Metro area air quality · 2025

Winchester, VA-WV

Median AQI 42 (Good). 70.4% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

42
Median AQI
70.4%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
45%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 284 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Winchester, VA-WV metro runs good on the EPA scale, more polluted than the median US metro, a median AQI of 42 with 70.4% of 284 monitored days in the Good band.

42
median AQI · Good
70.4%
days rated Good
45%
cleaner than US metros
85
worst single reading

No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Winchester, VA-WV metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 42 over 284 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Moderate metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 200 Good days (70%), 84 Moderate (30%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 62 while the highest single-day reading hit 85 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 21.1 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -49 and the median AQI moved +3 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (66.3% good, AQI 42); Bismarck, ND (75.8% good, AQI 42); Bloomington, IN (70.1% good, AQI 42).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

42

Good

Good Days

70.4%

200 of 284 days

Max AQI

85

Moderate

Health Grade

Moderate

90th pct: 62

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 284 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

200

70%

Moderate

84

30%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Moderate

The Winchester, VA-WV metro area's air quality is rated Moderate based on 70.4% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

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

How does the Winchester, VA-WV metro compare?

How Winchester, VA-WV compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Winchester, VA-WV 70.4%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 66.3%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Winchester, VA-WV 42
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 42
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Winchester, VA-WV 0
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Winchester, VA-WV metro. Best year: 2024 (264 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 249 55 0 39
2021 222 140 0 44
2022 234 100 0 43
2023 240 114 4 44
2024 264 90 0 41
2025 200 84 0 42

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Winchester, VA-WV.

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 Winchester, VA-WV metro area?
The Winchester, VA-WV metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42, rated "Good." 70.4% of monitored days (200 out of 284) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Winchester, VA-WV have?
In 2025, the Winchester, VA-WV metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 85.
Is air quality in Winchester, VA-WV getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Winchester, VA-WV metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 264 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 200 good days.
What does AQI 42 mean for health?
An AQI of 42 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 Winchester, VA-WV?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Winchester, VA-WV metro area is 62, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 85 (Moderate).
How does Winchester, VA-WV compare to other metro areas?
The Winchester, VA-WV metro has 70.4% good air days. Similar metros: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (66.3% good), Bismarck, ND (75.8% good), Bloomington, IN (70.1% 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.