Arlington, VA
Long-term air quality
What this page tells you
This page combines annual PM2.5, unhealthy days, 5-year trend, and data coverage so you can compare long-term air quality, not just today's reading.
Arlington, VA air quality summary: Arlington, VA maintains a clean air score of 79.4 and a grade of B, which reflects its long-term atmospheric profile. The city records a PM2.5 annual mean of 6.8 µg/m³, providing a baseline for local environmental conditions. Arlington records a PM2.5 annual mean of 6.8 µg/m³, which represents moderate or acceptable long-term particulate exposure. The long-term air quality in Arlington has been improving over recent years.
Clean Air Score
The clean air score of 79.4 and grade of B indicate a good level of long-term air quality. These metrics indicate atmospheric particulate exposure that is considered acceptable for the population over several years.
🏡 What This Means for Buying
Prospective residents are encouraged to treat air quality as one factor in a broader relocation or residential evaluation. It is useful to consider long-term atmospheric benchmarks alongside other local environmental and property characteristics.
Indoor Air Quality in Arlington, VA
Outdoor pollution can still affect indoor air when windows are open, filtration is weak, or wildfire smoke moves in.
How to react when today's AQI changes
Use the AQI bands below to decide whether to open windows, run an air purifier, or stay indoors when pollution spikes in Arlington.
AQI 0-50
GoodOpen windows: Open windows if you want fresh air.
Air purifier: No purifier needed for most homes.
Indoor activity: Normal indoor activity is fine.
AQI 51-100
ModerateOpen windows: Sensitive groups should limit open-window time.
Air purifier: Use fans or filtration if dust or pollen is bothering you.
Indoor activity: Most people can stay active indoors.
AQI 101-150
Unhealthy for Sensitive GroupsOpen windows: Keep windows closed.
Air purifier: Run a HEPA purifier in the main room and bedroom.
Indoor activity: Sensitive groups should reduce outdoor exposure.
AQI 151+
UnhealthyOpen windows: Keep windows and doors closed.
Air purifier: Run HEPA continuously and seal obvious drafts.
Indoor activity: Stay indoors as much as possible; use an N95 if you must go out.
Common indoor air concerns in Arlington:
- Seasonal pollen and dust mite allergens
- VOCs from household products
Recommended action: If today's AQI reaches 101 or higher, close windows and run HEPA filtration before indoor air starts to feel smoky or stale.
Top Products for Arlington Homes:
🩺 My Health Risk Assessment
See how Arlington's air quality affects you and your family specifically.
Health Advice
Enjoy the outdoors! Air quality is great.
Add Arlington Air Quality to your site
Perfect for local news, real estate blogs, and community pages.
</> Create Free Widget🏡 Property Value Impact Analysis
Between 2019 and 2024, Arlington's air quality improved by 2.4 μg/m³. Based on NBER studies, this change correlates with a estimated 9.6% increase in relative property value retention.
Cleaner Alternatives in VA
Why Arlington earned a 79.4
Raw inputs, scoring weights, and data coverage for this city.
Best Time to Run
Find the cleanest hours for your run today.
Cycling Forecast
Avoid pollution spikes on your next ride.
📅 Past 30 Days Trend
Real-time daily PM2.5 AQI
🌸 Pollen Outlook
Current Seasonal Forecast
How it worksBased on current seasonal forecast data. Not a long-term pollution rating or relocation score.
Score Breakdown
| Component | Weight | Score Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Air Quality | 40% | 74.8 |
| Unhealthy Days | 25% | 100 |
| 5-Year Trend | 20% | 62 |
| Seasonal Variability | 10% | 94.5 |
| Extreme Events | 5% | 100 |
Explore More Air Quality Data
Frequently Asked Questions
About This Data
Data Sources
Historical air quality mapping and scoring are based completely on official U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirNow API data. 5-day AQI forecasts are provided by WAQI.
Methodology
Our Clean Air Score (0-100) is a proprietary algorithm that weighs multiple factors:
- Annual PM2.5 averages (40%)
- Frequency of unhealthy days (25%)
- 5-year pollution trends (20%)
- Seasonal variability and extreme events (15%)
Updates & Accuracy
Real-time data is updated hourly. Historical aggregate scores are recalculated monthly to reflect the latest trends. While we strive for accuracy, sensor maintenance and local conditions can affect individual readings.
Practical Advice
When AQI > 100: Sensitive groups (children, elderly, asthmatics) should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
When AQI > 150: Everyone should avoid outdoor exercise and keep windows closed.
More Cities in VA
Similar Rankings Nationwide
Arlington Air Quality FAQs
Is Arlington a good fit for people who care about long-term air quality?
Arlington holds a clean air score of 79.4 and a grade of B, reflecting good long-term air quality. With a PM2.5 annual mean of 6.8 µg/m³, the city provides a favorable baseline for atmospheric health evaluation.
How often does Arlington experience unhealthy air or long-term pollution exposure?
Arlington reports an unhealthy days frequency of 0%, with its overall long-term conditions captured by a B grade. This suggests relatively consistent atmospheric conditions over the multi-year reporting period.
Is the air quality in Arlington improving or getting worse over time?
Air quality trends in Arlington have been improving in recent years, showing a positive long-term trajectory for atmospheric health.
Does air quality vary across different parts of Arlington?
Air quality can fluctuate within the city due to local traffic or topography, even in areas without a specific neighborhood-level detail page.