Metro area air quality · 2024

Baraboo, WI

Median AQI 37 (Good). 85.3% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

37
Median AQI
85.3%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
77%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 366 monitored days. EPA AQS → · NOAA →

Insights: Baraboo, WI metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 37 over 366 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 312 Good days (85%), 54 Moderate (15%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 53 while the highest single-day reading hit 77 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 25.6 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by +48 and the median AQI moved -4 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (76.5% good, AQI 37); Altoona, PA (80.9% good, AQI 37); Appleton, WI (79.5% good, AQI 37).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

37

Good

Good Days

85.3%

312 of 366 days

Max AQI

77

Moderate

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 53

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 366 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

312

85%

Moderate

54

15%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Baraboo, WI metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 85.3% 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 Baraboo, WI metro compare?

How Baraboo, WI compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Baraboo, WI 85.3%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 76.5%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Baraboo, WI 37
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 37
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Baraboo, WI 0
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Baraboo, WI metro. Best year: 2024 (312 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 264 101 0 41
2021 236 129 0 44
2022 265 95 0 41
2023 218 123 4 44
2024 312 54 0 37

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Baraboo, WI.

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

AQI 37 · 76.5% good

37

Altoona, PA

AQI 37 · 80.9% good

37

Appleton, WI

AQI 37 · 79.5% good

37

Bay City, MI

AQI 37 · 76.3% good

37

Burlington-South Burlington, VT

AQI 37 · 88.3% good

37

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

AQI 37 · 92.1% good

37

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

Learn more about air quality monitoring, pollutants, and health impacts.

Understanding AQI

What each AQI level means and who is most at risk.

Best & Worst City Air Quality

Metro area air quality rankings and what drives urban pollution.

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 Baraboo, WI metro area? ▼
The Baraboo, WI metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 37, rated "Good." 85.3% of monitored days (312 out of 366) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Baraboo, WI have? ▼
In 2024, the Baraboo, WI metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 77.
Is air quality in Baraboo, WI getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Baraboo, WI metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2024 with 312 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 218 good days.
What does AQI 37 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 37 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 Baraboo, WI? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Baraboo, WI metro area is 53, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 77 (Moderate).
How does Baraboo, WI compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Baraboo, WI metro has 85.3% good air days. Similar metros: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (76.5% good), Altoona, PA (80.9% good), Appleton, WI (79.5% 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