Metro area air quality · 2025
Mankato-North Mankato, MN
Median AQI 42 (Good). 65.3% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.
- 42
- Median AQI
- 65.3%
- Good-air days
- 5
- Unhealthy days
- 35%
- Cleaner than US metros
Mankato-North Mankato, MN posted a 2025 median AQI of 42 (Good) with 65.3% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, the Mankato-North Mankato, MN CBSA recorded a median AQI of 42 across 357 monitored days in 2025, with 65.3% rated Good and 5 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 Mankato-North Mankato, MN CBSA's 65.3% Good-day share places it cleaner than 35% of US metros in 2025.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (66.8% Good, median AQI 42) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Mankato-North Mankato, MN.
- 2024–2025 Good-day shift
- Mankato-North Mankato, MN's Good-day share moved +5.3 points from 2024 to 2025 (median AQI -3).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 42
Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 357 monitored days. EPA AQS →
The verdict
Mankato-North Mankato, MN's peak reading 180 is in the upper max-AQI tercile among CBSA metros here. On the EPA scale the metro runs good, more polluted than the median US metro, with a median AQI of 42 and 65.3% of 357 monitored days in the Good band.
- 42
- median AQI · Good
- 65.3%
- days rated Good
- 35%
- cleaner than US metros
- 180
- worst single reading
5 days reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2025 EPA annual release
- Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro's peak single-day AQI rose from 80 to 180 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +100 points.
- Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro's Good-day share rose from 61.6% to 67.0% between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +5.3 percentage points.
- Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro's Unhealthy-category days rose from 0 to 5 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +5 days.
- Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro's median AQI fell from 45 to 42 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of -3 points.
Mankato-North Mankato, MN's peak reading 180 is in the upper max-AQI tercile among CBSA metros here. Signature read: peak AQI 180 (high tercile vs CBSA corpus). Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 42 over 357 measured days in 2025 (Good / Moderate). The monitored-day split lands at 233 Good (65%), 110 Moderate (31%), and 9 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (3%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 70; the highest single-day reading hit 180 (Unhealthy).
Across 2024–2025, Good-day share shifted +5.3 points and median AQI moved -3 (improving). The annual record contains 5 days at Unhealthy or worse. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (66.8% good, AQI 42); Amarillo, TX (78.4% good, AQI 42); Carson City, NV (86.2% good, AQI 42).
Air Quality Summary
Median AQI
42
Good
Good Days
65.3%
233 of 357 days
Max AQI
180
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th pct: 70
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 357 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
233
65%
Moderate
110
31%
USG
9
3%
Unhealthy
5
1%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Health Impact Assessment
The Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 65.3% good air days. There were 5 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 9 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 180. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
How does the Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro compare?
How Mankato-North Mankato, MN compares
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in the Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro. Highest Good-day share: 2025 (67.0%, 233 of 348 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90 | 56 | 0 | 45 | 80 |
| 2025 | 233 | 110 | 5 | 42 | 180 |
Metros with a similar median AQI
CBSA peers nationwide whose annual median AQI sits near Mankato-North Mankato, MN (42).
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Median AQI 42 · 66.8% Good-day share
Amarillo, TX
Median AQI 42 · 78.4% Good-day share
Carson City, NV
Median AQI 42 · 86.2% Good-day share
Casper, WY
Median AQI 42 · 86.3% Good-day share
Clarksville, TN-KY
Median AQI 42 · 72.0% Good-day share
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
Median AQI 42 · 75.5% Good-day share
Metros with similar unhealthy-day exposure
A second relationship type: metros whose unhealthy-or-worse day count is closest to Mankato-North Mankato, MN's 5 (independent of median AQI).
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
5 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 59
Eau Claire, WI
5 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 38
Hobbs, NM
5 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 44
Minot, ND
5 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 36
Tucson, AZ
5 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 54
Appleton, WI
6 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 38
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Mankato-North Mankato, MN? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Mankato-North Mankato, MN have? ▼
What is the air quality in the Mankato-North Mankato, MN metro area? ▼
Is air quality in Mankato-North Mankato, MN getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 42 mean for health? ▼
How does Mankato-North Mankato, MN compare to other metro areas? ▼
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset for Mankato-North Mankato, MN, 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, Mankato-North Mankato, MN · 2020–2025