQI 35); Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (82.5% good, AQI 35); Augusta-Waterville, ME (84.7% good, AQI 35).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

35

Good

Good Days

98.1%

357 of 364 days

Max AQI

71

Moderate

Health Grade

Excellent

90th pct: 45

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 364 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

357

98%

Moderate

7

2%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Excellent

The Morehead City, NC metro area's air quality is rated Excellent based on 98.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2024.

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

How does the Morehead City, NC metro compare?

How Morehead City, NC compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Morehead City, NC 98.1%
Arkadelphia, AR 93.3%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Morehead City, NC 35
Arkadelphia, AR 35
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Morehead City, NC 0
Arkadelphia, AR 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Morehead City, NC metro. Best year: 2020 (359 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 359 3 0 34
2021 337 15 0 35
2022 346 13 0 35
2023 319 31 0 38
2024 357 7 0 35

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Morehead City, NC.

Arkadelphia, AR

AQI 35 · 93.3% good

35

Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

AQI 35 · 82.5% good

35

Augusta-Waterville, ME

AQI 35 · 84.7% good

35

Beatrice, NE

AQI 35 · 73.0% good

35

Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA

AQI 35 · 93.3% good

35

Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT

AQI 35 · 91.3% good

35

More Air Quality Data

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Worst Air Quality

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All Metro Areas

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Air Quality Guides

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Understanding AQI

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Health Effects of Air Pollution

How PM2.5 and ozone exposure affects respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Morehead City, NC metro area? ▼
The Morehead City, NC metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 35, rated "Good." 98.1% of monitored days (357 out of 364) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Morehead City, NC have? ▼
In 2024, the Morehead City, NC metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 71.
Is air quality in Morehead City, NC getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Morehead City, NC metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2020 with 359 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 319 good days.
What does AQI 35 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 35 is "Good", air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk. This is the best category on the EPA's AQI scale.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Morehead City, NC? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Morehead City, NC metro area is 45, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 71 (Moderate).
How does Morehead City, NC compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Morehead City, NC metro has 98.1% good air days. Similar metros: Arkadelphia, AR (93.3% good), Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (82.5% good), Augusta-Waterville, ME (84.7% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2024. The AQS collects ambient air monitoring data from state, local, and tribal monitoring agencies across the United States.

Metrics: Air Quality Index (AQI) is calculated using EPA-standard breakpoints for six criteria pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, NO2, CO, and SO2. Median AQI, max AQI, and 90th percentile AQI are computed from daily measurements. Good days percentage reflects days with AQI 0–50.

Coverage: 501 metro areas (Core Based Statistical Areas). Only metros with active monitoring stations are included. Unmonitored areas are not represented.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: U.S. EPA, AirNow / AQS Air Quality Index readings and pollutant concentrations · 2025