Metro area air quality · 2025

Santa Fe, NM

Median AQI 46 (Good). 72.5% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

46
Median AQI
72.5%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
49%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 273 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Santa Fe, NM metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 46 with 72.5% of 273 monitored days in the Good band.

46
median AQI · Good
72.5%
days rated Good
49%
cleaner than US metros
107
worst single reading

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

Insights: Santa Fe, NM metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 46 over 273 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 198 Good days (73%), 73 Moderate (27%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 61 while the highest single-day reading hit 107 (USG). Metro residents averaged roughly 21.8 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -89 and the median AQI moved +2 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. 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 Albany, GA (55.6% good, AQI 46); Asheville, NC (68.1% good, AQI 46); Cedar City, UT (70.0% good, AQI 46).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

46

Good

Good Days

72.5%

198 of 273 days

Max AQI

107

USG

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 61

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

198

73%

Moderate

73

27%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Santa Fe, NM metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 72.5% 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 Santa Fe, NM metro compare?

How Santa Fe, NM compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Santa Fe, NM 72.5%
Albany, GA 55.6%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Santa Fe, NM 46
Albany, GA 46
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Santa Fe, NM 0
Albany, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Santa Fe, NM metro. Best year: 2020 (287 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 287 78 0 44
2021 275 87 0 44
2022 284 81 0 44
2023 284 78 0 44
2024 259 103 0 45
2025 198 73 0 46

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Santa Fe, NM.

Albany, GA

AQI 46 · 55.6% good

46

Asheville, NC

AQI 46 · 68.1% good

46

Cedar City, UT

AQI 46 · 70.0% good

46

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

AQI 46 · 58.5% good

46

Evansville, IN-KY

AQI 46 · 61.6% good

46

Gainesville, GA

AQI 46 · 55.0% good

46

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 Santa Fe, NM metro area? ▼
The Santa Fe, NM metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 72.5% of monitored days (198 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Santa Fe, NM have? ▼
In 2025, the Santa Fe, NM metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 107.
Is air quality in Santa Fe, NM getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Santa Fe, NM metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 287 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 198 good days.
What does AQI 46 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 46 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 Santa Fe, NM? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Santa Fe, NM metro area is 61, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 107 (USG).
How does Santa Fe, NM compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Santa Fe, NM metro has 72.5% good air days. Similar metros: Albany, GA (55.6% good), Asheville, NC (68.1% good), Cedar City, UT (70.0% 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.

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.