City living has taken center stage during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As folks flock from metropolises to the suburbs, questions arise: what's the quality of life around the United States? Are some cities better than others? Should we consider a move?
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A new study led by startup lawn care company LawnStarter might help you make a decision. The website crunched the numbers focusing on the 200 biggest cities in the country to figure out which ones are currently to be considered the dirtiest. Analyzed metrics include air quality, waste regulations, signs of mice, rats and cockroaches in homes, greenhouse-gas emissions and more.
Taking everything into account, the state of California actually seems to be the dirtiest one in the country, with eight of its cities in the top 20—including Palmdale, which tops the overall list. Specifically—and unsurprisingly, given historical records—Los Angeles-area cities scored particularly low on pollution metrics that include fuel consumption and air quality.
Other interesting factoids derived from the study include: Floridians and Texans seem to have it worst when it comes to cockroaches although New York City has the highest percentage of homes with signs of rats or mice. Plus: you can assume that the bigger the city, the filthier it likely is.
Below, find the top 20 dirtiest cities across all of the U.S.:
1. Palmdale, California
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Newark, New Jersey
4. Houston, Texas
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. New York, New York
7. New Orleans, Louisiana
8. Long Beach, California
9. Memphis, Tennessee
10. Chicago, Illinois,
11. Aurora, Illinois
12. Glendale, California
13. Mesa, Arizona
14. Phoenix, Arizona
15. Fontana, California
16. Pasadena, California
17. Anaheim, California
18. Detroit, Michigan
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
20. San Jose, California
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