San Jose vs Sacramento Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 23, 2026, Sacramento, CA has cleaner air than San Jose, CA — AQI 52 (Moderate) vs 57 (Moderate), a gap of 5 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. San Jose's reading is driven by PM2.5 and Sacramento's by PM2.5.
San Jose, CA
Moderate
Sacramento, CA
Moderate
Summary
Sacramento has 5 points better air quality
Sacramento has an AQI of 52 compared to 57
Extra Protection for San Jose Homes
Air quality in San Jose is moderate (AQI 57), 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 | San Jose | Sacramento | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 54 | AQI 77 | San Jose |
| Wed, Sep 23 | AQI 51 | AQI 51 | Tie |