What Is the Cleanest City in the US? 2025 Answer by Air, Water, and Clean Streets

You want a single, confident answer you can use right now. Here it is: the cleanest city in the US depends on what you mean by “clean.” If you mean healthiest air, Honolulu, Hawaii usually wins. If you mean spotless streets, low trash, and strong sanitation among big cities, Virginia Beach, Virginia sits at the top of recent rankings. Those aren’t the same thing, and that’s the trap. I’m a Vancouver local who measures life by sky clarity and how fast my shoes get dirty on sidewalks. So I’ll give you a clear, evidence-backed answer, and a simple way to pick the “clean” that matters to you-whether you’re traveling, moving, or just curious.

• Air quality champ: Honolulu, HI consistently ranks among the cleanest for ozone and particle pollution (American Lung Association, State of the Air 2024).
• Clean streets and low trash among large cities: Virginia Beach, VA ranked #1 in 2024 composite cleanliness (LawnStarter 2024 Cleanest Cities).
• Mainland air-quality standouts: Cheyenne, WY; Casper, WY; Burlington-South Burlington, VT; Bangor, ME show very low fine particle levels (ALA 2024).
• Water safety: check a city’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and Safe Drinking Water Act compliance; large systems in cities like Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis have strong records.
• Reality check: wildfire smoke can swing “clean” year to year. Verify recent AQI trends before you book or move (EPA AirNow, EPA AQS).

The cleanest answer-and why it depends

When people ask “What’s the cleanest city in the US?” they usually want one word. But “clean” splits into a few measurable parts:

• Air quality: ozone (smog) and particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10)
• Street and public space cleanliness: trash, litter, pests, illegal dumping
• Water quality: tap water compliance, lead and PFAS control, watershed protection
• Greenspace and maintenance: park access, tree canopy, and how well those areas are kept

If your lungs decide the answer, Honolulu is the closest thing to a “yes.” The American Lung Association’s State of the Air report (2024) places Honolulu at or near the top for both ozone and particle pollution. It’s an island climate with steady winds and less heavy industry, which makes it unusually forgiving for sensitive groups. Other metros that often show up with very low particle levels include Cheyenne and Casper (Wyoming), Burlington (Vermont), and Bangor (Maine)-places with cooler temps, fewer cars per square mile, and fewer inversion problems.

If your eyes decide the answer-no litter, clean curbs, tidy public spaces-Virginia Beach comes out first among large U.S. cities in the 2024 LawnStarter Cleanest Cities ranking. Their composite measure covers things like resident satisfaction, junk accumulation, rodent issues, and waste handling. Sunnyvale and Fremont in California also perform well; they’re smaller, car-centric, but managed tightly and tend to have fewer legacy infrastructure issues than older big metros.

Water is its own story. You’ll see national headlines about lead or PFAS, but water safety is very local and very regulated. Many big-city utilities publish gold-standard Consumer Confidence Reports every year. Seattle’s Tolt and Cedar River supplies, Boston’s Quabbin/Wachusett system, and Minneapolis’s Mississippi River treatment have long track records of meeting or exceeding federal rules. The right approach here isn’t a city list-it’s a quick check of the latest CCR and whether the system had any Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement actions in the last 12 months.

Now the curveball: wildfire smoke. I live in Vancouver with a Maine Coon named Nimbus, and I’ve watched blue-sky summers turn haze-gray in a day. That same drift can hit Seattle, Denver, Chicago, or New York depending on wind and fire seasons. So even “clean” cities can have rough weeks. The fix is to plan around seasonality and watch recent AQI trends, not just long-term averages.

So here’s the plain-English answer:

• Best bet for air: Honolulu, HI. Mainland backups: Cheyenne, WY; Burlington, VT; Bangor, ME; Wilmington, NC (ALA 2024).
• Best bet for clean streets among large cities: Virginia Beach, VA (LawnStarter 2024). Strong contenders: Sunnyvale, CA; Fremont, CA; Norfolk, VA.
• Best bet for parks and green feel: Washington, DC, and Minneapolis-St. Paul continue to top the Trust for Public Land ParkScore (2024), which correlates with a “kept” city vibe.
• Best bet for water: verify the local CCR; many top utilities are in Seattle, Boston, Minneapolis, and Portland (OR), but always check the latest report because treatment and sources change.

Sources cited (no links): American Lung Association, State of the Air (2024); EPA Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring data; EPA AirNow (real-time AQI); Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Monitoring; LawnStarter Cleanest Cities 2024; Trust for Public Land ParkScore Index 2024; Keep America Beautiful National Litter Study (2020).

How to pick the right “cleanest” city for you (step-by-step)

If you’re traveling, moving, or just comparing, use this simple sequence. It takes 10-15 minutes and saves you hours of guessing.

1. Define your “clean.” Rank these in order: clean air, clean streets, safe water, green feel. If you or your kid has asthma, air goes first. If you hate overflowing bins and rats, streets go first.
2. Check air quality like a pro (5 minutes).
   • Look up ALA’s State of the Air for your target metro. You want few or zero “orange/red” days and a low annual PM2.5 average.
   • Rule of thumb: aim for cities averaging under 9 µg/m³ annual PM2.5 (EPA’s 2024 tightened standard) and fewer than 2 days per year with AQI over 100.
   • If you’re traveling soon, check last 30 days on AirNow. If you see multiple smoke spikes, consider a backup week or alternative.
3. Vet water in 3 clicks.
   • Open the city’s water utility Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the latest year.
   • Scan for: lead 90th percentile well below 15 ppb (good if under 10), PFAS within state limits or non-detect, no recent EPA enforcement actions.
   • Ask: does the system publish corrosion control and main replacement progress? If yes, you’re likely in careful hands.
4. Validate street cleanliness with on-the-ground proxies.
   • Search “311 litter complaints [City]” or “rodent reports [City].” You don’t need numbers; trend and location clusters are enough.
   • Check the city’s waste diversion rate. Over 50% means strong recycling/composting programs.
   • Street-view a few blocks around transit hubs and near stadiums. If those look tidy, the city is serious.
5. Consider seasonality and smoke.
   • West: late summer can bring wildfire haze. Shoulder seasons (May-June, September-October) are safer bets.
   • South: ozone spikes on hot, still days. Morning outdoor time helps.
   • North: winter inversions can briefly trap pollution; look for cities with strong wind patterns (Wyoming, coastal New England).
6. Make a two-city shortlist with trade-offs.
   • Example: Honolulu (best air, higher cost) vs. Burlington (great air, colder winters).
   • Example: Virginia Beach (clean streets, beachy feel) vs. Sunnyvale (clean streets, pricey tech hub).
7. Decide with your constraints.
   • Budget: will you trade some air days for lower rent?
   • Commute: are you driving daily or mostly walking/working remote?
   • Climate: do you prefer mild, dry, or four seasons?

Quick heuristics you can trust:

• Islands and coasts with steady winds tend to have cleaner air (Honolulu, coastal Maine).
• Newer, mid-sized cities often run cleaner streets than older megacities, simply due to smaller load and newer infrastructure.
• Northern Plains and northern New England record very low year-round PM2.5, except during regional smoke events.
• Park-rich cities feel cleaner even when air metrics are average. Washington, DC and Minneapolis score high on that “kept” feel.

Red flags to avoid:

• Frequent 311 complaints about illegal dumping around your intended neighborhood.
• CCR notes “exceedance,” “enforcement action,” or rising lead laterals with no replacement plan.
• Dozens of AQI orange days in the last year and no strong wind pattern to clear it.

Examples, checklists, and your likely questions

Here are real-world scenarios so you can pick fast without second-guessing.

Scenario 1: Family with asthma wants mild weather and clean air.

• Best fit: Honolulu, HI (ALA 2024 top marks; sea breezes; fewer high-ozone days).
• Mainland picks: Burlington, VT; Bangor, ME; Cheyenne, WY. Cold winters, but steady low PM2.5.
• Plan B: If budgets are tight, consider Wilmington, NC or Portland, ME. Check smoke and pollen season timing.

Scenario 2: Remote worker wants clean feel without “coastal premium.”

• Best fit: Lincoln, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; Fargo, ND. High livability, low congestion, decent air most of the year.
• Street cleanliness: these cities are manageable in size, with lower litter loads and simpler waste systems.
• Watch: winter inversion days; get an air purifier for those spikes.

Scenario 3: Beach lover wants tidy promenades and easy maintenance.

• Best fit: Virginia Beach, VA. Clean streets rank, wide beaches, strong municipal services.
• Also good: Sunnyvale or Fremont, CA, if you’re in the Bay Area ecosystem and value order and upkeep.
• Watch: peak summer crowds anywhere will stress bins. Shoulder-season travel feels cleaner.

Scenario 4: City park jogger who equates “clean” with green.

• Best fit: Washington, DC and Minneapolis-St. Paul (Trust for Public Land ParkScore leaders in 2024).
• Street feel: when parks are well funded, the whole city tends to feel better kept.
• Watch: pollen counts in spring if you’re sensitive; choose morning runs after rainfall.

Cheat sheet: the quick measures that matter

• Air: Annual PM2.5 under 9 µg/m³; fewer than 2 days per year AQI >100; very few “ozone alert” days.
• Water: No EPA enforcement actions in the last year; 90th percentile lead under 10 ppb; PFAS at or below state health advisory levels.
• Streets: Waste diversion ≥50%; low 311 litter and rodent complaints; frequent street sweeping near transit hubs.
• Parks: Top-10 ParkScore or at least 85% of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Decision mini-tree

• If lungs first → pick Honolulu; if mainland → Cheyenne or Burlington; cross-check last 30 days AQI.
• If clean sidewalks/street order first → pick Virginia Beach; if West Coast → Sunnyvale or Fremont.
• If water purity first → shortlist Seattle, Boston, Minneapolis; verify the latest CCR before finalizing.
• If green feel first → Washington, DC or Minneapolis-St. Paul; confirm park access near your neighborhood.

Small, high-confidence comparisons

Dimension	Top pick	Why it wins	Trade-off
Air quality	Honolulu, HI	Low ozone and PM; ocean air; limited industry (ALA 2024)	High housing costs; island logistics
Clean streets	Virginia Beach, VA	Top composite cleanliness among large cities (LawnStarter 2024)	Summer crowding near beaches
Green feel	Washington, DC	#1 ParkScore 2024; parks within a short walk for most residents	Hot, humid summers; traffic
Budget + clean	Lincoln, NE	Manageable size; decent air; lower costs	Colder winters; car dependence

Mini-FAQ

• Is Honolulu really that clean for air? Yes, by national health metrics. ALA’s State of the Air 2024 puts it among the best for both ozone and particle pollution. Still check recent AQI if you’re visiting during volcanic activity periods, just in case.
• What about wildfire smoke-does it change the rankings? It can change your experience for a week or two. Long-term rankings still favor certain cities, but always look at the last 30-60 days if you’re traveling soon.
• Are small towns cleaner than big cities? Many are for air and litter, but not all small systems handle water treatment challenges equally. Always read the local CCR.
• What city has the cleanest water? There’s no permanent champion. The safest move is to check a current CCR and enforcement history. Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis often report strong numbers, but verify the latest year.
• Why do some “clean” cities still feel messy in summer? Tourism spikes stress bins and staff. Try shoulder season and early morning walks for a much cleaner feel.
• Can neighborhoods vary a lot inside the same city? Huge variation. A city can score well while certain corridors struggle. Look up 311 heat maps and street-view your specific blocks.

Field-tested tips from the road (and a smoky summer or two)

• Carry a compact HEPA purifier if you’re sensitive. It’s a hotel-room lifesaver on unexpected smoke days.
• Book lodging a few blocks off major nightlife strips. Side streets are cleaner and quieter at dawn.
• After rain, cities feel magically cleaner. Time your park runs or photo walks for those windows.
• If your city choice is tight, pick the one with better parks. Cleanliness sticks where people love their green spaces.

How to verify the claim for any city in 10 minutes

1. Search “ALA State of the Air [City] report card.” Note letter grades for ozone and particle pollution.
2. Open AirNow and scan the last 30 days. Look for strings of yellow/green and very few orange/red days.
3. Search “City Water CCR [Year].” Scan lead, PFAS, violations, and any enforcement actions.
4. Search “311 litter [City] map” or “rodent reports [City].” Identify hotspots relative to where you’ll be.
5. Search “Trust for Public Land ParkScore [City].” Check access and acreage near your target neighborhood.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Confusing a good air day with a good air city. Look at annual patterns, not one snapshot.
• Assuming “green equals clean.” Gorgeous parks don’t fix bad ozone; check both.
• Relying on decade-old reputations. Infrastructure changes, droughts happen, and cities adjust policies all the time.

Bottom line answers you can use today:

• Single best air-quality answer: Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Single best clean-streets answer among big metros: Virginia Beach, Virginia.
• Cleanest-feeling mainland air cluster: northern New England and Wyoming small metros.
• Most reliable way to pick your own winner: decide your dimension, then verify with ALA, AirNow, the city’s CCR, 311 reports, and ParkScore.

If you need a tie-breaker, I go by the “three checks” rule from my own travel and research life: low PM2.5, visible daily street sweeping near transit, and a utility that publishes a detailed CCR with a plain-English summary. When those three line up, the city almost always feels clean on the ground. Even Nimbus approves-he judges by sunny windowsills, but he’s rarely wrong.