Metro area air quality · 2024

Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

Median AQI 32 (Good). 97.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

32
Median AQI
97.0%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
95%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 363 monitored days. EPA AQS → · NOAA →

Insights: Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 32 over 363 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Good band and a Excellent metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 352 Good days (97%), 11 Moderate (3%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 44 while the highest single-day reading hit 80 (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 +7 and the median AQI moved -1 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as stable. 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 Athens, TN (78.9% good, AQI 32); Clearlake, CA (99.5% good, AQI 32); Cookeville, TN (83.7% good, AQI 32).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

32

Good

Good Days

97.0%

352 of 363 days

Max AQI

80

Moderate

Health Grade

Excellent

90th pct: 44

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 363 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

352

97%

Moderate

11

3%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Excellent

The Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro compare?

How Watertown-Fort Drum, NY compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 97.0%
Athens, TN 78.9%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI better than US avg
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 32
Athens, TN 32
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 0
Athens, TN 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is stable in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro. Best year: 2024 (352 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 345 15 0 33
2021 332 19 0 32
2022 352 8 0 32
2023 344 17 0 33
2024 352 11 0 32

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Watertown-Fort Drum, NY.

Athens, TN

AQI 32 · 78.9% good

32

Clearlake, CA

AQI 32 · 99.5% good

32

Cookeville, TN

AQI 32 · 83.7% good

32

Crescent City, CA

AQI 32 · 80.3% good

32

Grand Island, NE

AQI 32 · 76.8% good

32

Roanoke Rapids, NC

AQI 32 · 79.0% good

32

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area? ▼
The Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 32, rated "Good." 97.0% of monitored days (352 out of 363) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Watertown-Fort Drum, NY have? ▼
In 2024, the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 80.
Is air quality in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro is stable based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2024 with 352 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 332 good days.
What does AQI 32 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 32 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is 44, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 80 (Moderate).
How does Watertown-Fort Drum, NY compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro has 97.0% good air days. Similar metros: Athens, TN (78.9% good), Clearlake, CA (99.5% good), Cookeville, TN (83.7% 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