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Worst Air Quality in California

Top 100 cities ranked by worst air quality

Best California Cities

Composite rankings combining multiple weighted metrics — 4 topics from climate and air quality data.

Best Climate Cities
Warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine and clean air.
Cleanest Air Cities
Lowest pollution levels for healthy outdoor living.
Sunniest Cities
Most days of sunshine per year, with warm and dry climate.
Most Urban Cities
Densely populated city centers with the largest urban footprints.
Population & Density
Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense
Economy
Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Wages Cheapest Cost of Living
Housing
Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Highest Homeownership Newest Housing Lowest Property Tax
Demographics & Education
Most Educated Best Schools Most Graduate Degrees Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Most Veterans
Health & Safety
Safest Cities Highest Crime Healthiest Cities Lowest Smoking Best Doctor Access Best Dental Access
Climate & Air
Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities Sunniest Cities Snowiest Cities Cleanest Air Worst Air Quality
Quality of Life
Shortest Commute Most Work From Home
Civic & Politics
Most Republican Most Democratic Most Disasters
Geography & Infrastructure
Highest Elevation Best Broadband Most EV Stations Most Libraries Most Restaurants
All Countries  ·  United States  ·  California

Worst Air Quality — California

1 Riverside AQI 87
2 San Bernardino AQI 87
3 Los Angeles AQI 80
4 San Diego AQI 71
5 Tulare AQI 71
6 Fresno AQI 67
7 Imperial AQI 63
8 Colusa AQI 54
9 Orange AQI 54
10 Madera AQI 52
11 Merced AQI 52
12 Sacramento AQI 51
13 Alameda AQI 49
14 San Luis Obispo AQI 49
15 Santa Barbara AQI 49
16 San Jose AQI 48
17 Long Beach AQI 48
18 Oakland AQI 48
19 Bakersfield AQI 48
20 Anaheim AQI 48
21 Stockton AQI 48
22 Santa Ana AQI 48
23 Irvine AQI 48
24 Chula Vista AQI 48
25 Santa Clarita AQI 48
26 Sunnyside AQI 48
27 Modesto AQI 48
28 Fontana AQI 48
29 Moreno Valley AQI 48
30 Oxnard AQI 48
31 Huntington Beach AQI 48
32 Glendale AQI 48
33 Ontario AQI 48
34 Elk Grove AQI 48
35 Santa Rosa AQI 48
36 Rancho Cucamonga AQI 48
37 Oceanside AQI 48
38 Garden Grove AQI 48
39 Lancaster AQI 48
40 Palmdale AQI 48
41 Hayward AQI 48
42 Corona AQI 48
43 Sunnyvale AQI 48
44 Roseville AQI 48
45 Escondido AQI 48
46 Pomona AQI 48
47 Torrance AQI 48
48 Visalia AQI 48
49 Fullerton AQI 48
50 Pasadena AQI 48
51 Victorville AQI 48
52 Simi Valley AQI 48
53 Thousand Oaks AQI 48
54 Vallejo AQI 48
55 Concord AQI 48
56 Clovis AQI 48
57 Berkeley AQI 48
58 Fairfield AQI 48
59 Antioch AQI 48
60 Richmond AQI 48
61 East Los Angeles AQI 48
62 Carlsbad AQI 48
63 Downey AQI 48
64 Murrieta AQI 48
65 Costa Mesa AQI 48
66 Temecula AQI 48
67 San Buenaventura (Ventura) AQI 48
68 Santa Maria AQI 48
69 West Covina AQI 48
70 Menifee AQI 48
71 Jurupa Valley AQI 48
72 Inglewood AQI 48
73 El Cajon AQI 48
74 Daly City AQI 48
75 Vacaville AQI 48
76 Chico AQI 48
77 Norwalk AQI 48
78 Hesperia AQI 48
79 Vista AQI 48
80 Arden-Arcade AQI 48
81 Tracy AQI 48
82 San Marcos AQI 48
83 Compton AQI 48
84 Carson AQI 48
85 Redding AQI 48
86 Mission Viejo AQI 48
87 South Gate AQI 48
88 Chino AQI 48
89 Santa Monica AQI 48
90 Indio AQI 48
91 Hemet AQI 48
92 Westminster AQI 48
93 San Leandro AQI 48
94 Citrus Heights AQI 48
95 Manteca AQI 48
96 Hawthorne AQI 48
97 Whittier AQI 48
98 Livermore AQI 48
99 Lake Forest AQI 48
100 San Ramon AQI 48

Explore the top 100 cities ranked by worst air quality in California.

City rankings help residents, researchers, and policymakers understand how communities compare across important quality-of-life measures.

Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI Crime Statistics, and NOAA climate records.

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