Air Quality Rankings for Nebraska 2026
Nebraska has 9 cities with EPA air quality data. Cass, Nebraska has the cleanest air with a 5-year average AQI of 16. Douglas, Nebraska has the highest AQI at 43.
| # | City | 5yr Avg AQI | Current AQI | Worst Pollutant | Trend | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cass, Nebraska | 16 | 17 | PM10 | Improving | A |
| 2 | Thomas, Nebraska | 17 | 17 | PM2.5 | Stable | B |
| 3 | Scotts Bluff, Nebraska | 24 | 21 | PM2.5 | Improving | B |
| 4 | Hall, Nebraska | 29 | 35 | PM2.5 | Stable | B |
| 5 | Washington, Nebraska | 31 | 33 | PM2.5 | Improving | B |
| 6 | Knox, Nebraska | 37 | 41 | Ozone | Worsening | C |
| 7 | Lancaster, Nebraska | 37 | 42 | Ozone | Stable | B |
| 8 | Sarpy, Nebraska | 38 | 37 | PM2.5 | Improving | B |
| 9 | Douglas, Nebraska | 43 | 45 | PM2.5 | Improving | B |
Air quality data for Nebraska is sourced from the EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which monitors outdoor air quality at thousands of stations nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cass, Nebraska has the best air quality in Nebraska with a 5-year average AQI of 16 and a grade of A.
Nebraska has 9 cities with EPA air quality monitoring data in our database, covering multiple years of AQI measurements.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures five major pollutants: ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air — 0-50 is "Good," while 150+ is "Unhealthy."
Cities ranked by 5-year average AQI (lower is better). Grades factor in average AQI, trend direction, unhealthy days, and dominant pollutant.