Which state has the highest Air Quality Index?

Arizona has the highest Air Quality Index in 2023, at 58.5, followed by Nevada (58.2) and New Mexico (54.1).

Which state has the lowest Air Quality Index?

Alaska has the lowest Air Quality Index in 2023, at 21.1.

What is the median Air Quality Index across US states?

The median is 42.9 across the 51 US states with data in 2023.

Where does this air quality by state data come from?

Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Air Quality - US News; AirData: Air Quality Data Collected at Outdoor Monitors Across the US - EPA; Which states have the best and worst air quality? - USA Facts.

State rankings

Air Quality by State

Name: Air Quality by State
Creator: Rankodex

Arizona has the highest Air Quality Index in 2023 (58.5), followed by Nevada (58.2) and New Mexico (54.1). Alaska has the lowest (21.1).

Environment51 states · 4 metricsUpdated Apr 3, 2025Original page

3 sources

Showing

Year 202351 of 51 states

Compare this metric Add to combined ranking Open full map

Air Quality Index, 2023

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median

42.9

Middle half 40.3 – 46.1

Average

42.6

51 states

Highest

58.5

Arizona

Lowest

21.1

Alaska

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Air Quality Index

#
1	Arizona	58.5	50th	267	904 pounds/mi²
2	Nevada	58.2	48th	225	1,969 pounds/mi²
3	New Mexico	54.1	33rd	167	939 pounds/mi²
4	Illinois	50.4	47th	219	1,001 pounds/mi²
5	Utah	49.6	34th	167	3,460 pounds/mi²
6	Colorado	49.1	31st	162	233 pounds/mi²
7	California	48.8	49th	234	236 pounds/mi²
8	Texas	48.0	46th	212	968 pounds/mi²
9	Oklahoma	48.0	44th	188	516 pounds/mi²
10	Missouri	47.0	25th	152	748 pounds/mi²
11	Michigan	46.6	41st	176	962 pounds/mi²
12	Wisconsin	46.5	28th	158	477 pounds/mi²
13	Ohio	46.2	35th	168	2,184 pounds/mi²
14	District of Columbia	46.0	—	—	—
15	Indiana	46.0	37th	169	2,846 pounds/mi²
16	Pennsylvania	45.7	38th	170	988 pounds/mi²
17	Kentucky	45.6	29th	158	901 pounds/mi²
18	Kansas	45.3	30th	162	272 pounds/mi²
19	Alabama	45.0	36th	169	1,643 pounds/mi²
20	North Dakota	44.9	26th	154	793 pounds/mi²
21	Iowa	44.4	45th	196	610 pounds/mi²
22	Mississippi	43.9	43rd	187	987 pounds/mi²
23	North Carolina	43.8	23rd	146	1,147 pounds/mi²
24	Arkansas	43.3	39th	171	650 pounds/mi²
25	Georgia	43.3	40th	171	794 pounds/mi²
26	Maryland	42.9	10th	97	412 pounds/mi²
27	Minnesota	42.8	32nd	163	281 pounds/mi²
28	Connecticut	42.4	21st	132	308 pounds/mi²
29	Florida	42.4	16th	123	781 pounds/mi²
30	Tennessee	42.4	27th	156	1,667 pounds/mi²
31	South Carolina	42.0	22nd	135	1,192 pounds/mi²
32	New Jersey	41.5	20th	129	1,344 pounds/mi²
33	Delaware	41.5	42nd	178	2,961 pounds/mi²
34	Wyoming	41.3	5th	75	224 pounds/mi²
35	New Hampshire	41.1	4th	66	44 pounds/mi²
36	Vermont	40.9	7th	88	34 pounds/mi²
37	Louisiana	40.6	24th	152	2,831 pounds/mi²
38	Nebraska	40.3	19th	125	228 pounds/mi²
39	South Dakota	40.3	15th	118	108 pounds/mi²
40	West Virginia	40.2	8th	89	829 pounds/mi²
41	Massachusetts	40.2	11th	100	479 pounds/mi²
42	Rhode Island	40.1	17th	124	506 pounds/mi²
43	New York	38.2	18th	125	311 pounds/mi²
44	Maine	37.8	3rd	64	229 pounds/mi²
45	Virginia	35.3	9th	90	796 pounds/mi²
46	Washington	31.6	13th	104	226 pounds/mi²
47	Oregon	30.3	14th	105	222 pounds/mi²
48	Montana	29.9	12th	102	360 pounds/mi²
49	Idaho	29.0	6th	86	524 pounds/mi²
50	Hawaii	27.3	1st	25	362 pounds/mi²
51	Alaska	21.1	2nd	55	1,575 pounds/mi²

What correlates with Air Quality Index (2023)?

Pearson r against 2,093 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Air Quality Index tend to score higher on these

Average Annual SunlightSunniest States in the U.S.
r = +0.70 · very strong · n = 48
Plot
Average Annual Sunlight 1971-2000Best Weather by State
r = +0.70 · very strong · n = 48
Plot
Average # of Clear Days per YearSunniest States in the U.S.
r = +0.64 · strong · n = 50
Plot
# of Snake SpeciesSnake Population by State
r = +0.62 · strong · n = 49
Plot
Average # of Sunny Hours per YearSunniest States in the U.S.
r = +0.60 · strong · n = 47
Plot
# of SpeciesRattlesnakes by State
r = +0.60 · strong · n = 45
Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Air Quality Index tend to score lower on these

Health Costs IndexCost of Living Index by State
r = −0.63 · strong · n = 51
Plot
COLI Health Costs IndexLeast Expensive States
r = −0.62 · strong · n = 51
Plot
Black Bear PopulationBlack Bear Population by State
r = −0.60 · strong · n = 40
Plot
Weekly Grocery Cost (GoBanking)Grocery Prices by State
r = −0.59 · strong · n = 50
Plot
Annual Grocery Cost (GoBanking)Grocery Prices by State
r = −0.59 · strong · n = 49
Plot
Semi-Private Room MMCNursing Home Costs by State
r = −0.59 · strong · n = 51
Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Air Quality Index?: Arizona has the highest Air Quality Index in 2023, at 58.5, followed by Nevada (58.2) and New Mexico (54.1).
Which state has the lowest Air Quality Index?: Alaska has the lowest Air Quality Index in 2023, at 21.1.
What is the median Air Quality Index across US states?: The median is 42.9 across the 51 US states with data in 2023.
Where does this air quality by state data come from?: Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Air Quality - US News; AirData: Air Quality Data Collected at Outdoor Monitors Across the US - EPA; Which states have the best and worst air quality? - USA Facts.