Metro area air quality · 2025

Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Median AQI 44 (Good). 64.7% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

44
Median AQI
64.7%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
33%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 249 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 44 with 64.7% of 249 monitored days in the Good band.

44
median AQI · Good
64.7%
days rated Good
33%
cleaner than US metros
196
worst single reading

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

Insights: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 44 over 249 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 161 Good days (65%), 83 Moderate (33%), and 4 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (2%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 71 while the highest single-day reading hit 196 (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 -15 and the median AQI moved -7 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 Athens-Clarke County, GA (66.7% good, AQI 44); Bartlesville, OK (65.6% good, AQI 44); Bloomington, IL (64.1% good, AQI 44).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

44

Good

Good Days

64.7%

161 of 249 days

Max AQI

196

Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 71

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 249 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

161

65%

Moderate

83

33%

USG

4

2%

Unhealthy

1

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 64.7% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality is acceptable most days, but 4 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 196. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.

How does the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro compare?

How Providence-Warwick, RI-MA compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 64.7%
Athens-Clarke County, GA 66.7%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 44
Athens-Clarke County, GA 44
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 1
Athens-Clarke County, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro. Best year: 2024 (279 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 176 186 1 51
2021 213 148 0 47
2022 243 117 1 44
2023 200 154 0 48
2024 279 84 0 42
2025 161 83 1 44

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.

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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area?
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 44, rated "Good." 64.7% of monitored days (161 out of 249) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Providence-Warwick, RI-MA have?
In 2025, the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 196.
Is air quality in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 279 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 161 good days.
What does AQI 44 mean for health?
An AQI of 44 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is 71, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 196 (Unhealthy).
How does Providence-Warwick, RI-MA compare to other metro areas?
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro has 64.7% good air days. Similar metros: Athens-Clarke County, GA (66.7% good), Bartlesville, OK (65.6% good), Bloomington, IL (64.1% 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.

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.