Metro area air quality · 2025

Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ

Median AQI 46 (Good). 65.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

46
Median AQI
65.6%
Good-air days
2
Unhealthy days
35%
Cleaner than US metros

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

The verdict

The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 46 with 65.6% of 273 monitored days in the Good band.

46
median AQI · Good
65.6%
days rated Good
35%
cleaner than US metros
328
worst single reading

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

Insights: Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 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 179 Good days (66%), 90 Moderate (33%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 77 while the highest single-day reading hit 328 (Hazardous). Metro residents averaged roughly 19.7 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -92 and the median AQI moved +1 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 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

65.6%

179 of 273 days

Max AQI

328

Hazardous

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 77

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

179

66%

Moderate

90

33%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

1

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

1

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 65.6% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality posed significant health risk in 2025. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, pregnant women, and adults over 65, should monitor AirNow.gov alerts and limit outdoor activity on Unhealthy (AQI 151+) and Very Unhealthy (201+) days. Peak readings reached AQI 328, well into the Hazardous range.

Sensitive group advisory

People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.

How does the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro compare?

How Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 65.6%
Albany, GA 55.6%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 46
Albany, GA 46
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 2
Albany, GA 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro. Best year: 2022 (291 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 271 93 0 45
2021 259 104 0 45
2022 291 73 0 44
2023 272 90 0 44
2024 225 128 1 48
2025 179 90 1 46

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ.

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 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area? ▼
The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 46, rated "Good." 65.6% of monitored days (179 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ have? ▼
In 2025, the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area recorded 2 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 1 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 328.
Is air quality in Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 291 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 179 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 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area is 77, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 328 (Hazardous).
How does Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro has 65.6% 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.