Welcome to Spring pollen season, where if you are an allergy sufferer, you’re wishing you could live anywhere but here.
But where would you go to get away from the land of yellow cars and itchy eyes? The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released their annual “Allergy Capitals” report to help us figure that out.
The report measures several things, and then ranks cities based on both spring and fall allergy scores. Then we averaged those out to get a composite list of the best – and worst – cities for allergies.
Among the measures taken into consideration in the report are:
- Spring pollen scores
- Fall pollen scores
- Over-the-counter medicine use
- Availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists
That last measure is key, because it helps to show that seasonal allergies are everywhere, but are you living somewhere you can get help with those quickly and easily? That’s how Durham came in at a startling No. 2 on this list!
So here they are, the 50 best cities for allergy sufferers to live in:
1. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the best city in the country for allergy sufferers.
Allergy score: 38.44
10. Fresno, California
Fresno got bonus points for lots of available doctors.
Allergy score: 45.52
16. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Allergy score: 48.61
21. Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Allergy score: 51.92
26. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Mass.
Allergy score: 54.51
35. New York City
New York City
Allergy score: 57.34
40. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Miss.
Allergy score: 58.55
50. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans
Allergy score: 61.97
