In a recent study conducted by HouseFresh, Baltimore, Maryland, has been identified as the dirtiest city in the United States, surpassing larger cities like New York and Los Angeles. The ranking is based on an analysis of over 12 million sanitation-related 311 complaints across various U.S. cities.
Baltimore recorded approximately 47,295 sanitation complaints per 100,000 residents, indicating significant concerns about cleanliness and public hygiene. Six of the dirtiest ZIP codes are situated in Baltimore’s city center. Sacramento, California, followed as the second dirtiest city with 34,186 complaints per 100,000 residents.
Contrary to common perceptions, New York City did not make the top 10, landing 17th with 3,728 complaints per 100,000 people. However, Brooklyn stood out with the highest number of complaints in NYC, likely due to population growth and high tourist traffic. Los Angeles ranked fourth with nearly 21,616 complaints per 100,000 residents. Boston also featured in the top 10 with 10,252 complaints.
On the other end of the spectrum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was found to be the cleanest city, with only 309 complaints per 100,000 people. New Hyde Park, Long Island, achieved recognition as the cleanest ZIP code in the tri-state area.
The study highlights the effectiveness of sanitation services and community engagement in maintaining urban cleanliness. Cities with proactive waste management and responsive complaint systems tend to fare better in such rankings.
These findings underscore the importance of addressing sanitation issues to improve public health and quality of life in urban areas. Municipalities may need to invest more in infrastructure and community programs to tackle the challenges highlighted by the study.
