Metro area air quality · 2025

Joplin, MO

Median AQI 42 (Good). 78.4% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

42
Median AQI
78.4%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
59%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 148 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Joplin, MO metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than the median US metro, a median AQI of 42 with 78.4% of 148 monitored days in the Good band.

42
median AQI · Good
78.4%
days rated Good
59%
cleaner than US metros
162
worst single reading

1 day reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Joplin, MO metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 42 over 148 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 116 Good days (78%), 30 Moderate (20%), and 1 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 66 while the highest single-day reading hit 162 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 23.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -204 and the median AQI moved +7 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 1 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

78.4%

116 of 148 days

Max AQI

162

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 66

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 148 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

116

78%

Moderate

30

20%

USG

1

1%

Unhealthy

1

1%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Joplin, MO metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 78.4% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 1 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 162. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Joplin, MO metro compare?

How Joplin, MO compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Joplin, MO 78.4%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 66.3%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Joplin, MO 42
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 42
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Joplin, MO 1
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Joplin, MO metro. Best year: 2020 (320 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 320 46 0 35
2021 298 62 0 38
2022 283 79 0 41
2023 288 73 0 42
2024 289 70 0 41
2025 116 30 1 42

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Joplin, MO.

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 Joplin, MO metro area? ▼
The Joplin, MO metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 78.4% of monitored days (116 out of 148) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Joplin, MO have? ▼
In 2025, the Joplin, MO metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 162.
Is air quality in Joplin, MO getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Joplin, MO metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 320 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 116 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 Joplin, MO? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Joplin, MO metro area is 66, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 162 (Unhealthy).
How does Joplin, MO compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Joplin, MO metro has 78.4% 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.