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
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
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 | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 176 | 186 | 1 | 51 | 154 |
| 2021 | 213 | 148 | 0 | 47 | 147 |
| 2022 | 243 | 117 | 1 | 44 | 164 |
| 2023 | 200 | 154 | 0 | 48 | 140 |
| 2024 | 279 | 84 | 0 | 42 | 147 |
| 2025 | 161 | 83 | 1 | 44 | 196 |
Metros with Similar Air Quality
Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
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Worst Air Quality
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All Metro Areas
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Best and Worst City Air
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Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Providence-Warwick, RI-MA have? ▼
Is air quality in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 44 mean for health? ▼
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Providence-Warwick, RI-MA? ▼
How does Providence-Warwick, RI-MA compare to other metro areas? ▼
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.