Metro area air quality · 2025

Baton Rouge, LA

Median AQI 54 (Moderate). 35.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

54
Median AQI
35.0%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
4%
Cleaner than US metros

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

The verdict

The Baton Rouge, LA metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 54 with 35.0% of 274 monitored days in the Good band.

54
median AQI · Moderate
35.0%
days rated Good
4%
cleaner than US metros
115
worst single reading

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

Insights: Baton Rouge, LA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 54 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 96 Good days (35%), 176 Moderate (64%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 71 while the highest single-day reading hit 115 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 10.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -80 and the median AQI moved +3 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. 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 Bishop, CA (40.7% good, AQI 54); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (34.3% good, AQI 54); Cleveland-Elyria, OH (42.6% good, AQI 54).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

54

Moderate

Good Days

35.0%

96 of 274 days

Max AQI

115

USG

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 71

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

96

35%

Moderate

176

64%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Baton Rouge, LA metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 35.0% 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 Baton Rouge, LA metro compare?

How Baton Rouge, LA compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Baton Rouge, LA 35.0%
Bishop, CA 40.7%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Baton Rouge, LA 54
Bishop, CA 54
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Baton Rouge, LA 0
Bishop, CA 3
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Baton Rouge, LA metro. Best year: 2020 (176 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 176 184 0 51
2021 139 221 1 53
2022 130 224 1 53
2023 99 242 1 56
2024 138 214 2 53
2025 96 176 0 54

Metros with Similar Air Quality

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

Bishop, CA

AQI 54 · 40.7% good

54

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

AQI 54 · 34.3% good

54

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

AQI 54 · 42.6% good

54

Columbus, OH

AQI 54 · 39.0% good

54

Fort Collins, CO

AQI 54 · 40.1% good

54

Fresno, CA

AQI 54 · 40.1% good

54

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 Baton Rouge, LA metro area? ▼
The Baton Rouge, LA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 54, rated "Moderate." 35.0% of monitored days (96 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Baton Rouge, LA have? ▼
In 2025, the Baton Rouge, LA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 115.
Is air quality in Baton Rouge, LA getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Baton Rouge, LA metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 176 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 96 good days.
What does AQI 54 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 54 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 Baton Rouge, LA? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is 71, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 115 (USG).
How does Baton Rouge, LA compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Baton Rouge, LA metro has 35.0% good air days. Similar metros: Bishop, CA (40.7% good), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (34.3% good), Cleveland-Elyria, OH (42.6% 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.