Charlotte vs Winston-Salem Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of November 8, 2026, Winston-Salem, NC has cleaner air than Charlotte, NC — AQI 17 (Good) vs 34 (Good), a gap of 17 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. Charlotte's reading is driven by PM2.5 and Winston-Salem's by PM2.5.
Charlotte, NC
Good
Winston-Salem, NC
Good
Summary
Winston-Salem has 17 points better air quality
Winston-Salem has an AQI of 17 compared to 34
Our Pick
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Charlotte, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Budget Pick4.7(74,000+ ratings)
Levoit Core 400S
True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
Best value True-HEPA for everyday allergens, dust and dander
Compare top-rated True-HEPA purifiers:
Budget Pick
Levoit Core 400S
True HEPA
True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
~$1004.7
Check Price on Amazon →Editor's Pick
Levoit Vital 200S
True HEPA
True HEPA · washable pre-filter · rooms up to 1,875 sq ft
~$2004.6
Check Price on Amazon →Large Room
Coway AP-1512HH Mighty
HEPA + Carbon
True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
~$2304.6
Check Price on Amazon →Prices are approximate and subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
5-Day Forecast Comparison
| Day | Charlotte | Winston-Salem | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 33 | AQI 22 | Winston-Salem |
| Sun, Nov 8 | AQI 37 | AQI 28 | Winston-Salem |
| Mon, Nov 9 | AQI 43 | AQI 36 | Winston-Salem |