The past couple of years have not been very easy on America as a country. And it is still facing many challenges, including excessive immigration, deepening poverty, rampant drug use, and escalating pollution, all of which are stretching city resources thin.

These pressing issues are culminating in a severe public health crisis, most noticeable in the deteriorating state of cleanliness and safety in many urban areas. In this article, we examine some of the cities that were the worst hit by this crisis.

LawnStarter spearheaded the research to rank the dirtiest U.S. cities. They collected data on various factors and categorized them into Living Conditions, Pollution, Infrastructure, and Consumer Satisfaction, thereby creating a comprehensive profile for 150 of the biggest U.S. cities.

Pollution: It was determined by the median air quality index, water quality violations, and greenhouse gas emissions per capita. It factors in the annual excess fuel consumption by auto commuters.
Infrastructure: This considers waste management and environmental sustainability. It includes landfill waste per capita, the effectiveness of state waste regulations, the availability of refuse and recycling services, the density of alternative fuel stations, and the number of junk yards in the area.
Consumer Satisfaction: It reflects how content residents are with their surroundings by measuring the percentage of residents unhappy with the city’s cleanliness, pollution levels, garbage disposal services, and the quantity and quality of green spaces and parks.

Houston is the dirtiest city in America. It is currently struggling with the controversial Colony Ridge development north of Houston as a haven for illegal immigrants and significant problems. It ranks three in pollution, 4 in living conditions, 12 in infrastructure, and 34 in consumer satisfaction.

Newark is the second dirtiest city in America, with the second overall position. Its pollution is ranked 14, living conditions 5, infrastructure 97, and consumer satisfaction 3.

San Bernardino grapples with high pollution and is the 3rd dirtiest city in America. Its pollution rank is 1, living conditions 56, infrastructure 131, and consumer satisfaction 1, meaning more residents are unhappy with the state of things in the city.

Detroit also faces considerable cleanliness challenges, earning it the fourth-dirtiest city in America. It ranks 9 in pollution, 35 in living conditions, 89 in infrastructure, and 4 in consumer satisfaction.

Jersey City is the fifth dirtiest city in America and is a city that finds it challenging to maintain clean living conditions. Its pollution ranks at 50, living conditions at 2, infrastructure at 110, and consumer satisfaction at 15.

Bakersfield is beset with numerous challenges, contributing to its position as the sixth dirtiest city in America. It ranks 27th in pollution, 69th in living conditions, 122nd in consumer satisfaction, and 7th in consumer satisfaction.

San Antonio is the 7th dirtiest city, and there are notable concerns about living there. It ranks 34th in pollution, 12th in living conditions, 29th in infrastructure, and 36th in consumer satisfaction.

Fresno is the 8th dirtiest city in America, after San Antonio. It is severely polluted, with a rank of 31 for pollution and 81 for living conditions. When it comes to infrastructure, it ranks 121 and 5 in consumer satisfaction.

Oklahoma City also faces serious sanitary issues, which is why it ranks as the 9th dirtiest city in America. Its pollution rank is 5, living conditions 25, infrastructure 8, and consumer satisfaction 96.

Yonkers is the 10th dirtiest city in America, with an overall score of 46.36. Its pollution rank is 46, living conditions 8, infrastructure 128, and consumer satisfaction 14.