San Jose vs Irvine Air Quality Comparison

Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI

As of November 8, 2026, Irvine, CA has cleaner air than San Jose, CA — AQI 34 (Good) vs 48 (Good), a gap of 14 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. San Jose's reading is driven by PM2.5 and Irvine's by O3.

San Jose, CA

Good

StateCalifornia
Dominant PollutantPM2.5
CategoryGood

Irvine, CA

Good

StateCalifornia
Dominant PollutantO3
CategoryGood

Summary

Irvine has 14 points better air quality

Irvine has an AQI of 34 compared to 48

Our Pick

Improve Indoor Air Quality

Even with good outdoor air in San Jose, 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

DaySan JoseIrvineBetter
TodayAQI 55AQI 53Irvine