Houston named ‘dirtiest’ city in the United States (study)

(NEXSTAR) — Two of Texas’ most populous cities rank among the dirtiest in the country in a recent study that highlights today’s challenges to urban cleanliness.

LawnStarter, a lawn care provider, evaluated more than 150 of the largest cities in the United States, 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, the Census Bureau, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Houston tops the list of so-called dirtiest cities due to high levels of pollution, a significant cockroach problem and greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities.

The researchers also cited a 2022 report from the nonprofit media organization Grist, which found that some of Houston’s “petrochemical facilities had seriously violated EPA safety guidelines.”

Texas is the nation’s largest energy consumer across all sectors, KXAN previously reported. More than half of the state’s energy consumption comes from the industrial sector, including refineries and petrochemical plants.

Last April, the EPA announced that chemical plants like those on the Texas Gulf Coast must reduce toxic air pollution to help protect public health.

Despite these challenges, some Houstonians say they are more satisfied with their city’s cleanliness than residents of 33 other major cities.

Cities rounding out the top five include Newark, New Jersey; San Bernardino, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Jersey City, New Jersey. Meanwhile, another Lone Star State city, San Antonio, comes in at No. 7. Here is the complete top 20:

1. Houston, TX
2. Newark, New Jersey
3. San Bernardino, California
4. Detroit, Michigan
5. Jersey City, New Jersey
6. Bakersfield, California
7. San Antonio, TX
8. Fresno, California
9. Oklahoma City, OK
10. Yonkers, New York
11. Shreveport, Louisiana
12. New York, New York
13. Birmingham, Alabama
14. Ontario, California
15. Los Angeles, California
16. Modesto, California
17. Palmdale, California
18. Hollywood, Florida
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
20. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Several California cities – like Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Bernardino – also rank among the dirtiest. San Bernardino had the most dissatisfied residents when it came to cleanliness for the second year in a row.

Additionally, the study highlighted water problems in the South West, made worse by drought and climate change. Las Vegas is the dirtiest area in the region, ranking 19th, while Chandler, Arizona is the cleanest at 71st.

In Ohio, cigarette litter is a common problem statewide, according to the study. Cleveland has the highest percentage of smokers (29.1%), leading to littering problems despite strict laws. Columbus, however, has the lowest rate (22.1%) and is one of the cleanest cities overall, ranking 137th.

On the other hand, Virginia Beach, Virginia stands out as the cleanest city for the second year in a row, showing low pollution levels and high consumer satisfaction. Other top performers include Fremont, California; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa.

Click here to view the full study.

KXAN’s Mike Smith contributed to this report.