Metro area air quality · 2024
Champaign-Urbana, IL
Median AQI 44 (Good). 68.3% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.
- 44
- Median AQI
- 68.3%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 41%
- Cleaner than US metros
Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 366 monitored days. EPA AQS →
The verdict
The Champaign-Urbana, IL metro runs good on the EPA scale — a median AQI of 44 with 68.3% of 366 monitored days in the Good band.
- 44
- median AQI · Good
- 68.3%
- days rated Good
- 41%
- cleaner than US metros
- 100
- worst single reading
No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2024.
Insights: Champaign-Urbana, IL metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 44 over 366 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 250 Good days (68%), 116 Moderate (32%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 60 while the highest single-day reading hit 100 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 20.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.
Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by +0 and the median AQI moved +0 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 Amarillo, TX (72.8% good, AQI 44); Berlin, NH-VT (81.1% good, AQI 44); Bloomington, IL (69.4% good, AQI 44).
Air Quality Summary
Median AQI
44
Good
Good Days
68.3%
250 of 366 days
Max AQI
100
Moderate
Health Grade
Moderate
90th pct: 60
AQI Day Breakdown (2024)
Distribution of 366 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
250
68%
Moderate
116
32%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Health Impact Assessment
The Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 68.3% 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 Champaign-Urbana, IL metro compare?
How Champaign-Urbana, IL compares
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro. Best year: 2024 (250 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 250 | 114 | 0 | 44 | 126 |
| 2021 | 236 | 129 | 0 | 44 | 99 |
| 2022 | 223 | 141 | 0 | 44 | 126 |
| 2023 | 196 | 156 | 1 | 48 | 277 |
| 2024 | 250 | 116 | 0 | 44 | 100 |
Metros with Similar Air Quality
Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Champaign-Urbana, IL.
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 Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Champaign-Urbana, IL have? ▼
Is air quality in Champaign-Urbana, IL getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 44 mean for health? ▼
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Champaign-Urbana, IL? ▼
How does Champaign-Urbana, IL compare to other metro areas? ▼
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 Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2024