Metro area air quality · 2025

Anchorage, AK

Median AQI 25 (Good). 78.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

25
Median AQI
78.6%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
59%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 182 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Anchorage, AK metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than the median US metro, a median AQI of 25 with 78.6% of 182 monitored days in the Good band.

25
median AQI · Good
78.6%
days rated Good
59%
cleaner than US metros
141
worst single reading

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

Insights: Anchorage, AK metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 25 over 182 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 143 Good days (79%), 36 Moderate (20%), and 3 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (2%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 62 while the highest single-day reading hit 141 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 23.6 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -138 and the median AQI moved -4 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 Aberdeen, SD (87.1% good, AQI 25); Cañon City, CO (91.1% good, AQI 25); Lubbock, TX (89.9% good, AQI 25).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

25

Good

Good Days

78.6%

143 of 182 days

Max AQI

141

USG

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 62

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 182 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

143

79%

Moderate

36

20%

USG

3

2%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Anchorage, AK metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 78.6% 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 Anchorage, AK metro compare?

How Anchorage, AK compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Anchorage, AK 78.6%
Aberdeen, SD 87.1%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI better than US avg
Anchorage, AK 25
Aberdeen, SD 25
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Anchorage, AK 0
Aberdeen, SD 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Anchorage, AK metro. Best year: 2023 (296 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 281 84 0 29
2021 270 91 1 31
2022 286 78 0 27
2023 296 68 0 25
2024 284 82 0 26
2025 143 36 0 25

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Anchorage, AK.

Aberdeen, SD

AQI 25 · 87.1% good

25

Cañon City, CO

AQI 25 · 91.1% good

25

Lubbock, TX

AQI 25 · 89.9% good

25

Albany, OR

AQI 24 · 84.5% good

24

Branson, MO

AQI 26 · 100.0% good

26

Coeur d'Alene, ID

AQI 24 · 88.4% good

24

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Cleanest Metro Areas

U.S. metros ranked by their share of Good air-quality days.

Worst Air Quality

Counties and metros with the most unhealthy air days.

All Metro Areas

Annual AQI by CBSA for every monitored U.S. metro area.

Best and Worst City Air

What drives urban air quality and how metro areas compare.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Anchorage, AK metro area? ▼
The Anchorage, AK metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 25, rated "Good." 78.6% of monitored days (143 out of 182) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Anchorage, AK have? ▼
In 2025, the Anchorage, AK metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 141.
Is air quality in Anchorage, AK getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Anchorage, AK metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 296 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 143 good days.
What does AQI 25 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 25 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 Anchorage, AK? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Anchorage, AK metro area is 62, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 141 (USG).
How does Anchorage, AK compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Anchorage, AK metro has 78.6% good air days. Similar metros: Aberdeen, SD (87.1% good), Cañon City, CO (91.1% good), Lubbock, TX (89.9% 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.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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.