Metro area air quality · 2024

Erie, PA

Median AQI 38 (Good). 80.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

38
Median AQI
80.6%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
66%
Cleaner than US metros

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

Insights: Erie, PA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 38 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 295 Good days (81%), 71 Moderate (19%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 56 while the highest single-day reading hit 93 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 24.2 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by -3 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 Americus, GA (93.4% good, AQI 38); Beaver Dam, WI (81.2% good, AQI 38); Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (91.9% good, AQI 38).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

38

Good

Good Days

80.6%

295 of 366 days

Max AQI

93

Moderate

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 56

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 366 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

295

81%

Moderate

71

19%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Erie, PA metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 80.6% 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 Erie, PA metro compare?

How Erie, PA compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Erie, PA 80.6%
Americus, GA 93.4%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Erie, PA 38
Americus, GA 38
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Erie, PA 0
Americus, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Erie, PA metro. Best year: 2020 (298 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 298 65 0 36
2021 255 74 0 38
2022 286 79 0 38
2023 240 116 3 42
2024 295 71 0 38

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Erie, PA.

Americus, GA

AQI 38 · 93.4% good

38

Beaver Dam, WI

AQI 38 · 81.2% good

38

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

AQI 38 · 91.9% good

38

Brainerd, MN

AQI 38 · 79.5% good

38

Dickinson, ND

AQI 38 · 82.8% good

38

Eau Claire, WI

AQI 38 · 81.7% good

38

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Air Quality Guides

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Health Effects of Air Pollution

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Erie, PA metro area? ▼
The Erie, PA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 80.6% of monitored days (295 out of 366) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Erie, PA have? ▼
In 2024, the Erie, PA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 93.
Is air quality in Erie, PA getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Erie, PA metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2020 with 298 good days. Worst year: 2023 with 240 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 38 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 Erie, PA? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Erie, PA metro area is 56, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 93 (Moderate).
How does Erie, PA compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Erie, PA metro has 80.6% good air days. Similar metros: Americus, GA (93.4% good), Beaver Dam, WI (81.2% good), Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA (91.9% 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