Metro area air quality · 2025

Fargo, ND-MN

Median AQI 39 (Good). 73.2% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

39
Median AQI
73.2%
Good-air days
7
Unhealthy days
50%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 239 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Fargo, ND-MN metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than the median US metro, a median AQI of 39 with 73.2% of 239 monitored days in the Good band.

39
median AQI · Good
73.2%
days rated Good
50%
cleaner than US metros
192
worst single reading

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

Insights: Fargo, ND-MN metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 39 over 239 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 175 Good days (73%), 53 Moderate (22%), and 4 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (2%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 84 while the highest single-day reading hit 192 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 22.0 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -128 and the median AQI moved +2 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 7 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 Beaver Dam, WI (76.4% good, AQI 39); Bennington, VT (82.9% good, AQI 39); Billings, MT (86.7% good, AQI 39).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

39

Good

Good Days

73.2%

175 of 239 days

Max AQI

192

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 84

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 239 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

175

73%

Moderate

53

22%

USG

4

2%

Unhealthy

7

3%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Fargo, ND-MN metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 73.2% good air days. There were 7 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 4 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 192. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Fargo, ND-MN metro compare?

How Fargo, ND-MN compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Fargo, ND-MN 73.2%
Beaver Dam, WI 76.4%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI better than US avg
Fargo, ND-MN 39
Beaver Dam, WI 39
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Fargo, ND-MN 7
Beaver Dam, WI 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Fargo, ND-MN metro. Best year: 2020 (303 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 303 60 0 37
2021 227 119 8 42
2022 285 79 0 40
2023 180 166 2 50
2024 288 76 1 38
2025 175 53 7 39

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Fargo, ND-MN.

Beaver Dam, WI

AQI 39 · 76.4% good

39

Bennington, VT

AQI 39 · 82.9% good

39

Billings, MT

AQI 39 · 86.7% good

39

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA

AQI 39 · 92.4% good

39

Brainerd, MN

AQI 39 · 84.4% good

39

Brunswick, GA

AQI 39 · 81.9% good

39

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 Fargo, ND-MN metro area? ▼
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 39, rated "Good." 73.2% of monitored days (175 out of 239) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Fargo, ND-MN have? ▼
In 2025, the Fargo, ND-MN metro area recorded 7 unhealthy air days (7 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 192.
Is air quality in Fargo, ND-MN getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Fargo, ND-MN metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 303 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 175 good days.
What does AQI 39 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 39 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 Fargo, ND-MN? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Fargo, ND-MN metro area is 84, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 192 (Unhealthy).
How does Fargo, ND-MN compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Fargo, ND-MN metro has 73.2% good air days. Similar metros: Beaver Dam, WI (76.4% good), Bennington, VT (82.9% good), Billings, MT (86.7% 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.