Update:
LawnStarter, a lawn care provider, evaluated more than 150 of the biggest cities in the U.S., focusing on pollution, living conditions, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
The study analyzed data from various federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency.
Houston topped the list of so-called dirtiest cities due to high levels of pollution, a
significant cockroach problem, and greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial plants.
Researchers also
cited a 2022 report from the nonprofit media organization Grist, which found that some of Houston’s “petrochemical facilities severely violated EPA safety guidelines.”
Back in April, the
EPA announced that chemical plants like those in Texas’ Gulf Coast and
“Louisiana’s Cancer Alley” must reduce toxic air pollution to help safeguard public health.
Despite these challenges, some Houstonians report higher satisfaction with their city’s cleanliness compared to residents in 33 other large cities.
The cities that rounded out the top five include Newark, New Jersey (which previously held the dirtiest city title); San Bernardino, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Jersey City, New Jersey. Here’s the full top 20:
- Houston, Texas
- Newark, New Jersey
- San Bernardino, California
- Detroit, Michigan
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Bakersfield, California
- San Antonio, Texas
- Fresno, California
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Yonkers, New York
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- New York, New York
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Ontario, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Modesto, California
- Palmdale, California
- Hollywood, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
