Which US city is most polluted?

The most polluted U.S. city, primarily due to year-round fine particulate matter, is consistently Bakersfield-Delano, California, followed closely by other Central Valley cities like Visalia and Fresno, with Los Angeles, Eugene (OR), and Fairbanks (AK) also frequently appearing in the top ranks, according to reports from the American Lung Association and U.S. News & World Report. These areas suffer from a combination of geography (trapped pollution in valleys), traffic, and emissions from agriculture.

What is the cleanest city in the USA?

There's no single "cleanest" city, as it depends on metrics, but Honolulu, HI often tops lists for air quality and natural beauty, while metro areas like Portland, OR and Seattle, WA score high for overall environmental factors, and Chicago, IL, is noted for effective street cleanliness due to its alleyways. Rankings vary, with some studies highlighting Hawaii's air, others focusing on garbage disposal, and some on specific programs like Portland's green initiatives or Chicago's alley system for hiding trash.
 

Which is the no. 1 cleanest city in the world?

Copenhagen, Denmark: The cleanest city on the planet

Currently, the energy mix exceeds 30%, and it is expected to achieve energy independence by 2050. Notable features: Bicycle implementation: Copenhagen has 700,000 bicycles. 62% of its citizens use them.

What is the #1 safest city in the US?

There's no single #1 safest city, as rankings vary by study, but Warwick, Rhode Island, frequently tops lists like WalletHub's 2025 report for overall safety (combining crime, natural disasters, financial), while San Jose, California, often leads studies focusing on large cities' low violent crime rates, notes USA Today,. Other top contenders include Overland Park, Kansas and Burlington, Vermont,.
 

Where is the least toxic place to live in the US?

• Vermont. #1 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• New Hampshire. #2 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• South Dakota. #3 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• Oregon. #4 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• Wyoming. #5 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• Washington. #6 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• Nebraska. #7 in Low Industrial Toxins. ...
• Maine. #8 in Low Industrial Toxins.

Top Five Most Polluted U.S. Cities

What city has the best quality of life in the USA?

The best U.S. cities for quality of life vary by ranking, but Brookline, MA, often tops lists for blending small-town feel with big-city access, while Columbia, MD, excels for women's opportunities, and Chicago is noted as a top big city for overall livability, despite some drawbacks. Other top contenders include Alexandria, VA, Bellevue, WA, Chapel Hill, NC, and cities in the < !nav>Research Triangle (NC) / NC/VA/MD area for strong education, healthcare, and amenities. 

What is the dirtiest city on Earth?

There's no single "dirtiest city," as it depends on the metric (air quality, trash, etc.), but Lahore (Pakistan) and Delhi (India) frequently top air pollution lists (PM2.5), while some reports rank Budapest (Hungary) or Las Vegas (USA) as dirtiest based on tourism-related trash issues, highlighting different aspects of urban grime. 

Which US cities have the most litter?

Top Ten Cities with the Most Roadside Litter

• #1: San Francisco. ...
• #2: Los Angeles. ...
• #3: Philadelphia. ...
• #4: New Orleans. ...
• #5: Portland. ...
• #6: Memphis. ...
• #7: Milwaukee. ...
• #8: New York City.

What state has the worst pollution?

Type of Pollution: Louisiana ranks on top for air pollution that includes ozone and particles released from industrial sites. Waterways in the state are among the most polluted in the country and contain nitrates, dioxin, arsenic, mercury, and benzene.

What city in the US has the worst light pollution?

Miami, Florida is the most light-polluted U.S. city, with night illumination nearly twice the national average. It is the most light-polluted city in the US, earning an index of 96.2. The city's nighttime glow has a radiance of 196.3, making its illumination one of the strongest in the country.

What is the cleanest state in America?

While it varies by metric, Hawaii consistently ranks as the cleanest state, leading in air and water quality due to natural factors like trade winds and underground aquifers, with strong showings also from Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington, which score high in clean air, water, recycling, and low pollution. 

Is Chicago the dirtiest city?

The most polluted cities in the U.S. are Columbus, Ohio, followed by Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Dallas. Air quality in Columbus reported 13.1 micrograms of PM 2.5 particles per cubic meter in 2022, making it one of the majorly polluted cities in the U.S.

Which US state has the cleanest water?

While rankings vary by study, Hawaii consistently appears at or near the top for overall cleanest water, often due due to its volcanic aquifers and low EPA violation rates, with Massachusetts, Vermont, Tennessee, and Alabama frequently cited as top contenders for excellent drinking water quality due to strong standards and protected sources. 

Where is the cheapest but safest place to live in the US?

The cheapest and safest places to live in the U.S. often blend low crime rates with affordable housing, with top contenders frequently including small cities in Ohio (like New Philadelphia), Georgia (Roswell, Johns Creek), Texas (Mission, Brownsville), Michigan (Grand Rapids, Bay City), and Oklahoma (Enid, Edmond), offering good cost of living, low property values, and stable economies, though "safest" and "cheapest" can vary by ranking source. 

What is the #1 most violent city in the US?

While rankings vary by source and year, Memphis, Tennessee, frequently appears as the #1 most dangerous city in America based on recent violent crime rates (per 100,000 people) for cities with populations over 100,000, followed by cities like Detroit, Oakland, and Baltimore, according to reports from 2024 and 2025. These lists consider factors like homicides, assaults, and property crimes, with Memphis often leading due to high rates of violent offenses. 

What is the most peaceful city in America?

While "most peaceful" varies, Fort Collins, Colorado is frequently cited as America's most peaceful city by rankings from Insider Monkey and Travel + Leisure, due to its low noise levels (like rustling leaves) and high access to outdoor spaces like parks and reservoirs, offering a serene environment. Other contenders for peacefulness or safety include Hopkinton, MA, for low crime and focus on well-being, and Warwick, RI, recognized for overall safety (physical, natural, financial) by Newsweek, though rankings depend on the criteria used (noise, crime, nature access). 

What is the #1 crime state in America?

Alaska consistently ranks as the state with the highest violent crime rate, followed closely by New Mexico, with Tennessee and Arkansas also having very high rates, according to 2024 data from sources like USAFacts and WorldAtlas. These figures reflect crimes per 100,000 residents, showing Alaska at over 724 incidents, significantly above the national average. 

What country has the best hygiene?

There's no single "best," but Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, and Nordic countries (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland) consistently rank high for hygiene, excelling in public cleanliness, sanitation, waste management, and strong cultural emphasis on personal cleanliness and hygiene. These nations often lead environmental health indices, featuring spotless public spaces, strict cleanliness laws, and deeply ingrained hygiene habits. 

What is the most trashed country?

As a nation, the USA generates more waste than any other nation in the world with 4.5 pounds (2.0 kg) of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, fifty five percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.

What is the #1 polluter on planet Earth?

There isn't one single #1 polluter, as it depends on the metric (country, company, sector), but China is the largest national polluter by total greenhouse gas emissions, while fossil fuel companies (like Saudi Aramco, Chevron, ExxonMobil) are top corporate polluters, and the energy sector (burning fossil fuels) is the biggest overall source for human-caused pollution, with the US military noted as a huge institutional emitter.