What Is the Air Quality in Stafford, Virginia?

Stafford, Virginia earns a B — air quality is reliably in the safe range for most residents most of the time, with a 5-year median AQI of 36. Sensitive groups will see occasional caution days, but the typical resident will not need to change behavior based on air quality.

Stafford, Virginia's 5-year median AQI of 36 is 5 points below the national average of 41 — meaningfully cleaner than the typical U.S. metro tracked here. Within Virginia, Stafford, Virginia runs more polluted than the state average of 33 — local sources or geography are concentrating pollution above the state's typical reading.

For context within Virginia: Alexandria City, Virginia currently holds the state's cleanest grade (A, AQI 6), while Richmond City, Virginia sits at the bottom (C, AQI 42).

Air quality in Stafford, Virginia has been improving over the past decade, with median AQI dropping by roughly 0.6 points per year. That is consistent with the broader national pattern — most U.S. metros have seen steady reductions in particulate and ozone pollution since the 2010s as cleaner vehicles and power plants come online.

In 2014, Stafford, Virginia posted a median AQI of 41. By 2023 that figure was 37 — a drop of 4 AQI points cleaner across 10 years of EPA records.

Across the past five years, this area has logged just 3 days where AQI rose into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range or worse — about 1 days per year, or roughly one every other month. That is a low count by national standards.

For most healthy adults, current air quality in this area does not require any change in behavior. People with severe asthma, COPD, or recent cardiac events should still keep an eye on daily AQI alerts, especially during wildfire season. Because ozone peaks in the afternoon on hot sunny days, plan outdoor exercise for early morning or after sunset on bad-air days.