Earth Month is a time to evaluate our existing relationship with the planet and raise awareness to improve policies and sustain our natural resources. While homeowners have to balance their list of must-haves with high housing costs and low inventory, they may not consider their dream area’s sustainability. Greener cities can improve the quality of life for residents, making their day-to-day more enjoyable and decreasing risks of long-term health conditions.
In honor of Earth Month, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 100 Greenest Cities in America and evaluated each city based on its sustainability, policy and infrastructure, energy, environment, and affordability. The following is our ranked list that answers the question, which cities are most sustainable?
Key Findings
- Portland is the greenest city in America. The city boasts a total score of 62.34 thanks to a strong renewable energy sector, aggressive sustainable policy, and relatively low housing costs.
- New Orleans ranks last on our list with a total score of 22.22. Its proximity to the Mississippi Delta makes it susceptible to severe storms that damage the local environment and consume resources.
- Eight of the Top 10 Greenest Cities reside on the West Coast, with six residing in California.
- San Francisco is the greenest city in California due to strong sustainability and policy scores. However, this city is one of the most expensive for homeowners who must dedicate 62% of their income to housing costs.
These Are the Top 10 Greenest Cities in America
1. Portland, OR
Portland is the greenest city in America, boasting high energy, policy, and environmental scores. The city optimizes its location to harness wind and other forms of renewable energy, helping homeowners save money and live sustainably. The city actively works to achieve a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 by enforcing new sustainable initiatives across the energy, development, and transportation sectors. Portland also features a relatively affordable housing market compared to other major cities, with a median list price of $459,950.
2. Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., features the highest environment score out of all the cities in our ranking. By 2035, every new vehicle registered in the region must be zero-emission as part of the city’s overall goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2045. With a strong presence of parks and environmental policy, this bikeable city earns its spot as the second greenest city in the country.
3. San Francisco, CA
Those looking to live in an environmentally friendly city can consider purchasing in San Francisco. Homeowners adhere to robust recycling regulations, and residents can find sets of three collection bins across the city for trash, recycling, and composting. The city also includes multiple refiller farmers’ markets and dedicates significant resources to policy infrastructure that adopts ordinances and innovative initiatives.
4. Seattle, WA
Seattle has the highest energy score of all cities in America and lands fourth in our rankings. The city uses hydroelectric resources across the region to provide carbon-free power for residents, and homeowners can receive a rebate for switching their at-home oil heater to an electric pump that saves money and decreases pollution. Additionally, Seattle’s lawmakers consistently roll out new policies and programs that benefit homeowners while making the city more environmentally friendly.
5. Oakland, CA
Homeowners in Oakland can easily make sustainable choices due to their government’s focus on environmental policy. As the city works to become carbon neutral by 2045, they’re also helping residents reduce their emissions through recycling programs. Oakland is also the most bikeable city on our list, with a high volume of bike-share stations per square mile and many trails.
6. Spokane, WA
Spokane is the second city in Washington to appear on the Top 10 list. Like Portland and Seattle, it optimizes its location to take advantage of natural gas and hydroelectric resources. Overall, the area boasts low emissions and pollution, increasing its spot in the rankings and making the city appealing to those passionate about reducing the effects of climate change.
7. New York City, NY
New York City is one of two east coast cities on the Top 10 list. While the Concrete Jungle does not seem inherently green, it scores higher than any other city when it comes to sustainability. New York is the only city where over three-quarters of the workforce commutes via public transportation. However, New York City is also the least affordable city on the Top 10 list, and owners will pay more to live here.
8. Sacramento, CA
Similar to other cities in the rankings, Sacramento earns its spot on the list for its strong policy infrastructure and natural energy solutions. The city created a new office in 2021 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and embark on initiatives regarding air quality, environmental justice, and adaptation. Homeowners adhere to recycling protocols and use sustainable solar water heating and can also take advantage of lower housing costs than most cities on this list.
9. San Diego, CA
San Diego has the highest policy infrastructure score in our Top 10 list and features an ambitious Climate Action Plan to reduce half of its greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable electric energy by 2035. Electric vehicle owners can consider living in San Diego, as it has the strongest EV presence and implementation nationwide.
10. San Jose, CA
San Jose rounds out the Top 10 list and adds another California city to the rankings. The city also scores favorably in its policy and renewable energy sectors, boasting solar farms that deliver clean energy to homeowners. As part of the city’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, all new construction must be 100% electric, and efforts to address existing inventory are on the horizon.
West Coast Cities Come Out on Top
Of the top 10 Greenest Cities in America, eight are on the West Coast, with six in California. Cities in this region fare favorably in energy scoring as they can greatly benefit from their relationship to natural surroundings. Compared to New York City, a densely populated area with low access to natural resources, it becomes more apparent how areas in the West and Pacific Northwest have more renewable energy opportunities. New homes in California, for example, must include solar panels if they are less than three stories tall to take advantage of solar energy.
West Coast cities also boast high policy and infrastructure scores and advertise robust goals for lower carbon emissions and renewable energy efficiency in the next two to three decades. While some cities can reduce their carbon emissions by 30 to 50% to reach carbon neutrality, New York City must reduce its 2016 emissions by 80% to hit the same goal. West Coast cities also support innovative initiatives and are the leading players in changes like robust recycling programs and plastic bag bans.
East Coast Scores Favorably in Public Transportation
While the East Coast lags behind the West Coast in many sectors, cities excel in public transportation and commuting. New York City, Jersey City, Boston, and Washington, DC, have the highest commuting scores, where many residents can take public transportation to get to work. New Yorkers may not own as many bikes as their Oakland counterparts, but they also are less likely to own a car.
Top 10 Cities by Sustainable Lifestyle
A substantial talking point in the discussion of sustainability relies on shifting responsibility and accountability toward the largest carbon emitters. While each individual makes up a small portion of the sustainable landscape, collective action, and participation can reduce the effects of climate change.
Home buyers who wish to live in an area where they can easily lower their own carbon footprint may consider moving to one of the cities with the strongest sustainable lifestyle scores.
Methodology
To celebrate Earth Day, the team at RealtyHop ranked America’s largest cities by sustainability and housing affordability to guide homebuyers who want to look for a home without sacrificing their sustainable values. The following metrics were taken into account when calculating the index.
Sustainable Lifestyle (30 points)
- Number of refilleries, zero waste stores, and farmer’s markets, based on Yelp and Google data (3 points)
- Presence of bike share and e-scooter programs, based on BTS data (3 points)
- Access to bikes, measured by bike-sharing stations per square mile (3 points)
- Public transit system per square mile and average weekday ridership (12 points)
- Percentage of workers commuting to work via public transit or car-pooling via U.S. Census ACS Survey (4.5 points)
- Average travel time to work (4.5 points)
Policy & Infrastructure (20 points)
- Recycling rate by state (4 points)
- Presence of Bottle and Plastic Bag Ban Bills (2 points)
- Number of environmental policies (6 points)
- Alternative Fuel Stations per square mile, based on data provided by the Department of Energy (4 points)
- EV adoptions (4 points)
Energy & Environment (40 points)
- Percentage of energy consumption generated by renewable resources (16 points)
- Percentage of households using sustainable heating fuels/resources (6 points)
- Carbon Dioxide emissions per capita via EIA (4 points)
- Emission change, 2017-2021 (4 points)
- Air quality, via EPA (6 points)
- Park Score, via Trust for Public Land (4 points)
Housing Affordability (10 points)
- Percentage of annual income required to cover homeownership costs, via the most recent RealtyHop Housing Affordability Index (10 points)
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