Harris, Texas vs Dallas, Texas Air Quality
Side-by-side air quality comparison using 10 years of EPA monitoring data. Dallas, Texas has the edge with an Air Quality Grade of C (55/100).
| Metric | Harris, Texas | Dallas, Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality Grade | D (38/100) | C (55/100) |
| Current Median AQI | 64 (Moderate) | 55 (Moderate) |
| 5-Year Average AQI | 59 | 50 |
| 10-Year Trend | ↑ Worsening (+6) | → Stable (+1) |
| Unhealthy Days/Year | 29 | 13 |
| Primary Pollutant | Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) | Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) |
Side-by-Side Analysis
Dallas, Texas outperforms Harris, Texas on overall air quality with a Grade C (55/100) versus D (38/100). Dallas, Texas's 5-year median AQI of 50 sits in the "Moderate" range, while Harris, Texas averages 59 ("Moderate") — a 8-point gap that shows up consistently in year-over-year readings, not just in a single year.
The two cities are moving in opposite directions: Harris, Texas is worsening (+0.5 AQI/yr) while Dallas, Texas is stable (-0.1 AQI/yr). Over time, today's ranking may flip if these trends hold.
What's in the Air
Both cities share the same dominant pollutant: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). These cities' dominant issue is fine particulate matter — typically driven by combustion (vehicles, wildfire smoke, industry, residential wood burning). PM2.5 is the air pollutant most strongly linked to long-term cardiovascular and respiratory disease because the particles penetrate the bloodstream.
Health Implications
Over a 5-year window, Harris, Texas averages roughly 29 unhealthy air days per year (AQI above 100, where sensitive groups should limit outdoor exertion) versus 13 for Dallas, Texas. That 16-day gap matters most for residents with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or pregnancy — and for outdoor workers, who accumulate the most cumulative exposure. The city with fewer unhealthy days offers a meaningfully different baseline risk picture for sensitive populations. For long-term residents, the cleaner-air city is associated with measurably better outcomes on respiratory disease, cardiovascular events, and life expectancy — Harvard cohort research consistently finds 0.5 to 1.0 years of additional life expectancy for each 10-µg/m³ reduction in long-term PM2.5 exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas, Texas has better air quality with a Grade C (55/100) compared to Harris, Texas's Grade D (38/100). Dallas, Texas has a current median AQI of 55 and is stable over the past decade.
Harris, Texas averages 29 unhealthy air days per year (5-year average), while Dallas, Texas averages 13. Unhealthy days are those when AQI exceeds 100 and sensitive groups should limit outdoor activity.
Harris, Texas's primary pollutant is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), while Dallas, Texas's is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Both cities share the same dominant pollutant.
Source: EPA Outdoor Air Quality Data, 2026.
The side-by-side above pulls the EPA Air Quality System data data for both Harris, Texas and Dallas, Texas. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Harris, Texas versus Dallas, Texas, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." EPA Air Quality System data captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.