Metro area air quality · 2025

St. Joseph, MO-KS

Median AQI 43 (Good). 64.2% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

43
Median AQI
64.2%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
32%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 148 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 43 with 64.2% of 148 monitored days in the Good band.

43
median AQI · Good
64.2%
days rated Good
32%
cleaner than US metros
256
worst single reading

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

Insights: St. Joseph, MO-KS metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 43 over 148 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 95 Good days (64%), 52 Moderate (35%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 64 while the highest single-day reading hit 256 (Very Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 19.3 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -148 and the median AQI moved -1 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. 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 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (65.6% good, AQI 43); Amarillo, TX (75.7% good, AQI 43); Ashtabula, OH (81.2% good, AQI 43).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

43

Good

Good Days

64.2%

95 of 148 days

Max AQI

256

Very Unhealthy

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 64

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 148 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

95

64%

Moderate

52

35%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

1

1%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 64.2% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality reached unhealthy levels on 1 days in 2025 (0 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy). Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, and adults over 65, should review the daily breakdown and follow local advisories.

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 St. Joseph, MO-KS metro compare?

How St. Joseph, MO-KS compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
St. Joseph, MO-KS 64.2%
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 65.6%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
St. Joseph, MO-KS 43
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 43
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
St. Joseph, MO-KS 1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro. Best year: 2020 (243 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 243 122 0 44
2021 230 132 0 44
2022 227 135 0 46
2023 182 175 0 51
2024 202 157 0 48
2025 95 52 0 43

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to St. Joseph, MO-KS.

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 St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area?
The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 43, rated "Good." 64.2% of monitored days (95 out of 148) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does St. Joseph, MO-KS have?
In 2025, the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 256.
Is air quality in St. Joseph, MO-KS getting better or worse?
Air quality in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 243 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 95 good days.
What does AQI 43 mean for health?
An AQI of 43 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The 90th percentile AQI for the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is 64, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 256 (Very Unhealthy).
How does St. Joseph, MO-KS compare to other metro areas?
The St. Joseph, MO-KS metro has 64.2% good air days. Similar metros: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (65.6% good), Amarillo, TX (75.7% good), Ashtabula, OH (81.2% 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.