Number One Dirtiest City In America Now In Texas

Well, Houston, you definitely have a problem; according to an article in the New York Post, the company Lawnstarter has labeled you the Dirtiest City in America.

You would think New York's filthy sidewalks, gross subway cars, and rat infestations make it America's dirtiest city. Here is a big surprise: a recent study by LawnStarter has crowned Houston, Texas, the nation's dirtiest city, bumping Newark, New Jersey, from the top spot.

Despite its notorious grime, New York City didn't even crack the top 10. It landed in 12th place. While the Big Apple dodged the title of dirtiest, it's still grappling with its trash and pest problems.

Houston's new, less-than-desirable title seems to result from poor air quality, infrastructure challenges, and an alarming number of pests infiltrating homes. These issues affect the city's livability and have a significant environmental impact.

LawnStarter's sister site, PestGnome, pulled data showing Houston has the worst cockroach problem, with the city crawling with creepy critters.

It's not just Houston; southern cities seem to be cockroach havens.  The Alamo City, San Antonio, Texas, and Tampa, Florida, join Houston in the top three for cockroach infestations.
What is interesting is that many of the cleanest cities are coastal, with Virginia Beach leading the pack. This finding offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that proximity to water might play a role in maintaining cleanliness.

It seems being near the water doesn't guarantee cleanliness—Fremont, California, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, also rank among the most pristine cities despite their inland locations.