Metro area air quality · 2024

Alexandria, LA

Median AQI 39 (Good). 70.3% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

39
Median AQI
70.3%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
45%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 121 monitored days. EPA AQS → · NOAA →

Insights: Alexandria, LA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 39 over 121 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 85 Good days (70%), 35 Moderate (29%), and 1 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 56 while the highest single-day reading hit 102 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 21.1 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by -10 and the median AQI moved +5 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 Bend-Redmond, OR (70.5% good, AQI 39); Billings, MT (76.2% good, AQI 39); Brunswick, GA (78.1% good, AQI 39).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

39

Good

Good Days

70.3%

85 of 121 days

Max AQI

102

USG

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 56

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 121 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

85

70%

Moderate

35

29%

USG

1

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Alexandria, LA metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 70.3% 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 Alexandria, LA metro compare?

How Alexandria, LA compares

Good-day share about average
Alexandria, LA 70.3%
Bend-Redmond, OR 70.5%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Alexandria, LA 39
Bend-Redmond, OR 39
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Alexandria, LA 0
Bend-Redmond, OR 7
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Alexandria, LA metro. Best year: 2021 (96 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 95 25 0 34
2021 96 26 0 38
2022 85 33 0 38
2023 74 45 0 43
2024 85 35 0 39

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Alexandria, LA.

Bend-Redmond, OR

AQI 39 · 70.5% good

39

Billings, MT

AQI 39 · 76.2% good

39

Brunswick, GA

AQI 39 · 78.1% good

39

College Station-Bryan, TX

AQI 39 · 65.7% good

39

Columbia, MO

AQI 39 · 94.2% good

39

Duluth, MN-WI

AQI 39 · 78.1% good

39

More Air Quality Data

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Worst Air Quality

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All Metro Areas

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Best and Worst City Air

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Air Quality Guides

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Understanding AQI

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Best & Worst City Air Quality

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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 Alexandria, LA metro area? ▼
The Alexandria, LA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 39, rated "Good." 70.3% of monitored days (85 out of 121) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Alexandria, LA have? ▼
In 2024, the Alexandria, LA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 102.
Is air quality in Alexandria, LA getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Alexandria, LA metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2021 with 96 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 74 good days.
What does AQI 39 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 39 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 Alexandria, LA? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Alexandria, LA metro area is 56, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 102 (USG).
How does Alexandria, LA compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Alexandria, LA metro has 70.3% good air days. Similar metros: Bend-Redmond, OR (70.5% good), Billings, MT (76.2% good), Brunswick, GA (78.1% 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