Metro area air quality · 2025
Ellensburg, WA
Median AQI 22 (Good). 84.8% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.
- 22
- Median AQI
- 84.8%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 76%
- Cleaner than US metros
Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 243 monitored days. EPA AQS →
The verdict
The Ellensburg, WA metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than most US metros, a median AQI of 22 with 84.8% of 243 monitored days in the Good band.
- 22
- median AQI · Good
- 84.8%
- days rated Good
- 76%
- cleaner than US metros
- 81
- worst single reading
No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2025.
Insights: Ellensburg, WA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 22 over 243 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 206 Good days (85%), 37 Moderate (15%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 54 while the highest single-day reading hit 81 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 25.4 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.
Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -91 and the median AQI moved -2 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 Bend-Redmond, OR (93.4% good, AQI 22); Emporia, KS (88.9% good, AQI 22); Gardnerville Ranchos, NV (90.9% good, AQI 22).
Air Quality Summary
Median AQI
22
Good
Good Days
84.8%
206 of 243 days
Max AQI
81
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th pct: 54
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
206
85%
Moderate
37
15%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Health Impact Assessment
The Ellensburg, WA metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 84.8% 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 Ellensburg, WA metro compare?
How Ellensburg, WA compares
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in the Ellensburg, WA metro. Best year: 2024 (320 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 297 | 57 | 3 | 24 | 724 |
| 2021 | 303 | 57 | 2 | 28 | 173 |
| 2022 | 259 | 100 | 2 | 28 | 164 |
| 2023 | 287 | 74 | 1 | 29 | 254 |
| 2024 | 320 | 46 | 0 | 23 | 94 |
| 2025 | 206 | 37 | 0 | 22 | 81 |
Metros with Similar Air Quality
Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Ellensburg, WA.
More Air Quality Data
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Worst Air Quality
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All Metro Areas
Annual AQI by CBSA for every monitored U.S. metro area.
Best and Worst City Air
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Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in the Ellensburg, WA metro area? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Ellensburg, WA have? ▼
Is air quality in Ellensburg, WA getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 22 mean for health? ▼
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Ellensburg, WA? ▼
How does Ellensburg, WA compare to other metro areas? ▼
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2025. 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.