America’s 10 Worst Cities for Seasonal Allergies

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, late March marks the arrival of spring. It's a time of flowers, bees…and allergies. And as many can tell you, some cities have more pollen than others.

The CDC estimates that over 60 million people in the US have spring allergies. People spend billions on doctor’s visits and medicines to fight symptoms. Those can include runny noses, watery eyes, and sore throats. Many will go to great lengths to avoid the pollen that makes their symptoms worse. Some even move cities if the pollen is too much.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has published their 2023 list of “Allergy Capitals.” These are the cities that have the highest levels of pollen, sell the most allergy medications, and have the most doctors that focus on treating allergies. Here are the ten cities with the worst allergies:

• Wichita, Kansas.
• Dallas, Texas.
• Scranton, Pennsylvania.
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Sarasota, Florida.
• Cape Coral, Florida.
• Orlando, Florida.
• Des Moines, Iowa.
• Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The AAFA, though, also cites the cities with the cleanest springtime air. They include Buffalo, New York; Seattle, Washington; and Columbus, Ohio.