Charlotte vs Raleigh Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 23, 2026, Charlotte, NC has cleaner air than Raleigh, NC — AQI 16 (Good) vs 19 (Good), a gap of 3 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. Charlotte's reading is driven by O3 and Raleigh's by O3.
Charlotte, NC
Good
Raleigh, NC
Good
Summary
Charlotte has 3 points better air quality
Charlotte has an AQI of 16 compared to 19
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Raleigh
Today's main pollutant in Raleigh is ground-level ozone (AQI 19). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Compare activated-carbon purifiers (for gases & ozone):
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5-Day Forecast Comparison
| Day | Charlotte | Raleigh | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 30 | AQI 28 | Raleigh |
| Wed, Sep 23 | AQI 25 | AQI 25 | Tie |
| Thu, Sep 24 | AQI 38 | AQI 38 | Tie |
| Fri, Sep 25 | AQI 42 | AQI 40 | Raleigh |