What Is the Air Quality in Jackson, North Carolina?

Jackson, North Carolina earns an A — it is among the cleanest U.S. cities tracked by EPA monitoring, with median AQI averaging just 35 over the past five years. Days in the "Good" category dominate the calendar; air-quality alerts are rare.

Jackson, North Carolina's 5-year median AQI of 35 is 6 points below the national average of 41 — meaningfully cleaner than the typical U.S. metro tracked here. Within North Carolina, Jackson, North Carolina runs cleaner than the state average of 41 — a positive signal that local conditions (terrain, wind patterns, emission sources) are working in residents' favor.

For context within North Carolina: Hyde, North Carolina currently holds the state's cleanest grade (B, AQI 23), while Durham, North Carolina sits at the bottom (C, AQI 49).

Air quality in Jackson, North Carolina has been improving over the past decade, with median AQI dropping by roughly 1.7 points per year. That is consistent with the broader national pattern — most U.S. metros have seen steady reductions in particulate and ozone pollution since the 2010s as cleaner vehicles and power plants come online.

In 2014, Jackson, North Carolina posted a median AQI of 44. By 2021 that figure was 38 — a drop of 6 AQI points cleaner across 8 years of EPA records.

Across the past five years, this area has logged just 0 days where AQI rose into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range or worse — about 0 days per year, or roughly one every other month. That is a low count by national standards.

For most healthy adults, current air quality in this area does not require any change in behavior. People with severe asthma, COPD, or recent cardiac events should still keep an eye on daily AQI alerts, especially during wildfire season. Because ozone peaks in the afternoon on hot sunny days, plan outdoor exercise for early morning or after sunset on bad-air days.