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Worst Cities for People With Grass Allergies

Worst Cities for People With Grass Allergies

The drone of lawn mowers heralds the arrival of better weather, longer days, and outside activities like picnics and barbecuing. But it also means the advent of summer allergies, and for many Americans, the uptick in allergen severity can keep them inside at a time when the great outdoors beckons. (Every season brings its issues. Here are the cities where people struggle the most with fall allergies.)

In some parts of the nation, allergies are more problematic than others, and one of the most common warm-weather allergies is to grass. Sufferers endure runny noses, itchy eyes, and other symptoms, and those with asthma may find their condition worsening. (Here are 16 symptoms you may not know are allergic reactions.)

To identify the 50 worst cities or metropolitan areas for grass allergies, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2022’s Worst Cities for Grass Allergies This Summer published by lawn care services company Lawn Love. Lawn Love ranked 125 metropolitan areas, assigning each an overall score out of 100 points – a weighted average of metrics that measure allergy risk, allergen severity, and quality of detection and treatment. The site sourced data from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Lawn Love; Pollen.com; and Urban Adaptation Assessment.

Northeasterners are most in need of stocking up on allergy meds. Five urban complexes – Lancaster, Pennsylvania.; Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Connecticut; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York – will be the worst areas overall for grass allergy sufferers this season. Eight of the 10 worst metro areas, in fact, are in New England and Mid-Atlantic states.

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50. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 52.25
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 64
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 33
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 86
> Population: 3,323,970

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

49. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 52.56
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 86
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 21
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 70
> Population: 4,600,396

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

48. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Overall score (out of 100): 52.87
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 8
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 121
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 1
> Population: 861,137

Source: Daniel Hanscom / iStock via Getty Images

47. Portland-South Portland, ME
> Overall score (out of 100): 52.93
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 87
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 20
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 58
> Population: 536,314

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

46. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
> Overall score (out of 100): 52.99
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 12
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 104
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 34
> Population: 2,510,211

Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

45. Kansas City, MO-KS
> Overall score (out of 100): 53.19
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 58
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 30
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 100
> Population: 2,144,129

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

44. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Overall score (out of 100): 53.23
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 20
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 60
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 121
> Population: 397,590

Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

43. Bakersfield, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 53.40
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 49
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 45
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 68
> Population: 892,458

Source: Bill_Dally / iStock via Getty Images

42. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 53.48
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 22
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 70
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 99
> Population: 1,985,926

Source: GJGK Photography / iStock via Getty Images

41. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Overall score (out of 100): 53.58
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 14
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 99
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 41
> Population: 6,979,613

Source: flickr4jazz / Flickr

40. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 54.21
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 23
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 67
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 73
> Population: 19,261,570

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images

39. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
> Overall score (out of 100): 54.48
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 32
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 62
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 62
> Population: 2,214,265

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

38. Greenville-Anderson, SC
> Overall score (out of 100): 54.84
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 28
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 71
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 49
> Population: 908,680

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

37. Corpus Christi, TX
> Overall score (out of 100): 55.08
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 1
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 120
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 10
> Population: 429,120

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

36. Stockton, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 55.68
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 13
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 97
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 14
> Population: 751,615

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35. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Overall score (out of 100): 55.73
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 9
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 86
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 109
> Population: 2,800,427

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34. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 55.73
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 30
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 50
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 94
> Population: 4,709,220

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

33. Akron, OH
> Overall score (out of 100): 55.94
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 53
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 22
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 85
> Population: 703,286

Source: Joecho-16 / iStock via Getty Images

32. Pittsburgh, PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.07
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 55
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 17
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 96
> Population: 2,324,447

Source: franckreporter / E+ via Getty Images

31. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.17
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 81
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 5
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 113
> Population: 9,478,801

Source: Thomas Kelly / iStock via Getty Images

30. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.26
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 25
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 53
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 91
> Population: 558,635

Source: vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

29. Boise City, ID
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.38
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 27
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 59
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 55
> Population: 730,483

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

28. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.78
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 47
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 16
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 118
> Population: 415,305

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

27. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 56.99
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 60
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 28
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 46
> Population: 554,787

Source: cfavero / Flickr

26. Reading, PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 57.45
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 83
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 10
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 67
> Population: 419,062

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

25. Knoxville, TN
> Overall score (out of 100): 57.49
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 52
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 12
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 106
> Population: 861,872

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

24. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> Overall score (out of 100): 57.65
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 34
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 44
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 53
> Population: 1,343,150

Source: Tinieder / iStock via Getty Images

23. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Overall score (out of 100): 58.43
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 46
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 23
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 65
> Population: 1,621,099

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

22. Columbus, OH
> Overall score (out of 100): 58.51
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 37
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 25
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 93
> Population: 2,101,543

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

21. Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 58.61
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 31
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 37
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 74
> Population: 574,691

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

20. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Overall score (out of 100): 59.55
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 62
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 3
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 112
> Population: 4,854,808

Source: Chris LaBasco / iStock via Getty Images

19. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 59.65
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 15
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 51
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 102
> Population: 2,338,866

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

18. Modesto, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 60.02
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 7
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 92
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 21
> Population: 546,235

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images

17. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
> Overall score (out of 100): 60.43
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 40
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 10
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 104
> Population: 2,053,137

Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

16. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
> Overall score (out of 100): 60.62
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 5
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 81
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 63
> Population: 1,768,956

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

15. Worcester, MA-CT
> Overall score (out of 100): 61.03
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 59
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 4
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 81
> Population: 943,312

Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / iStock via Getty Images

14. Toledo, OH
> Overall score (out of 100): 61.60
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 29
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 26
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 54
> Population: 643,724

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

13. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Overall score (out of 100): 62.13
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 11
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 49
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 77
> Population: 6,250,309

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

12. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Overall score (out of 100): 62.21
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 41
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 2
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 122
> Population: 944,306

Source: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons

11. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
> Overall score (out of 100): 62.39
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 3
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 75
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 83
> Population: 2,472,774

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

10. Wichita, KS
> Overall score (out of 100): 63.58
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 6
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 80
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 13
> Population: 639,668

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

9. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Overall score (out of 100): 63.90
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 66
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 1
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 98
> Population: 855,733

Source: DebraMillet / iStock via Getty Images

8. Syracuse, NY
> Overall score (out of 100): 64.50
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 33
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 9
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 58
> Population: 650,211

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Overall score (out of 100): 64.81
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 21
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 8
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 107
> Population: 6,092,403

Source: Wulfnoth / Wikimedia Commons

6. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
> Overall score (out of 100): 64.87
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 24
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 7
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 103
> Population: 496,801

Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images

5. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
> Overall score (out of 100): 65.35
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 18
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 15
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 76
> Population: 1,129,018

Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images

4. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
> Overall score (out of 100): 66.35
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 16
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 13
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 101
> Population: 841,265

Source: tonythemisfit / Flickr

3. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
> Overall score (out of 100): 69.58
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 2
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 19
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 117
> Population: 880,766

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

2. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Overall score (out of 100): 69.95
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 10
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 14
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 69
> Population: 1,205,842

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

1. Lancaster, PA
> Overall score (out of 100): 70.13
> Allergy risk rank (out of 125): 19
> Allergen severity rank (out of 125): 6
> Detection and treatment rank (out of 125): 65
> Population: 543,050

Methodology

To identify the 50 worst cities or metropolitan areas for grass allergies, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2022’s Worst Cities for Grass Allergies This Summer published by lawn care services company Lawn Love. Lawn Love ranked 125 metropolitan areas, assigning each an overall score out of 100 points – a weighted average of metrics that measure allergy risk, allergen severity, and quality of detection and treatment. The site sourced data from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Lawn Love; Pollen.com; and Urban Adaptation Assessment.

Allergy risk includes average forecast grass pollen index (May-August 2022), historical average mow frequency, and average climate change score. Allergen severity includes average number of significant grass allergens, average number of overall grass allergens, and average number of mild grass allergens. Detection and treatment includes the number of available allergy tests for grass allergen and the population of allergists and immunologists per 100,000 residents.

Lawn Love “selected the metro areas based on their need for lawn mowing and therefore residents’ susceptibility to grass allergies.” Data was collected for each “principal city” that makes up the MSA, with some data based on internal customer data for the period between May and August 2021. Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 American Community Survey and is a five-year average.

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