Metro area air quality · 2025
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Median AQI 47 (Good). 59.5% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.
- 47
- Median AQI
- 59.5%
- Good-air days
- 2
- Unhealthy days
- 24%
- Cleaner than US metros
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV posted a 2025 median AQI of 47 (Good) with 59.5% Good days
According to the U.S. EPA Air Quality System, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CBSA recorded a median AQI of 47 across 365 monitored days in 2025, with 59.5% rated Good and 2 unhealthy or worse. This is an annual metro comparison, not a live advisory.
Data source EPA Air Quality System (AQS)
- Cleaner than US metros
- The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CBSA's 59.5% Good-day share places it cleaner than 24% of US metros in 2025.
- Closest median-AQI peer
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC (60.3% Good, median AQI 47) is the closest nationwide median-AQI peer to Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
- 2020–2025 Good-day shift
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV's Good-day share moved +1.5 points from 2020 to 2025 (median AQI +0).
- Median AQI
- Median AQI: 47
Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 365 monitored days. EPA AQS →
The verdict
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro runs good on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 47 with 59.5% of 365 monitored days in the Good band.
- 47
- median AQI · Good
- 59.5%
- days rated Good
- 24%
- cleaner than US metros
- 185
- worst single reading
2 days reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.
Annual release change
What changed in the 2025 EPA annual release
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro's peak single-day AQI rose from 133 to 185 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +52 points.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro's Good-day share rose from 55.6% to 60.3% between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +4.7 percentage points.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro's Unhealthy-category days rose from 0 to 2 between the 2024 and 2025 EPA annual releases, a change of +2 days.
Insights: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 47 over 365 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 217 Good days (59%), 141 Moderate (39%), and 5 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (1%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 66 while the highest single-day reading hit 185 (Unhealthy). Metro residents averaged roughly 17.8 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.
Across the 2020–2025 trend window, the share of monitored days rated Good shifted by +1.5 points and the median AQI moved +0 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. The annual record contains 2 days at Unhealthy or worse. On those days, the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Charleston-North Charleston, SC (60.3% good, AQI 47); Columbia, SC (58.1% good, AQI 47); Corsicana, TX (59.2% good, AQI 47).
Air Quality Summary
Median AQI
47
Good
Good Days
59.5%
217 of 365 days
Max AQI
185
Unhealthy
Health Grade
Moderate
90th pct: 66
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 365 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
217
59%
Moderate
141
39%
USG
5
1%
Unhealthy
2
1%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Health Impact Assessment
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 59.5% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality is acceptable most days, but 5 days reached "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and peak AQI reached 185. Sensitive groups should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov.
How does the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro compare?
How Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV compares
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is stable in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro. Highest Good-day share: 2025 (60.3%, 217 of 360 monitored days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 214 | 149 | 1 | 47 | 171 |
| 2021 | 153 | 202 | 1 | 53 | 153 |
| 2022 | 153 | 208 | 0 | 52 | 128 |
| 2023 | 158 | 187 | 3 | 52 | 222 |
| 2024 | 199 | 159 | 0 | 49 | 133 |
| 2025 | 217 | 141 | 2 | 47 | 185 |
Metros with a similar median AQI
CBSA peers nationwide whose annual median AQI sits near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47).
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Median AQI 47 · 60.3% Good-day share
Columbia, SC
Median AQI 47 · 58.1% Good-day share
Corsicana, TX
Median AQI 47 · 59.2% Good-day share
Dayton, OH
Median AQI 47 · 57.0% Good-day share
Evansville, IN-KY
Median AQI 47 · 57.5% Good-day share
Farmington, NM
Median AQI 47 · 68.0% Good-day share
Metros with similar unhealthy-day exposure
A second relationship type: metros whose unhealthy-or-worse day count is closest to Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV's 2 (independent of median AQI).
Ardmore, OK
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 45
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 44
Chattanooga, TN-GA
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 49
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 56
Columbus, GA-AL
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 48
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
2 unhealthy-or-worse days · median AQI 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area? ▼
How many unhealthy air days does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV have? ▼
Is air quality in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV getting better or worse? ▼
What does AQI 47 mean for health? ▼
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV? ▼
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV compare to other metro areas? ▼
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
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Every figure on PlainAirData 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.