Metro area air quality · 2025

Fairbanks, AK

Median AQI 42 (Good). 61.5% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

42
Median AQI
61.5%
Good-air days
4
Unhealthy days
27%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 182 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Fairbanks, AK metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 42 with 61.5% of 182 monitored days in the Good band.

42
median AQI · Good
61.5%
days rated Good
27%
cleaner than US metros
190
worst single reading

4 days reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Fairbanks, AK metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 42 over 182 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 112 Good days (62%), 60 Moderate (33%), and 6 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (3%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 87 while the highest single-day reading hit 190 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 18.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -119 and the median AQI moved +3 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. The metro recorded 4 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, on those days the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion, and many schools and athletic programs adjust outdoor activity accordingly. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (66.3% good, AQI 42); Bismarck, ND (75.8% good, AQI 42); Bloomington, IN (70.1% good, AQI 42).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

42

Good

Good Days

61.5%

112 of 182 days

Max AQI

190

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 87

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 182 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

112

62%

Moderate

60

33%

USG

6

3%

Unhealthy

4

2%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Fairbanks, AK metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 61.5% good air days. There were 4 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 6 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 190. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Fairbanks, AK metro compare?

How Fairbanks, AK compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Fairbanks, AK 61.5%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 66.3%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Fairbanks, AK 42
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 42
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Fairbanks, AK 4
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Fairbanks, AK metro. Best year: 2020 (231 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 231 98 20 39
2021 211 120 13 42
2022 213 105 27 43
2023 224 109 10 41
2024 213 128 8 42
2025 112 60 4 42

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Fairbanks, AK.

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

AQI 42 · 66.3% good

42

Bismarck, ND

AQI 42 · 75.8% good

42

Bloomington, IN

AQI 42 · 70.1% good

42

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

AQI 42 · 74.4% good

42

Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL

AQI 42 · 72.2% good

42

Decatur, AL

AQI 42 · 81.1% good

42

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 Fairbanks, AK metro area? ▼
The Fairbanks, AK metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 61.5% of monitored days (112 out of 182) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Fairbanks, AK have? ▼
In 2025, the Fairbanks, AK metro area recorded 4 unhealthy air days (4 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 190.
Is air quality in Fairbanks, AK getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Fairbanks, AK metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 231 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 112 good days.
What does AQI 42 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 42 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 Fairbanks, AK? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Fairbanks, AK metro area is 87, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 190 (Unhealthy).
How does Fairbanks, AK compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Fairbanks, AK metro has 61.5% good air days. Similar metros: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (66.3% good), Bismarck, ND (75.8% good), Bloomington, IN (70.1% 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.