Metro area air quality · 2025

Odessa, TX

Median AQI 43 (Good). 64.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

43
Median AQI
64.6%
Good-air days
2
Unhealthy days
33%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 243 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Odessa, TX metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 43 with 64.6% of 243 monitored days in the Good band.

43
median AQI · Good
64.6%
days rated Good
33%
cleaner than US metros
183
worst single reading

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

Insights: Odessa, TX metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 43 over 243 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 157 Good days (65%), 84 Moderate (35%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 62 while the highest single-day reading hit 183 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 19.4 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -114 and the median AQI moved +7 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 2 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 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (65.6% good, AQI 43); Amarillo, TX (75.7% good, AQI 43); Ashtabula, OH (81.2% good, AQI 43).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

43

Good

Good Days

64.6%

157 of 243 days

Max AQI

183

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 62

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

157

65%

Moderate

84

35%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

2

1%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Odessa, TX metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 64.6% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 0 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 183. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Odessa, TX metro compare?

How Odessa, TX compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Odessa, TX 64.6%
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 65.6%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Odessa, TX 43
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 43
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Odessa, TX 2
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Odessa, TX metro. Best year: 2023 (285 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 271 75 0 36
2021 269 80 0 35
2022 266 94 0 37
2023 285 70 0 33
2024 280 76 0 36
2025 157 84 2 43

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Odessa, TX.

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

AQI 43 · 65.6% good

43

Amarillo, TX

AQI 43 · 75.7% good

43

Ashtabula, OH

AQI 43 · 81.2% good

43

College Station-Bryan, TX

AQI 43 · 63.4% good

43

Fallon, NV

AQI 43 · 81.0% good

43

Gillette, WY

AQI 43 · 77.3% good

43

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 Odessa, TX metro area? ▼
The Odessa, TX metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 43, rated "Good." 64.6% of monitored days (157 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Odessa, TX have? ▼
In 2025, the Odessa, TX metro area recorded 2 unhealthy air days (2 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 183.
Is air quality in Odessa, TX getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Odessa, TX metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 285 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 157 good days.
What does AQI 43 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 43 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 Odessa, TX? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Odessa, TX metro area is 62, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 183 (Unhealthy).
How does Odessa, TX compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Odessa, TX metro has 64.6% good air days. Similar metros: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (65.6% good), Amarillo, TX (75.7% good), Ashtabula, OH (81.2% 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.