Metro area air quality · 2025

Hobbs, NM

Median AQI 47 (Good). 61.5% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

47
Median AQI
61.5%
Good-air days
5
Unhealthy days
27%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 273 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Hobbs, NM metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 47 with 61.5% of 273 monitored days in the Good band.

47
median AQI · Good
61.5%
days rated Good
27%
cleaner than US metros
193
worst single reading

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

Insights: Hobbs, NM metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 47 over 273 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 168 Good days (62%), 97 Moderate (36%), and 3 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 67 while the highest single-day reading hit 193 (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 -142 and the median AQI moved +7 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 5 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 Ardmore, OK (65.3% good, AQI 47); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (62.2% good, AQI 47); Boise City, ID (64.7% good, AQI 47).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

47

Good

Good Days

61.5%

168 of 273 days

Max AQI

193

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 67

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

168

62%

Moderate

97

36%

USG

3

1%

Unhealthy

5

2%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Hobbs, NM metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 61.5% good air days. There were 5 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 3 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 193. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Hobbs, NM metro compare?

How Hobbs, NM compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Hobbs, NM 61.5%
Ardmore, OK 65.3%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Hobbs, NM 47
Ardmore, OK 47
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Hobbs, NM 5
Ardmore, OK 2
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Hobbs, NM metro. Best year: 2020 (310 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 310 56 0 40
2021 257 105 1 44
2022 237 123 0 44
2023 235 122 0 45
2024 255 104 0 44
2025 168 97 5 47

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Hobbs, NM.

Ardmore, OK

AQI 47 · 65.3% good

47

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

AQI 47 · 62.2% good

47

Boise City, ID

AQI 47 · 64.7% good

47

Cheyenne, WY

AQI 47 · 69.8% good

47

Chico, CA

AQI 47 · 66.1% good

47

Columbus, GA-AL

AQI 47 · 58.8% good

47

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 Hobbs, NM metro area? ▼
The Hobbs, NM metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 47, rated "Good." 61.5% of monitored days (168 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Hobbs, NM have? ▼
In 2025, the Hobbs, NM metro area recorded 5 unhealthy air days (5 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 193.
Is air quality in Hobbs, NM getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Hobbs, NM metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 310 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 168 good days.
What does AQI 47 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 47 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 Hobbs, NM? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Hobbs, NM metro area is 67, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 193 (Unhealthy).
How does Hobbs, NM compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Hobbs, NM metro has 61.5% good air days. Similar metros: Ardmore, OK (65.3% good), Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (62.2% good), Boise City, ID (64.7% 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.