Metro area air quality · 2025

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

Median AQI 52 (Moderate). 45.3% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

52
Median AQI
45.3%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
9%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 274 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 52 with 45.3% of 274 monitored days in the Good band.

52
median AQI · Moderate
45.3%
days rated Good
9%
cleaner than US metros
129
worst single reading

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

Insights: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 52 over 274 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 124 Good days (45%), 146 Moderate (53%), and 4 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 74 while the highest single-day reading hit 129 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 13.6 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -27 and the median AQI moved -1 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as improving. 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 El Dorado, AR (44.0% good, AQI 52); Greeley, CO (42.7% good, AQI 52); Jackson, MS (43.4% good, AQI 52).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

52

Moderate

Good Days

45.3%

124 of 274 days

Max AQI

129

USG

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 74

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

124

45%

Moderate

146

53%

USG

4

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 45.3% 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro compare?

How Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 45.3%
El Dorado, AR 44.0%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 52
El Dorado, AR 52
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 0
El Dorado, AR 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro. Best year: 2020 (151 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 151 212 0 53
2021 138 219 0 54
2022 127 229 1 54
2023 97 247 3 57
2024 110 242 1 56
2025 124 146 0 52

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA.

More Air Quality Data

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

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area?
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 52, rated "Moderate." 45.3% of monitored days (124 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA have?
In 2025, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 129.
Is air quality in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 151 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 97 good days.
What does AQI 52 mean for health?
An AQI of 52 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is 74, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 129 (USG).
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA compare to other metro areas?
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro has 45.3% good air days. Similar metros: El Dorado, AR (44.0% good), Greeley, CO (42.7% good), Jackson, MS (43.4% 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.

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.