2021’s Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.

City living has its advantages, but with greater population density often comes an assortment of problems like pests, litter, and pollution that can turn any city from sparkling to filthy.

But some cities are dirtier than others. How does your city compare to the others on our list of the Dirtiest Cities in America?

LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics including air and water quality, waste regulations, and the share of homes with signs of mice or rats.

Scroll down for our ranking, highlights and lowlights, details on the study methodology, and a few notes on why this study matters. Depending on where you live, you may want to buy some air fresheners, mouse traps, or a can of Raid.

Table of Contents

1. City Rankings
2. Highlights and Lowlights
3. Methodology
4. Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how your city and others fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Pollution Rank	Living Conditions Rank	Citizen Satisfaction with City Cleanliness Rank	Infrastructure Rank
1	Palmdale, CA	55.30	6	10	7	156
2	Los Angeles, CA	54.73	5	3	12	126
3	Newark, NJ	54.32	12	59	2	39
4	Houston, TX	50.03	22	14	33	92
5	San Antonio, TX	49.34	57	2	34	79
6	New York, NY	49.24	127	1	13	107
7	New Orleans, LA	48.35	81	28	36	1
8	Long Beach, CA	48.04	3	6	70	127
9	Memphis, TN	46.89	157	21	14	2
10	Chicago, IL	46.50	33	20	63	64
11	Aurora, IL	46.40	32	26	52	63
12	Glendale, CA	46.27	7	13	78	123
13	Mesa, AZ	45.04	29	74	43	12
14	Phoenix, AZ	44.80	27	76	38	20
15	Fontana, CA	44.38	15	64	21	132
16	Pasadena, CA	44.31	4	7	107	159
17	Anaheim, CA	44.14	124	19	22	131
18	Detroit, MI	44.11	137	45	3	109
19	Las Vegas, NV	43.61	37	54	31	90
20	San Jose, CA	43.54	88	33	28	117
21	Fort Worth, TX	43.23	56	81	18	93
22	Dallas, TX	43.00	39	41	47	98
23	Oklahoma City, OK	42.80	38	34	111	16
24	Santa Clarita, CA	42.70	9	8	139	103
25	Fresno, CA	42.51	41	110	6	165
26	Kansas City, KS	42.13	138	15	67	4
27	Akron, OH	41.69	87	62	29	59
28	San Francisco, CA	41.65	152	12	24	119
29	Jersey City, NJ	41.27	128	44	25	47
30	Henderson, NV	41.01	48	57	60	62
31	Riverside, CA	40.80	19	78	44	152
32	Tempe, AZ	40.62	21	70	93	37
33	Aurora, CO	40.53	42	92	51	38
34	Miami, FL	40.15	135	16	50	68
35	Tampa, FL	40.12	65	37	105	52
36	Scottsdale, AZ	39.55	28	80	99	41
37	Peoria, AZ	39.47	30	83	120	8
38	Pasadena, TX	39.46	1	11	156	115
39	Birmingham, AL	39.26	160	17	79	11
40	Bakersfield, CA	38.86	36	140	9	170
41	Pomona, CA	38.86	9	5	156	106
42	Philadelphia, PA	38.84	148	53	19	57
43	Stockton, CA	38.52	86	131	5	144
44	Santa Ana, CA	37.62	123	66	35	116
45	Modesto, CA	37.33	67	138	10	147
46	Newport News, VA	37.26	194	98	4	85
47	Chandler, AZ	36.73	25	72	142	22
48	Arlington, TX	36.60	61	73	91	88
49	Lancaster, CA	36.57	8	9	156	163
50	Torrance, CA	36.47	2	4	156	192
51	Fort Lauderdale, FL	36.32	131	23	101	67
52	Port St. Lucie, FL	35.78	97	32	148	27
53	El Paso, TX	35.31	63	152	23	60
54	Washington, DC	35.17	159	31	85	54
55	Shreveport, LA	34.98	83	189	15	51
56	Milwaukee, WI	34.82	85	63	113	80
57	Atlanta, GA	34.81	70	108	45	142
58	Orlando, FL	34.52	55	100	88	97
59	Denver, CO	34.36	117	87	83	55
60	Fayetteville, NC	34.34	106	199	8	149
61	Joliet, IL	34.00	31	29	156	108
62	Rockford, IL	33.99	98	164	11	164
63	Gilbert, AZ	33.97	14	75	156	10
64	Macon, GA	33.86	198	194	1	73
65	Portland, OR	33.76	112	38	96	185
66	Plano, TX	33.75	134	48	65	104
67	Cleveland, OH	33.69	146	56	92	19
68	Minneapolis, MN	33.67	72	49	127	157
69	Amarillo, TX	33.57	50	148	30	130
70	Glendale, AZ	33.36	26	71	156	13
71	Tucson, AZ	33.24	64	109	94	84
72	Alexandria, VA	33.00	158	47	69	99
73	Sunnyvale, CA	32.96	89	30	121	195
74	Austin, TX	32.77	74	91	98	135
75	Seattle, WA	32.69	76	86	106	145
76	Providence, RI	32.58	80	132	48	86
77	Louisville, KY	32.50	132	115	64	5
78	Jackson, MS	32.31	75	169	66	9
79	Syracuse, NY	31.97	103	159	16	154
80	Rochester, NY	31.96	188	46	27	191
81	Tacoma, WA	31.96	73	65	116	175
82	Oakland, CA	31.92	155	90	41	102
83	Naperville, IL	31.88	130	27	143	78
84	Albuquerque, NM	31.87	69	156	97	3
85	Irving, TX	31.81	58	35	156	100
86	San Diego, CA	31.51	44	105	108	168
87	Baltimore, MD	31.37	167	118	26	61
88	Mesquite, TX	31.36	62	39	156	95
89	Baton Rouge, LA	31.35	129	191	20	28
90	Garland, TX	31.04	60	40	156	94
91	Paterson, NJ	30.84	24	50	156	136
92	North Las Vegas, NV	30.84	49	58	156	58
93	Raleigh, NC	30.78	101	55	123	180
94	Paradise, NV	30.75	51	60	156	56
95	Oxnard, CA	30.72	78	134	54	139
96	Richmond, VA	30.56	186	36	76	166
97	Corpus Christi, TX	30.53	34	161	40	181
98	Yonkers, NY	30.43	23	69	156	105
99	Hialeah, FL	30.25	140	18	156	30
100	Brownsville, TX	30.23	82	130	17	198
101	Thornton, CO	30.08	46	88	156	36
102	San Bernardino, CA	30.01	20	68	156	137
103	McAllen, TX	29.83	93	124	103	83
104	Springfield, MA	29.66	95	122	49	184
105	Ontario, CA	29.66	13	67	156	153
106	Toledo, OH	29.64	100	172	56	65
107	Mobile, AL	29.56	109	192	58	45
108	Corona, CA	29.51	18	77	156	143
109	Pittsburgh, PA	29.49	66	120	71	183
110	Reno, NV	29.23	84	145	86	75
111	Colorado Springs, CO	29.19	77	166	81	53
112	Miramar, FL	28.95	140	25	156	31
113	Pembroke Pines, FL	28.89	140	24	156	33
114	Tulsa, OK	28.77	35	175	129	34
115	Hollywood, FL	28.66	140	22	156	43
116	Honolulu, HI	28.65	200	114	39	72
117	Irvine, CA	28.56	119	85	115	177
118	St. Louis, MO	28.42	144	123	68	40
119	Killeen, TX	28.36	94	43	156	124
120	St. Petersburg, FL	28.26	166	93	117	29
121	Jacksonville, FL	28.26	168	117	62	50
122	Spring Valley, NV	28.20	51	52	156	160
123	Cincinnati, OH	27.85	145	126	57	70
124	Kansas City, MO	27.75	147	111	87	66
125	Greensboro, NC	27.74	107	116	114	138
126	Boston, MA	27.62	162	79	112	121
127	Lakewood, CO	27.57	43	94	156	89
128	Salinas, CA	27.47	114	121	37	199
129	Huntington Beach, CA	27.43	120	129	77	125
130	Fremont, CA	27.39	154	96	89	118
131	Montgomery, AL	27.30	153	184	42	23
132	Buffalo, NY	27.25	104	99	130	173
133	Lubbock, TX	26.44	126	163	74	74
134	Sacramento, CA	26.33	150	101	73	167
135	Vancouver, WA	26.24	191	42	122	171
136	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	26.14	16	136	149	134
137	Santa Rosa, CA	26.10	115	137	72	174
138	Arlington, VA	25.87	161	51	154	77
139	Grand Rapids, MI	25.81	105	167	90	128
140	Nashville, TN	25.48	180	133	75	26
141	Cary, NC	25.27	102	61	156	169
142	Durham, NC	25.02	110	183	84	141
143	Virginia Beach, VA	24.60	195	102	134	35
144	Bridgeport, CT	24.53	68	150	95	188
145	Omaha, NE	24.46	174	155	80	18
146	Bellevue, WA	24.42	79	89	150	196
147	Columbus, GA	24.32	197	157	55	44
148	Anchorage, AK	24.09	116	197	128	46
149	Knoxville, TN	24.02	182	182	32	133
150	Overland Park, KS	23.82	163	112	146	14
151	Worcester, MA	23.76	99	160	131	111
152	Midland, TX	23.64	11	142	156	122
153	Fort Collins, CO	23.35	71	180	137	114
154	Chula Vista, CA	23.35	45	104	156	179
155	Hayward, CA	23.29	149	95	102	193
156	Indianapolis, IN	23.16	156	125	53	194
157	Moreno Valley, CA	23.07	17	144	156	129
158	Laredo, TX	23.06	91	127	156	48
159	Escondido, CA	23.02	40	106	156	186
160	Wichita, KS	22.83	183	178	110	6
161	Savannah, GA	22.62	185	173	59	96
162	Boise City, ID	22.33	92	165	133	158
163	Murfreesboro, TN	22.25	90	139	156	42
164	Charlotte, NC	22.09	178	119	109	146
165	Chattanooga, TN	21.85	176	196	104	25
166	Fullerton, CA	21.82	121	82	156	182
167	Eugene, OR	21.73	111	141	124	190
168	Spokane, WA	21.69	108	158	138	140
169	Orange, CA	21.34	122	84	156	187
170	Olathe, KS	21.23	165	113	156	7
171	Columbus, OH	21.10	177	135	119	81
172	Grand Prairie, TX	20.99	59	151	156	87
173	Tallahassee, FL	20.96	171	162	125	32
174	Norfolk, VA	20.90	192	97	153	82
175	Cape Coral, FL	20.48	96	188	156	24
176	Salt Lake City, UT	20.12	133	168	46	197
177	Augusta, GA	20.01	164	181	118	69
178	Huntsville, AL	19.51	187	200	135	15
179	Sunrise Manor, NV	19.50	51	146	156	160
180	Garden Grove, CA	19.37	125	128	156	110
181	Oceanside, CA	19.36	47	143	156	176
182	Sioux Falls, SD	19.33	113	198	152	113
183	Enterprise, NV	19.23	51	153	156	160
184	Springfield, MO	18.58	173	187	82	172
185	Fort Wayne, IN	18.42	175	190	61	189
186	Des Moines, IA	17.68	196	177	100	150
187	Chesapeake, VA	17.67	193	107	156	76
188	Salem, OR	17.40	118	149	126	200
189	Little Rock, AR	17.13	181	186	132	112
190	Lincoln, NE	16.76	199	171	141	49
191	Lexington, KY	16.68	189	176	140	71
192	McKinney, TX	16.39	139	195	145	91
193	Clarksville, TN	16.20	190	193	155	21
194	Elk Grove, CA	16.03	151	103	156	178
195	Metairie, LA	16.00	172	154	156	17
196	St. Paul, MN	15.63	169	147	144	148
197	Dayton, OH	15.57	170	185	136	155
198	Madison, WI	14.60	179	179	147	120
199	Frisco, TX	13.88	136	170	156	101
200	Winston-Salem, NC	13.25	184	174	151	151

Highlights and Lowlights

The Golden and Smoggy State 

One state appears most often in the top ranks: California. Eight Golden State cities are in the top 20, and seven of those cities are in the Los Angeles metro area. LA-area cities scored especially poorly on pollution metrics, such air quality and fuel consumption. And with LA’s famous smog hitting pollution records even during the pandemic, the skies won’t be clearing anytime soon.

Bigger and Dirtier Cities

The filthiest cities are often also the largest, as five of the 10 most populated U.S. cities found their way into our own top 10 list. These megacities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston, for example) performed especially badly in our living-conditions metrics, with New York City having the highest percentage of homes with signs of mice or rats. It’s no surprise then that New York’s Pizza Rat became a viral video sensation. 

Roach Motel Cities and States

When it comes to cockroaches, Florida and Texas are tops. Of the top 30 cities for share of homes with signs of cockroaches, 23 were in our two most infested states. The warm subtropical climate is the most likely reason for the increased bug presence. If you live in Florida or Texas — or New York City and Newark (where Joe’s Apartment was filmed) — you’re likely sharing your home with six-legged uninvited guests.

Methodology

We ranked the 200 biggest U.S. cities in descending order — from dirtiest to cleanest — based on their individual score totals in the metrics listed below. The city that scored the highest ranked No. 1, or “dirtiest.”

Sources: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, LawnStarter, National Transportation Research Nonprofit (TRIP), Numbeo, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Why This Study Matters

Following the lockdowns last year, people across the globe marveled at the cleaner air and water in their cities. Now the pollution is back to pre-pandemic levels in many urban areas. In some cases, it’s even worse.

Unclean air is the last thing we all need during this pandemic. Air pollution worsens the severity of COVID-19 in lung cancer patients, and it increases our chances for heart disease and stroke.

In many cities, people deal with more than just pollution, though — they have to contend with pests, litter, and even bad waste-management services.

Despite the obvious issue — dirty cities are unappealing to residents and tourists — dealing with dirt and grime can be a huge drain on municipal budgets. 

For example, in 2017, San Francisco spent $46 million on street cleaning alone. 

Here’s the bottom line: Dirty cities aren’t just smoggy, buggy, and costly to clean — they also can damage our bodies. Avoiding a dirty city — or moving away from one, if you can afford to do that — could just extend your life.

Main Photo Credit: Smog makes it harder to see the Los Angeles downtown / Shutterstock