Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBest PlacesWorst PlacesManaging AllergiesClimate ChangeFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Best Places
Worst Places
Managing Allergies
Climate Change
FAQ
More than 50 million Americans live withallergies, many of which areseasonal.Pollenis the major cause of seasonal allergies.If you have bad seasonal allergies, you might wonder if living somewhere else could help with your symptoms.
Whileallergensare everywhere, the best states for allergies are found on the West Coast, where seasonal allergies are less of a problem than in other parts of the United States.
This article discusses the best and worst areas of the U.S. to live in for seasonal allergies.
RgStudio / Getty Images
How to Get Relief from Allergy Symptoms
Best Cities and States for Allergies
In the 2024 rankings, the AAFA has ranked the following cities (of the top 100 most populated metro areas) as the best places to live if you have allergies:
Note that these rankings arenot just based on pollen. The other factors of medication use and being able to access allergy specialists are other factors.
Worst Cities and States for Allergies
As with the best states for allergies, the AAFA also ranks the worst states for allergies using the same criteria: pollen scores in the spring and fall, use of OTC allergy medication, and availability of allergy specialists.
States with a lot of trees, grass, and weeds will have a lot of allergens. Areas in the Northeast U.S. like Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut. Virginia, Kansas, and Texas have a high rate of allergens.
For 2024, the AAFA has ranked the following as the worst places to live if you have allergies:
It may be that a city previously ranked as one of the worst places to live is no longer on the list. This does not necessarily mean that allergy conditions in that city have improved. The AAFA only ranks the top 100 most-populated Metropolitan Statistical Areas, so cities that have lost population such as Scranton, Pennsylvania may no longer be included.
Before Moving
Before you think about moving somewhere else to avoid allergies, keep in mind that allergens are everywhere. Moving to a new state may not get rid of your allergy symptoms.
It’s also important to note that many plant families share the same or similar proteins that trigger allergies. While you could relocate to an area to avoid one allergen, you could also develop an allergy to another member of the same plant family in your new locale.
However, knowing your allergy triggers can help you decide if a move is right for you. For example:
Knowing an area’s pollen count can help you figure out how bad your allergies could be if you lived in that area.
A sampling device called a Rotorod can help you get this figure. It also assigns areas into three levels of pollen counts: low, moderate, and high.
Managing Seasonal and Year-Round Allergies
Living withperennial allergiescan be physically uncomfortable and canaffect your mood. However, there are steps you can take to deal with your allergy symptoms no matter where you live.
Some allergy symptoms may need medications like:
Natural Remedies for Allergies
Allergies and Climate Change
Sinceclimate changehas made pollen production more intense,allergy seasons have become longerand more severe.Depending on where you live, you may have already started to notice that the seasons are coming earlier, lasting longer, or just don’t seem to be “like they used to be.”
Climate change is also affecting the world’s air quality, which can also make life more difficult for people with conditions like allergies and asthma.
If the changes in your environment related to climate change are worsening your allergy symptoms, you may consider moving to a different climate. Depending on what triggers your allergies, you may want to learn more about how climate change is affecting weather conditions in different places.
For example, research suggests that while there are widespread changes to pollen production related to climate change, Texas and Midwestern states seem to be the parts of the United States that are seeing the fastest increase.
Summary
Pollen is the leading cause of allergies and can be worse in certain areas of the United States, mainly on the East Coast. Cities on the West Coast, such as California, Washington, and Utah, can be better choices for people with allergies.
However, allergens are everywhere. Even if you move to an area that is considered better for allergies, you may still have that allergy or develop a new one.
Frequently Asked QuestionsGeography can affect allergies because of the climate associated with different regions.Drier climates are often associated with lower aeroallergen abundance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Geography can affect allergies because of the climate associated with different regions.Drier climates are often associated with lower aeroallergen abundance.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.2024 Allergy Capitals.Lo F, Bitz CM, Battisti DS, Hess JJ.Pollen calendars and maps of allergenic pollen in North America.Aerobiologia. 2019;35(4):613-633. doi:10.1007/s10453-019-09601-2Anderegg WRL, Abatzoglou JT, Anderegg LDL, Bielory L, Kinney PL, Ziska L.Anthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(7):e2013284118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2013284118Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Climate change and health.National Institue of Food and Agriculture.Yes, allergy seasons are getting worse. Blame climate change.NOAA.Climate & allergies.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.2024 Allergy Capitals.Lo F, Bitz CM, Battisti DS, Hess JJ.Pollen calendars and maps of allergenic pollen in North America.Aerobiologia. 2019;35(4):613-633. doi:10.1007/s10453-019-09601-2Anderegg WRL, Abatzoglou JT, Anderegg LDL, Bielory L, Kinney PL, Ziska L.Anthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(7):e2013284118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2013284118Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Climate change and health.National Institue of Food and Agriculture.Yes, allergy seasons are getting worse. Blame climate change.NOAA.Climate & allergies.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.2024 Allergy Capitals.Lo F, Bitz CM, Battisti DS, Hess JJ.Pollen calendars and maps of allergenic pollen in North America.Aerobiologia. 2019;35(4):613-633. doi:10.1007/s10453-019-09601-2Anderegg WRL, Abatzoglou JT, Anderegg LDL, Bielory L, Kinney PL, Ziska L.Anthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(7):e2013284118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2013284118Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Climate change and health.National Institue of Food and Agriculture.Yes, allergy seasons are getting worse. Blame climate change.NOAA.Climate & allergies.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.2024 Allergy Capitals.
Lo F, Bitz CM, Battisti DS, Hess JJ.Pollen calendars and maps of allergenic pollen in North America.Aerobiologia. 2019;35(4):613-633. doi:10.1007/s10453-019-09601-2
Anderegg WRL, Abatzoglou JT, Anderegg LDL, Bielory L, Kinney PL, Ziska L.Anthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(7):e2013284118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2013284118
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Climate change and health.
National Institue of Food and Agriculture.Yes, allergy seasons are getting worse. Blame climate change.
NOAA.Climate & allergies.
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