Metro area air quality · 2025

Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI

Median AQI 44 (Good). 75.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

44
Median AQI
75.0%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
53%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 92 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than the median US metro, a median AQI of 44 with 75.0% of 92 monitored days in the Good band.

44
median AQI · Good
75.0%
days rated Good
53%
cleaner than US metros
112
worst single reading

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

Insights: Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 44 over 92 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 69 Good days (75%), 21 Moderate (23%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (2%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 67 while the highest single-day reading hit 112 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 22.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -111 and the median AQI moved +5 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. 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 Athens-Clarke County, GA (66.7% good, AQI 44); Bartlesville, OK (65.6% good, AQI 44); Bloomington, IL (64.1% good, AQI 44).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

44

Good

Good Days

75.0%

69 of 92 days

Max AQI

112

USG

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 67

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 92 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

69

75%

Moderate

21

23%

USG

2

2%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 75.0% 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 Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro compare?

How Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI 75.0%
Athens-Clarke County, GA 66.7%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI 44
Athens-Clarke County, GA 44
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI 0
Athens-Clarke County, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro. Best year: 2021 (184 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 180 14 0 39
2021 184 36 0 41
2022 181 16 0 39
2023 138 48 0 44
2024 169 37 0 42
2025 69 21 0 44

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI.

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 Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro area?
The Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 44, rated "Good." 75.0% of monitored days (69 out of 92) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI have?
In 2025, the Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 112.
Is air quality in Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2021 with 184 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 69 good days.
What does AQI 44 mean for health?
An AQI of 44 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 Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro area is 67, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 112 (USG).
How does Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI compare to other metro areas?
The Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI metro has 75.0% good air days. Similar metros: Athens-Clarke County, GA (66.7% good), Bartlesville, OK (65.6% good), Bloomington, IL (64.1% 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.