Raleigh is the Second-Best City for Breathable Air

We all know the importance of stepping outside and taking in a nice, deep breath every once in a while. But, for those of us in cities, the breathability of the outdoor air is more questionable than rural areas. With skyscrapers instead of trees, how clean is the air, really?

Aeris, an air purifier company, revealed the top 20 best cities for breathable air in the U.S. The study looked at numerous factors that play into air quality, such as particle pollution grades, allergen scores, the air quality index, percentage of smokers, and acres burned by wildfires in 2020.

Raleigh residents can breathe easy, as North Carolina’s capital city ranked second only to Minneapolis, Minnesota. With an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 70.9, Raleigh’s score is over 22% lower than the national average AQI of 89! Though a lower score doesn’t sound like a good thing, think of AQI like golf: a lower score is better.

Lower scores are also more favorable for measures like allergen scores, the percentage of smokers, and acres burned by wildfires.

As far as allergies go, runny-nosed North Carolinians may be surprised to find that Raleigh has a lower allergen score than the national average, at 54.32 (Raleigh) compared to 64.43 (U.S. average). In fact, Raleigh’s numbers across the board are better than the national averages. The city is home to 3% fewer smokers than the national percentage, and has a significantly lower number of acres burned by wildfires than the national average (12,875 acres versus 608,114 average acres).

Raleigh also received an ‘A’ particle pollution grade from the American Lung Association’s 2021 State of the Air report, where grades range from A-F: the only ranking factor where a higher grade is desirable.

Raleigh’s unmatched beauty may take your breath away, but don’t fret. The city’s superior air quality ensures that once you catch your breath, you’ll be inhaling some of the most breathable air in the nation!