Los Angeles vs Bakersfield Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 16, 2026, Los Angeles, CA has cleaner air than Bakersfield, CA — AQI 38 (Good) vs 74 (Moderate), a gap of 36 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. Los Angeles's reading is driven by O3 and Bakersfield's by O3.
Los Angeles, CA
Good
Bakersfield, CA
Moderate
Summary
Los Angeles has 36 points better air quality
Los Angeles has an AQI of 38 compared to 74
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Bakersfield
Today's main pollutant in Bakersfield is ground-level ozone (AQI 74). 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 | Bakersfield | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 50 | AQI 71 | Los Angeles |