Metro area air quality · 2025

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median AQI 46 (Good). 58.5% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

46
Median AQI
58.5%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
21%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 304 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro runs good on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 46 with 58.5% of 304 monitored days in the Good band.

46
median AQI · Good
58.5%
days rated Good
21%
cleaner than US metros
136
worst single reading

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

Insights: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 46 over 304 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 178 Good days (59%), 124 Moderate (41%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 66 while the highest single-day reading hit 136 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 17.6 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -83 and the median AQI moved +4 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 Albany, GA (55.6% good, AQI 46); Asheville, NC (68.1% good, AQI 46); Cedar City, UT (70.0% good, AQI 46).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

46

Good

Good Days

58.5%

178 of 304 days

Max AQI

136

USG

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 66

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 304 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

178

59%

Moderate

124

41%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 58.5% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro compare?

How Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 58.5%
Albany, GA 55.6%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 46
Albany, GA 46
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 0
Albany, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro. Best year: 2022 (273 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 261 103 2 42
2021 227 137 0 45
2022 273 92 0 41
2023 168 182 3 52
2024 247 119 0 45
2025 178 124 0 46

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.

Albany, GA

AQI 46 · 55.6% good

46

Asheville, NC

AQI 46 · 68.1% good

46

Cedar City, UT

AQI 46 · 70.0% good

46

Evansville, IN-KY

AQI 46 · 61.6% good

46

Gainesville, GA

AQI 46 · 55.0% good

46

Hattiesburg, MS

AQI 46 · 62.4% good

46

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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area? ▼
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 58.5% of monitored days (178 out of 304) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA have? ▼
In 2025, the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 136.
Is air quality in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 273 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 168 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 46 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is 66, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 136 (USG).
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro has 58.5% good air days. Similar metros: Albany, GA (55.6% good), Asheville, NC (68.1% good), Cedar City, UT (70.0% 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.