11 North Carolina Cities Rank Among ‘Dirtiest Cities in America’

Living in certain parts of North Carolina might mean you’re more familiar with pollution and litter than residents in other cities. A recent report by LawnStarter compared over 300 cities across the country to reveal the “dirtiest cities in America,” ranking them based on factors such as air pollution, water quality, waste management, and resident satisfaction. Among those listed, 11 North Carolina cities were flagged for pollution and cleanliness issues.

In LawnStarter’s findings, Fayetteville ranked the highest among North Carolina cities at No. 49. Other NC cities and their rankings on the list include:

• No. 49: Fayetteville
• No. 154: Asheville
• No. 162: Cary
• No. 183: Raleigh
• No. 201: Durham
• No. 238: Greenville
• No. 244: Charlotte
• No. 256: Concord
• No. 277: Greensboro
• No. 285: Winston-Salem
• No. 299: Wilmington

These results highlight a disparity in environmental conditions across the state, suggesting that cities face unique challenges regarding pollution control and waste management. Fayetteville’s higher ranking suggests a more significant struggle with pollution and cleanliness than other North Carolina cities, while Wilmington, ranked 299, may experience fewer issues by comparison.

According to the study, the following factors were used to assess pollution and cleanliness levels: air quality, water quality, effective waste management practices, and resident feedback on cleanliness and environmental satisfaction. LawnStarter used data from a variety of sources to assign scores for each city. Each city’s “Overall Score” reflects the average of its scores across all categories.

Here are the top 10 “dirtiest” cities overall:

1. San Bernardino, California
2. Detroit, Michigan
3. Reading, Pennsylvania
4. Newark, New Jersey
5. Ontario, California
6. Phoenix, Arizona
7. Trenton, New Jersey
8. Las Vegas, Nevada
9. Houston, Texas
10. Baytown, Texas

For the complete list and more details on the study, visit LawnStarter’s website.