Metro area air quality · 2024

Taos, NM

Median AQI 16 (Good). 97.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

16
Median AQI
97.0%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
95%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 365 monitored days. EPA AQS → · NOAA →

Insights: Taos, NM metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 16 over 365 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Excellent metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 354 Good days (97%), 11 Moderate (3%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 35 while the highest single-day reading hit 76 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 29.1 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by +44 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 Ruidoso, NM (97.4% good, AQI 16); Deming, NM (93.4% good, AQI 17); Guayama, PR (98.1% good, AQI 15).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

16

Good

Good Days

97.0%

354 of 365 days

Max AQI

76

Moderate

Health Grade

Excellent

90th pct: 35

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 365 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

354

97%

Moderate

11

3%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Excellent

The Taos, NM metro area's air quality is rated Excellent based on 97.0% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2024.

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

How does the Taos, NM metro compare?

How Taos, NM compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Taos, NM 97.0%
Ruidoso, NM 97.4%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Taos, NM 16
Ruidoso, NM 16
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Taos, NM 0
Ruidoso, NM 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Taos, NM metro. Best year: 2024 (354 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 310 50 0 27
2021 290 32 0 28
2022 323 36 0 19
2023 332 18 0 20
2024 354 11 0 16

Metros with Similar Air Quality

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

Ruidoso, NM

AQI 16 · 97.4% good

16

Deming, NM

AQI 17 · 93.4% good

17

Guayama, PR

AQI 15 · 98.1% good

15

Havre, MT

AQI 15 · 92.6% good

15

Bozeman, MT

AQI 18 · 90.1% good

18

Los Alamos, NM

AQI 14 · 100.0% good

14

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All Metro Areas

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Air Quality Guides

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Health Effects of Air Pollution

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Taos, NM metro area? ▼
The Taos, NM metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 16, rated "Good." 97.0% of monitored days (354 out of 365) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Taos, NM have? ▼
In 2024, the Taos, NM metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 76.
Is air quality in Taos, NM getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Taos, NM metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2024 with 354 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 290 good days.
What does AQI 16 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 16 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 Taos, NM? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Taos, NM metro area is 35, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 76 (Moderate).
How does Taos, NM compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Taos, NM metro has 97.0% good air days. Similar metros: Ruidoso, NM (97.4% good), Deming, NM (93.4% good), Guayama, PR (98.1% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2024. The AQS collects ambient air monitoring data from state, local, and tribal monitoring agencies across the United States.

Metrics: Air Quality Index (AQI) is calculated using EPA-standard breakpoints for six criteria pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, NO2, CO, and SO2. Median AQI, max AQI, and 90th percentile AQI are computed from daily measurements. Good days percentage reflects days with AQI 0–50.

Coverage: 501 metro areas (Core Based Statistical Areas). Only metros with active monitoring stations are included. Unmonitored areas are not represented.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: U.S. EPA, AirNow / AQS Air Quality Index readings and pollutant concentrations · 2025