Phoenix ranked 6th dirtiest city in US by new study. Here's why

Phoenix landed sixth in the nation in lawn care provider LawnStarter’s recent ranking of America’s dirtiest cities.

LawnStarter examined more than 300 of the biggest cities in the U.S. and categorized different factors to rank the dirtiest cities in 2024. The categories include air pollution , water quality, waste management and dissatisfaction levels among residents.

The study's methodology is published on the LawnStarter site . So, how does metro Phoenix compare to the rest of the country?

San Bernardino, California, was ranked the dirtiest city in America – while Detroit; Reading, Pennsylvania; Newark, New Jersey; and Ontario, California, made up the rest of the top five.

More: Ozone pollution put Phoenix among the most-polluted cities, new report shows

Phoenix ranked 20 ^th in the country for air pollution, 150 ^th for living conditions, first in the infrastructure category and 54 ^th in resident dissatisfaction.

Other Arizona cities that made the list include Mesa, which placed 18th; Tempe, which placed 35th; Peoria, which placed 39th; Scottsdale, which placed 55th; Flagstaff, which placed 77th; Chandler, which placed 83rd; and Tucson, which placed 88th.

Top 10 dirtiest cities in the US

LawnStar's 2024 ranking of dirtiest cities in America named these cities as the ten dirtiest cities based on air pollution, water quality, waste management and dissatisfaction levels among city residents.

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

Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @raphaeldelag .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix ranked 6th dirtiest city in US by new study. Here's why