Metro area air quality · 2025
Fort Dodge, IA
Median AQI 45 (Good). 59.2% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.
- 45
- Median AQI
- 59.2%
- Good-air days
- 2
- Unhealthy days
- 24%
- Cleaner than US metros
Fort Dodge, IA posted a 2025 median AQI of 45 (Good) with 59.2% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, the Fort Dodge, IA CBSA recorded a median AQI of 45 across 184 monitored days in 2025, with 59.2% rated Good and 2 unhealthy or worse. This is an annual metro comparison, not a live advisory.
Data source EPA Air Quality System (AQS)
- Cleaner than US metros
- The Fort Dodge, IA CBSA's 59.2% Good-day share places it cleaner than 24% of US metros in 2025.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Akron, OH (61.6% Good, median AQI 45) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Fort Dodge, IA.
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 45
- Good days
- Good days: 59.2%
Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 184 monitored days. EPA AQS →
The verdict
The Fort Dodge, IA metro runs good on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 45 with 59.2% of 184 monitored days in the Good band.
- 45
- median AQI · Good
- 59.2%
- days rated Good
- 24%
- cleaner than US metros
- 165
- worst single reading
2 days reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.
Insights: Fort Dodge, IA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 45 over 184 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 109 Good days (59%), 71 Moderate (39%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 65 while the highest single-day reading hit 165 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 17.8 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.
Across the 2025–2025 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by an amount the record cannot support and the median AQI moved +0 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as tracked. The annual record contains 2 days at Unhealthy or worse. On those days, the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Akron, OH (61.6% good, AQI 45); Ardmore, OK (67.9% good, AQI 45); Asheville, NC (69.9% good, AQI 45).
Air Quality Summary
Median AQI
45
Good
Good Days
59.2%
109 of 184 days
Max AQI
165
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th pct: 65
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 184 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
109
59%
Moderate
71
39%
USG
2
1%
Unhealthy
2
1%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Health Impact Assessment
The Fort Dodge, IA metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 59.2% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 2 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 165. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
How does the Fort Dodge, IA metro compare?
How Fort Dodge, IA compares
Metros with a similar median AQI
CBSA peers nationwide whose annual median AQI sits near Fort Dodge, IA (45).
Akron, OH
Median AQI 45 · 61.6% Good-day share
Ardmore, OK
Median AQI 45 · 67.9% Good-day share
Asheville, NC
Median AQI 45 · 69.9% Good-day share
Cheyenne, WY
Median AQI 45 · 75.1% Good-day share
Clinton, IA
Median AQI 45 · 59.5% Good-day share
Gadsden, AL
Median AQI 45 · 61.4% Good-day share
Metros with similar unhealthy-day exposure
A second relationship type: metros whose unhealthy-or-worse day count is closest to Fort Dodge, IA's 2 (independent of median AQI).
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 44
Chattanooga, TN-GA
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 49
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 56
Columbus, GA-AL
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 48
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 46
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 52
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 Fort Dodge, IA metro area? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Fort Dodge, IA have? ▼
Is air quality in Fort Dodge, IA getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 45 mean for health? ▼
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Fort Dodge, IA? ▼
How does Fort Dodge, IA 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
Share this annual record
Send the source-year summary or download its ready-to-use data card.
Every figure on PlainAirData 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.