US Cities with Worst PM2.5 Pollution

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

    Waterloo, IA

    Population: 119,632Monitored: 304 days304 days with PM2.5
    B+
    Median: 48
    Good:172
    Moderate:130
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  2. #2

    Iowa City, IA

    Population: 133,565Monitored: 304 days304 days with PM2.5
    A
    Median: 36
    Good:216
    Moderate:84
    Sensitive:3
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  3. #3

    Indianapolis, IN

    Population: 1,767,321Monitored: 305 days240 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 53
    Good:132
    Moderate:169
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:2
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  4. #4

    Des Moines, IA

    Population: 570,091Monitored: 304 days202 days with PM2.5
    B+
    Median: 46
    Good:178
    Moderate:124
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  5. #5

    Charlotte, NC

    Population: 1,488,249Monitored: 305 days200 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 51
    Good:150
    Moderate:155
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  6. #6

    Detroit, MI

    Population: 3,773,725Monitored: 304 days192 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 52
    Good:141
    Moderate:153
    Sensitive:7
    Unhealthy:3
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  7. #7

    Cedar Rapids, IA

    Population: 195,323Monitored: 304 days186 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:186
    Moderate:113
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  8. #8

    Manhattan, NY

    Population: 1,694,263Monitored: 316 days185 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 43
    Good:210
    Moderate:100
    Sensitive:6
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  9. #9

    Cleveland, OH

    Population: 1,695,555Monitored: 305 days173 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 53
    Good:133
    Moderate:168
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  10. #10

    Staten Island, NY

    Population: 495,747Monitored: 316 days164 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:238
    Moderate:75
    Sensitive:3
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  11. #11

    Evansville, IN

    Population: 204,607Monitored: 305 days162 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:195
    Moderate:110
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  12. #12

    Akron, OH

    Population: 537,241Monitored: 304 days150 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:196
    Moderate:105
    Sensitive:3
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  13. #13

    Grand Rapids, MI

    Population: 622,168Monitored: 304 days147 days with PM2.5
    B+
    Median: 46
    Good:182
    Moderate:118
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  14. #14

    Youngstown, OH

    Population: 313,898Monitored: 302 days144 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:190
    Moderate:110
    Sensitive:2
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  15. #15

    New York, NY

    Population: 19,268,388Monitored: 317 days128 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 44
    Good:209
    Moderate:102
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  16. #16

    Portland, ME

    Population: 210,907Monitored: 304 days128 days with PM2.5
    A
    Median: 39
    Good:225
    Moderate:74
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  17. #17

    Kalamazoo, MI

    Population: 215,288Monitored: 304 days121 days with PM2.5
    A
    Median: 40
    Good:225
    Moderate:75
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  18. #18

    Davenport, IA

    Population: 281,044Monitored: 305 days113 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 45
    Good:182
    Moderate:121
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  19. #19

    Holland, MI

    Population: 107,348Monitored: 302 days110 days with PM2.5
    A
    Median: 40
    Good:235
    Moderate:63
    Sensitive:4
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  20. #20

    Hagerstown, MD

    Population: 204,653Monitored: 304 days107 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 42
    Good:235
    Moderate:69
    Sensitive:
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  21. #21

    Provo, UT

    Population: 641,732Monitored: 304 days101 days with PM2.5
    B+
    Median: 49
    Good:164
    Moderate:139
    Sensitive:1
    Unhealthy:
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  22. #22

    South Lyon, MI

    Population: 146,383Monitored: 304 days95 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:228
    Moderate:70
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  23. #23

    Warren, MI

    Population: 137,928Monitored: 303 days85 days with PM2.5
    A-
    Median: 41
    Good:224
    Moderate:73
    Sensitive:5
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  24. #24

    Fresno, CA

    Population: 732,197Monitored: 304 days84 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 54
    Good:122
    Moderate:157
    Sensitive:24
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
  25. #25

    Salt Lake City, UT

    Population: 1,183,003Monitored: 305 days83 days with PM2.5
    B
    Median: 54
    Good:113
    Moderate:177
    Sensitive:14
    Unhealthy:1
    Very Unhealthy:
    Hazardous:
12
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