Metro area air quality · 2025

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Median AQI 41 (Good). 90.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

41
Median AQI
90.6%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
84%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 223 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than most US metros, a median AQI of 41 with 90.6% of 223 monitored days in the Good band.

41
median AQI · Good
90.6%
days rated Good
84%
cleaner than US metros
71
worst single reading

No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 41 over 223 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Excellent metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 202 Good days (91%), 21 Moderate (9%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 50 while the highest single-day reading hit 71 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 27.2 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by +33 and the median AQI moved -11 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as improving. The metro avoided any Unhealthy-tier days entirely, an outcome that typically reflects favorable wind patterns, lower industrial density, or effective regional emission controls. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Adrian, MI (77.3% good, AQI 41); Altoona, PA (71.9% good, AQI 41); Ann Arbor, MI (76.0% good, AQI 41).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

41

Good

Good Days

90.6%

202 of 223 days

Max AQI

71

Moderate

Health Grade

Excellent

90th pct: 50

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 223 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

202

91%

Moderate

21

9%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Excellent

The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area's air quality is rated Excellent based on 90.6% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality is generally acceptable. Unusually sensitive people should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.

How does the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro compare?

How San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA compares

Good-day share better than US avg
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 90.6%
Adrian, MI 77.3%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI about average
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 41
Adrian, MI 41
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 0
Adrian, MI 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro. Best year: 2023 (226 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 169 175 11 52
2021 144 214 0 53
2022 183 177 0 50
2023 226 135 0 45
2024 183 181 0 51
2025 202 21 0 41

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.

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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area?
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 41, rated "Good." 90.6% of monitored days (202 out of 223) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA have?
In 2025, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 71.
Is air quality in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA getting better or worse?
Air quality in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2023 with 226 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 144 good days.
What does AQI 41 mean for health?
An AQI of 41 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The 90th percentile AQI for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is 50, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 71 (Moderate).
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA compare to other metro areas?
The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has 90.6% good air days. Similar metros: Adrian, MI (77.3% good), Altoona, PA (71.9% good), Ann Arbor, MI (76.0% 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.