New York vs New Orleans Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of October 26, 2026, New Orleans, LA has cleaner air than New York, NY — AQI 43 (Good) vs 62 (Moderate), a gap of 19 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. New York's reading is driven by PM2.5 and New Orleans's by PM2.5.
New York, NY
Moderate
New Orleans, LA
Good
Summary
New Orleans has 19 points better air quality
New Orleans has an AQI of 43 compared to 62
Extra Protection for New York Homes
Air quality in New York is moderate (AQI 62), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
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5-Day Forecast Comparison
| Day | New York | New Orleans | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 65 | AQI 46 | New Orleans |
| Mon, Oct 26 | AQI 55 | AQI 50 | New Orleans |