State air quality · 2024

Oregon Air Quality

Across 21 monitored counties, Oregon averages a median AQI of 29 (Good) and 82.8% good-air days, from EPA AQS.

29
Avg median AQI
82.8%
Good-air days
21
Counties monitored
70%
Cleaner than US states

Verify with AirNow → · EPA AQS →

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, across 21 monitored counties, Oregon averages a good median AQI of 29, cleaner than the median US state, with 82.8% of days in the Good band, but the gap between Columbia and Lane County is the real story.

29
avg median AQI · Good
82.8%
days in the Good band
16/21
counties ≥75% Good days
70%
cleaner than other states

Cleanest: Columbia County (96.7% Good days). Most polluted: Lane County (64.6%).

Data updated July 2026

Oregon: 21 monitored counties (2024), avg median AQI 29 (Good), 82.8% good-air days, 0 total unhealthy days (0.0%). Best: Columbia County (96.7%). Worst: Lane County (64.6%). Worst single reading: AQI 117. EPA AQS methodology + AQI interpretation →

A statewide average smooths over real differences between counties, so it should be read as a starting point rather than a verdict on any one place. Within almost every state, a handful of urban or wildfire-prone counties carry most of the unhealthy days while rural counties sit near the clean end of the scale, and the gap between the best and worst county is often wider than the gap between two neighboring states. Coverage matters too: the Environmental Protection Agency places monitors where population density, emission sources, or attainment status warrant them, so a state with few monitored counties is described by a thinner sample than one blanketed with stations. The figures here count only the days each monitor actually reported, which keeps lightly monitored and heavily monitored counties on comparable footing but cannot speak for the roughly two thousand U.S. counties that have no monitor at all. For a fuller picture, open the individual county profiles below and compare the primary pollutant, the share of Good days, and the five-year trend for the places that matter to you.

Counties Monitored

21

Avg Good Days %

82.8%

Avg Median AQI

29

Total Unhealthy Days

0

Best Air Quality

Columbia County

Worst Air Quality

Lane County

Which counties in Oregon have the cleanest and most polluted air?

Cleanest counties in Oregon

Share of monitored days rated Good (AQI 0–50)

  1. 1 Columbia County 96.7%
  2. 2 Clackamas County 93.9%
  3. 3 Deschutes County 93.4%
  4. 4 Union County 92.8%
  5. 5 Wasco County 92.8%
  6. 6 Wallowa County 91.2%
  7. 7 Baker County 89%
  8. 8 Jefferson County 86.7%
  9. 9 Marion County 85.1%
  10. 10 Washington County 84.6%
  11. 11 Linn County 84.5%
  12. 12 Lake County 82.8%

Good-day share · EPA Air Quality System

County Good % Median AQI
Columbia 96.7% 25
Clackamas 93.9% 27
Deschutes 93.4% 22
Union 92.8% 22
Wasco 92.8% 23
Wallowa 91.2% 23
Baker 89.0% 25
Jefferson 86.7% 22
Marion 85.1% 34
Washington 84.6% 36
Linn 84.5% 24
Lake 82.8% 24
Multnomah 82.4% 38
Crook 80.7% 24
Umatilla 79.6% 39
Josephine 76.2% 31
Jackson 74.0% 42
Klamath 71.3% 32
Harney 70.7% 26
Grant 66.7% 34
Lane 64.6% 42

Reading Oregon's air quality

A statewide average is a starting point, not a verdict, what matters is the county you actually breathe in.

  • Open your county's profile for its primary pollutant, Good-day share, and where it sits among 21 monitored counties. County profiles
  • Columbia County (96.7% Good days) and Lane County (64.6%) bracket the range, compare both before drawing a conclusion. See the cleanest
  • New to the scale? The AQI guide explains what a median of 29 means for sensitive groups. Understand AQI

Figures count only days each EPA monitor reported; roughly two thousand U.S. counties have no monitor and are not represented. Data: EPA AQS annual summaries, 2020–2025.

Explore Oregon air quality

Dig into the cleanest and most-polluted counties, metro areas, and national rankings.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in Oregon?
Oregon has 21 counties with EPA air quality monitoring. The average median AQI across all monitored counties is 29, and 82.8% of monitored days have good air quality on average.
Which county in Oregon has the best air quality?
Columbia County has the best air quality in Oregon based on EPA AQS data. Counties are ranked by the percentage of monitored days with "Good" AQI (0-50).
Which county in Oregon has the worst air quality?
Lane County has the worst air quality in Oregon. The state recorded 0 total unhealthy air days across all 21 monitored counties.
How many counties in Oregon have air quality monitors?
21 counties in Oregon have active EPA Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring stations. Only counties with monitors are included in AQI data. Unmonitored counties are not represented.
How many unhealthy air days does Oregon have?
Oregon recorded 0 total unhealthy air days across all 21 monitored counties. These include days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, or Hazardous on the EPA AQI scale.

Data Sources

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

Coverage: 21 counties in Oregon with active monitoring stations. Unmonitored counties are not represented.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by county summary files, aggregated to the state 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.

Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.