City in Massachusetts, United States
Air quality in Boston
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Boston was 6.4 µg/m³ in 2022, about 1.3 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Wildfire smoke from Canada occasionally affects summer air; otherwise generally clean.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 6.4 µg/m³ yearly average (2022). Measured at Boston Cambridge Newton MA NH, 9 km away.
- Nitrogen dioxide: 17.7 µg/m³ (2022), mostly from traffic.
Air quality across United States
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maui | 2 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Honolulu | 3 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Kauai | 3 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Big Island | 3 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Lake Tahoe | 5.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Portland | 5.8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Denver | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Seattle | 6.1 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Miami | 6.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Miami Beach | 6.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Washington, D.C. | 6.3 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Boston | 6.4 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Orlando | 6.7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| New York City | 7.1 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Philadelphia | 7.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Charleston | 7.3 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Nashville | 7.7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Phoenix | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Scottsdale | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Napa Valley | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| New Orleans | 8.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| San Diego | 8.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Atlanta | 8.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Dallas | 8.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Chicago | 8.7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Austin | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| San Antonio | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Las Vegas | 9.7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Los Angeles | 10.5 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Houston | 11.1 µg/m³ | Moderate |
Quick answers
Is the air in Boston bad?
Fairly clean: 6.4 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.3× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Boston?
Wildfire smoke from Canada occasionally affects summer air; otherwise generally clean.
How does Boston compare with the rest of United States?
People in United States breathe 7 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 6.4 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- MBTA (the T)
- Massport (Boston Logan Airport)
- Meet Boston (tourism)
- Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Annual averages are measured values reported to the WHO; check a live map for today's air. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.