Metro area air quality · 2025

Tucson, AZ

Median AQI 55 (Moderate). 37.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

55
Median AQI
37.0%
Good-air days
5
Unhealthy days
5%
Cleaner than US metros

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

The verdict

The Tucson, AZ metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 55 with 37.0% of 273 monitored days in the Good band.

55
median AQI · Moderate
37.0%
days rated Good
5%
cleaner than US metros
357
worst single reading

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

Insights: Tucson, AZ metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 55 over 273 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 101 Good days (37%), 165 Moderate (60%), and 2 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 84 while the highest single-day reading hit 357 (Hazardous). Metro residents averaged roughly 11.1 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -23 and the median AQI moved +0 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. The metro recorded 5 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (31.7% good, AQI 55); Corpus Christi, TX (35.0% good, AQI 55); Baton Rouge, LA (35.0% good, AQI 54).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

55

Moderate

Good Days

37.0%

101 of 273 days

Max AQI

357

Hazardous

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 84

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 273 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

101

37%

Moderate

165

60%

USG

2

1%

Unhealthy

3

1%

Very Unhealthy

1

0%

Hazardous

1

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Tucson, AZ metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 37.0% good air days. There were 5 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 357, 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 Tucson, AZ metro compare?

How Tucson, AZ compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Tucson, AZ 37.0%
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 31.7%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Tucson, AZ 55
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 55
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Tucson, AZ 5
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Tucson, AZ metro. Best year: 2022 (147 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 124 229 0 55
2021 93 258 0 56
2022 147 205 0 53
2023 123 235 0 54
2024 113 241 2 56
2025 101 165 3 55

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Tucson, AZ.

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

AQI 55 · 31.7% good

55

Corpus Christi, TX

AQI 55 · 35.0% good

55

Baton Rouge, LA

AQI 54 · 35.0% good

54

Bishop, CA

AQI 54 · 40.7% good

54

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

AQI 54 · 34.3% good

54

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

AQI 54 · 42.6% good

54

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 Tucson, AZ metro area? ▼
The Tucson, AZ metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 55, rated "Moderate." 37.0% of monitored days (101 out of 273) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Tucson, AZ have? ▼
In 2025, the Tucson, AZ metro area recorded 5 unhealthy air days (3 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 1 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 357.
Is air quality in Tucson, AZ getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Tucson, AZ metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 147 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 93 good days.
What does AQI 55 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 55 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Tucson, AZ? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Tucson, AZ metro area is 84, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 357 (Hazardous).
How does Tucson, AZ compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Tucson, AZ metro has 37.0% good air days. Similar metros: Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (31.7% good), Corpus Christi, TX (35.0% good), Baton Rouge, LA (35.0% 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.