Virginia Air Quality Rankings
County-level AQI rollup using EPA Air Quality System monitor records. Refreshed as new EPA AQS data lands.
County-by-county air quality data for Virginia based on EPA AQS annual AQI readings. Data covers 32 monitored counties for 2024.
Virginia (2024): 32 counties monitored. State average median AQI: 32 (national average: 38.8). 88% of monitored days rated "Good."
Virginia air quality on this page is drawn from the EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which aggregates daily readings from federal, state, tribal, and local monitors into annual summaries per county. The current dataset covers 32 Virginia counties with at least ten days of valid AQI readings in 2024, out of the state's total monitored counties.
The state-average median AQI across those counties is 32, compared with a national average of 38.8 in the same reporting period. On average, 88% of monitored days fell into the "Good" AQI bucket (0–50). The heaviest burden of unhealthy days lands on Pittsylvania County (0 days above AQI 100).
AQI values translate ambient concentrations of pollutants (ozone, PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO) onto a single 0–500 scale with six health-based bands. A low median AQI reflects typical daily conditions; peak values matter separately because short-term exposure drives most acute health effects. Counties without monitors are not "clean" - they are simply unmeasured by EPA AQS. For site-specific exposure guidance, check AirNow.gov alongside the county detail links below.
Which Virginia counties have the worst air quality?
Ranked by median AQI (higher = worse). Click a county for full environmental data.
| # | County | Median AQI | Unhealthy Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loudoun | 43 | 0 |
| 2 | Fairfax | 42 | 0 |
| 3 | Rockingham | 42 | 0 |
| 4 | Frederick | 41 | 0 |
| 5 | Madison | 41 | 0 |
| 6 | Chesterfield | 41 | 0 |
| 7 | Henrico | 41 | 0 |
| 8 | Wythe | 41 | 0 |
| 9 | Albemarle | 40 | 0 |
| 10 | Hanover | 39 | 0 |
| 11 | Hampton (city) | 39 | 0 |
| 12 | Roanoke | 39 | 0 |
| 13 | Giles | 38 | 0 |
| 14 | Caroline | 37 | 0 |
| 15 | Suffolk (city) | 37 | 0 |
| 16 | Rockbridge | 37 | 0 |
| 17 | Fauquier | 36 | 0 |
| 18 | Arlington | 36 | 0 |
| 19 | Richmond (city) | 36 | 0 |
| 20 | Virginia Beach (city) | 36 | 0 |
| 21 | Prince William | 35 | 0 |
| 22 | Stafford | 35 | 0 |
| 23 | Bristol (city) | 33 | 0 |
| 24 | Prince Edward | 33 | 0 |
| 25 | Norfolk (city) | 32 | 0 |
| 26 | Salem (city) | 32 | 0 |
| 27 | Lynchburg (city) | 28 | 0 |
| 28 | Carroll | 7 | 0 |
| 29 | Alexandria (city) | 6 | 0 |
| 30 | Winchester (city) | 6 | 0 |
| 31 | Hopewell (city) | 6 | 0 |
| 32 | Pittsylvania | 3 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality like in Virginia?
In 2024, Virginia had an average median AQI of 32 across 32 monitored counties, with 88% of monitored days rated "Good" (AQI 0–50). The national average median AQI is 38.8.
Which county in Virginia has the worst air quality?
Based on 2024 EPA AQS data, Pittsylvania County had the most unhealthy air days in Virginia - 0 days above AQI 100, with a median AQI of 3.
About This Data
Air quality data is from the EPA Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset. Counties with fewer than 10 monitored days are excluded. "Unhealthy days" counts days with AQI above 100 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse). All data is for 2024.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System (AQS) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System (AQS)
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.