Metro area air quality · 2025

Kansas City, MO-KS

Median AQI 49 (Good). 50.8% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

49
Median AQI
50.8%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
12%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 181 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Kansas City, MO-KS metro runs good on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 49 with 50.8% of 181 monitored days in the Good band.

49
median AQI · Good
50.8%
days rated Good
12%
cleaner than US metros
293
worst single reading

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

Insights: Kansas City, MO-KS metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 49 over 181 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 92 Good days (51%), 86 Moderate (48%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 70 while the highest single-day reading hit 293 (Very Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 15.2 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -34 and the median AQI moved -5 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as improving. 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 Colorado Springs, CO (58.2% good, AQI 49); Farmington, NM (58.2% good, AQI 49); Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC (53.5% good, AQI 49).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

49

Good

Good Days

50.8%

92 of 181 days

Max AQI

293

Very Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 70

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 181 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

92

51%

Moderate

86

48%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

1

1%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Kansas City, MO-KS metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 50.8% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality reached unhealthy levels on 1 days in 2025 (0 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy). Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, and adults over 65, should review the daily breakdown and follow local advisories.

Sensitive group advisory

People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.

How does the Kansas City, MO-KS metro compare?

How Kansas City, MO-KS compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Kansas City, MO-KS 50.8%
Colorado Springs, CO 58.2%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Kansas City, MO-KS 49
Colorado Springs, CO 49
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Kansas City, MO-KS 1
Colorado Springs, CO 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro. Best year: 2024 (151 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 126 235 1 54
2021 113 239 0 55
2022 132 226 0 54
2023 124 212 4 55
2024 151 205 0 53
2025 92 86 0 49

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Kansas City, MO-KS.

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area?
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 49, rated "Good." 50.8% of monitored days (92 out of 181) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Kansas City, MO-KS have?
In 2025, the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 293.
Is air quality in Kansas City, MO-KS getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 151 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 92 good days.
What does AQI 49 mean for health?
An AQI of 49 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 Kansas City, MO-KS?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is 70, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 293 (Very Unhealthy).
How does Kansas City, MO-KS compare to other metro areas?
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro has 50.8% good air days. Similar metros: Colorado Springs, CO (58.2% good), Farmington, NM (58.2% good), Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC (53.5% 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.

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.