Los Angeles vs Riverside Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 23, 2026, Los Angeles, CA has cleaner air than Riverside, CA — AQI 60 (Moderate) vs 71 (Moderate), a gap of 11 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. Los Angeles's reading is driven by PM2.5 and Riverside's by O3.
Los Angeles, CA
Moderate
Riverside, CA
Moderate
Summary
Los Angeles has 11 points better air quality
Los Angeles has an AQI of 60 compared to 71
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Riverside
Today's main pollutant in Riverside is ground-level ozone (AQI 71). 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 | Los Angeles | Riverside | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 56 | AQI 101 | Los Angeles |