US Cities with Worst Air Quality Overall

Cities with the most polluted air based on 2025 EPA monitoring data. These communities face the greatest health risks from air pollution.

Health Impact

40.9M
People in highly polluted areas
8
Avg unhealthy days per city
2122
Highest AQI recorded
Showing 1–25 of 31 cities
  1. #1

    Fresno, CA

    Population: 732,197Monitored: 304 days
    B
    Median: 54
    Good:122
    Moderate:157
    Sensitive:24
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  2. #2

    Salt Lake City, UT

    Population: 1,183,003Monitored: 305 days
    B
    Median: 54
    Good:113
    Moderate:177
    Sensitive:14
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  3. #3

    Cleveland, OH

    Population: 1,695,555Monitored: 305 days
    B
    Median: 53
    Good:133
    Moderate:168
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  4. #4

    Indianapolis, IN

    Population: 1,767,321Monitored: 305 days
    B
    Median: 53
    Good:132
    Moderate:169
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:2
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  5. #5

    Detroit, MI

    Population: 3,773,725Monitored: 304 days
    B
    Median: 52
    Good:141
    Moderate:153
    Sensitive:7
    Unhealthy:3
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  6. #6

    Charlotte, NC

    Population: 1,488,249Monitored: 305 days
    B
    Median: 51
    Good:150
    Moderate:155
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  7. #7

    Provo, UT

    Population: 641,732Monitored: 304 days
    B+
    Median: 49
    Good:164
    Moderate:139
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  8. #8

    Waterloo, IA

    Population: 119,632Monitored: 304 days
    B+
    Median: 48
    Good:172
    Moderate:130
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  9. #9

    Ogden, UT

    Population: 630,643Monitored: 305 days
    B+
    Median: 47
    Good:187
    Moderate:116
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  10. #10

    Logan, UT

    Population: 124,449Monitored: 304 days
    B+
    Median: 46
    Good:186
    Moderate:118
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  11. #11

    Des Moines, IA

    Population: 570,091Monitored: 304 days
    B+
    Median: 46
    Good:178
    Moderate:124
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  12. #12

    Grand Rapids, MI

    Population: 622,168Monitored: 304 days
    B+
    Median: 46
    Good:182
    Moderate:118
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  13. #13

    Davenport, IA

    Population: 281,044Monitored: 305 days
    A-
    Median: 45
    Good:182
    Moderate:121
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  14. #14

    St. George, UT

    Population: 148,405Monitored: 304 days
    A-
    Median: 45
    Good:216
    Moderate:88
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  15. #15

    New York, NY

    Population: 19,268,388Monitored: 317 days
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:209
    Moderate:102
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  16. #16

    Evansville, IN

    Population: 204,607Monitored: 305 days
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:195
    Moderate:110
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  17. #17

    Cedar Rapids, IA

    Population: 195,323Monitored: 304 days
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:186
    Moderate:113
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  18. #18

    Akron, OH

    Population: 537,241Monitored: 304 days
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:196
    Moderate:105
    Sensitive:3
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  19. #19

    Youngstown, OH

    Population: 313,898Monitored: 302 days
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:190
    Moderate:110
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  20. #20

    Manhattan, NY

    Population: 1,694,263Monitored: 316 days
    A-
    Median: 43
    Good:210
    Moderate:100
    Sensitive:6
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  21. #21

    Hagerstown, MD

    Population: 204,653Monitored: 304 days
    A-
    Median: 42
    Good:235
    Moderate:69
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  22. #22

    Warren, MI

    Population: 137,928Monitored: 303 days
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:224
    Moderate:73
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  23. #23

    South Lyon, MI

    Population: 146,383Monitored: 304 days
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:228
    Moderate:70
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  24. #24

    Staten Island, NY

    Population: 495,747Monitored: 316 days
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:238
    Moderate:75
    Sensitive:3
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  25. #25

    Kalamazoo, MI

    Population: 215,288Monitored: 304 days
    A
    Median: 40
    Good:225
    Moderate:75
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
12
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