Spring is officially coming. Flowers will bloom, leaves will return to their trees. It’s a beautiful time of year, but one you face with dread because spring is also allergy season. Time to get on that Claritin regimen.
More than 50 million Americans experience some type of allergy each year. For those with outdoor allergies, common symptoms include stuffy noses, runny eyes and a lot of sneezing. Common triggers for seasonal allergies include pollen from trees, grass or even weeds and mold.
Where you live can also impact your allergies since not every city produces the same types or amounts of allergens. How does your city stack up?
What are the worst cities for allergies?
While everyone may think their city is the worst when it comes to allergies, it’s not always the case.
We’ve grabbed the 10 worst cities for allergy sufferers, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. If you live in any of these, keep your antihistamine handy. The pollen is upon us.
10. Albany, NY
While most people equate New York with New York City, the state’s capital is often overlooked despite having plenty to offer. Bordered by the Hudson River, Albany is home to the 19th-century Gothic architecture New York State Capitol.
The creator of Central Park in New York City, Fredrick Law Olmsted, also designed Washington Park. The park features gorgeous English-style gardens, a large lake, a playground and walking trails nestled in the oak trees.
Since Albany is our No. 10 worst city for allergies, bring your allergy meds while taking a stroll. You can find a one-bedroom apartment there for $1,267 per month on average.
9. New Haven, CT
Home to Yale University, New Haven is a city best experienced from the outside.
Grab a small box of tissues, take an allergy pill and brave the spring air to wander through the city’s Little Italy or take a nostalgic ride on the carousel at Lighthouse Point Park. You can even visit the alleged birthplace of the hamburger at Louis’ Lunch. The city has dedicated 17 percent of its square footage to parks so you have plenty to explore.
New Haven’s lush trees and humidity bring high numbers of tree pollen and mold every spring to its residents, who pay $2,287 a month, on average for a one-bedroom apartment.
8. Buffalo, NY
Located right near the border with Canada, Buffalo‘s winters are frigid, but it all makes up for it in the Spring. Not too far away, you can make an excursion to Niagara Falls and enjoy Lake Eerie once the weather warms up. Unfortunately, tree and grass pollen goes high as soon as Spring kicks in.
Grab your allergy meds and head to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House for a tour of this important project in the architect’s life. You can enjoy walking around downtown Buffalo, too, by grabbing a one-bedroom for $1,410 per month per average.
7. Hartford, CT
Stay away from the yellow dust and avoid the sneezes in Hartford by exploring its architectural points of interest. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is not only a free art museum, but the building itself is a sight to behold.
If art isn’t your thing, dip your toes into some science at the Connecticut Science Center. There are more than 165 hands-on exhibits to occupy your time. Don’t miss the Mark Twain House & Museum, which houses the desk he used to write most of his famous stories.
Refuel with a lobster roll from J’s Crab Shack, a fish market-restaurant. The seafood there is as fresh as it gets. Then, head home, where a one-bedroom is $1,587 per month, on average.
6. Oklahoma City, OK
Alerts of high tree pollen are a daily spring season occurrence in Oklahoma City.
It’s not the place to forget to take your allergy meds each day. Once you’ve done that, head out to the arts complex, Factory Obscura, for a unique, immersive experience. It’s good to stay indoors from early afternoon peak time to sunset — the pollen counts are lower then.
As the day closes and the air quality improves, hop on a water taxi and play tourist with a trip around the city. Stop by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum for a sobering look back at the dark day, but also a beautiful view of the Memorial and the skyline.
If the city captured your heart, making every sniffle worth it, one-bedroom apartments average $932 a month in Oklahoma City.
5. San Antonio, TX
The Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk are synonymous with the city of San Antonio. Also synonymous? Spring allergies. The Southern Texan city takes the No. 5 spot for being one of the worst cities for allergy sufferers.
There’s so much to see to shield you from peak allergy times. The San Antonio Museum of Art and the Witte Museum have incredible exhibitions on display. If you can handle being outside for a bit, head to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park to learn more about the Spanish missions from the 16th century.
You can grab a one-bedroom apartment for less than $1,000 — rent one for $994 per month on average. Just check the pollen count alert before heading to Hill Country for a glass of wine.
4. Richmond, VA
April and May are particularly severe for Richmond residents with seasonal allergies. Grass and tree pollen are the worst culprits, forcing people indoors just as the weather begins warming up.
The city’s historical past and enclosed activities can keep you occupied while you hide out from the pollen in the early afternoon. Plan visits to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum and The American Civil War Museum. Then, head to Richbrau Brewing for a local brew — inside.
Enjoy these, then head home to your one-bedroom apartment which will cost you, on average, $1,392 a month.
3. McAllen, TX
McAllen is no stranger to the worst cities for allergies list. It’s been on the top 10 for years. This year, climbing to No. 3.
Unfortunately, itchy, red eyes are a staple during McAllen’s spring season. The city’s many trails and outdoor spaces are lush with trees that provide lovely shade, but also contribute to the high pollen count.
Luckily, the International Museum of Art & Science has a beautiful collection of Mexican and Latin American folk art, virtual exhibitions and more. When your belly starts to rumble, don’t miss the tortas at Las Rocas. However, it’s worth popping a few allergy meds and heading to Bill Schupp Park for a long walk in the warm weather.
By then, you’ll feel ready for a rest, so head to your one-bedroom apartment, where rent averages out at $715 per month.
2. Wichita, KS
A newcomer to the top 10 worst cities for allergy sufferers, it’s the pollen in Wichita that will get you. Various trees, grasses and weeds let their pollen loose all spring, but it’s the local winds that carry the allergens about.
Since it’s hard to avoid flying pollen, fill the hours at the Old Cowtown Museum or the Museum of World Treasures. Nothing like a building out of the Old West or some ancient artifacts to occupy your time. As the pollen count lowers in the afternoon, head to a family-friendly Wichita Urban Art Tour and get to know the city through the eyes of an artist.
When home starts calling your name, you’ll find rent for a one-bedroom costs you about $719 on average each month.
1. Scranton, PA
The small city of Scranton rose in popularity once the American version of “The Office” put it on the map. Unfortunately, it also tops the list of the worst cities for allergy sufferers year-over-year.
You might want to prioritize the indoor sights by visiting The Electric City Trolley Museum and the Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den. Both places pay homage to Scranton’s nickname, earned when electric lights were first introduced, right here, in 1880.
If you don’t mind some sneezing, Scranton’s one-bedroom apartments go for just over $1,000 a month on average.
The best cities for allergies
The majority of the worst cities for allergy sufferers cluster on the east coast, but you’ll find many of the best cities for allergies in the west. In fact, of the 10 cities where people suffer from allergies the least, only one is on the east coast, Durham, NC.
Most of the rest cluster in California and Utah, with cities like Fresno, San Jose, San Francisco and Provo.
You’ll also find low-allergen cities in Colorado, Oregon, Arizona and Washington state, as well.
Potential reasons why you’ll see fewer allergens in these cities include their location, the climate and their altitude. West coast cities have the added benefit of an ocean breeze that may help blow allergens away. Dry and sunny cities mean there’s less chance of mold and dust. There’s even less water to enable pollen-generating plants to grow. We also know that pollen counts are generally lower at higher altitudes, so inland cities, above sea level may cause fewer sneezes.
Although all of these cities do have triggers for allergy sufferers, the fact that the risk is much less may make them worth considering if you can’t take the east coast spring any longer.
Tips for managing your allergies
No matter where you live, suffering from allergies does not mean the end of the world. These allergy tips won’t get rid of your symptoms indefinitely but can help make everything more bearable without having to sacrifice a little outside time this spring.
What to look for
Allergy season affects everyone differently. Some of the symptoms you’ll see are:
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Red and watery eyes
- Itchy nose, eyes, ears or mouth
Make sure that you stay on top of your symptoms so it doesn’t transition into a head cold or nasal infection.
Get an air purifier
As we work from home more and we try to take mental health walks, we have a higher potential of breathing in more allergens. Air purifiers help filter out certain allergens, including dust, pollen, pet dander and more, from your house.
Make sure to get a HEPA filter air purifier for the best filtering. This in conjunction with your allergy meds should take you through the Spring and Fall seasons.
Go outside at the right time
It’s OK to have a little outside time while you’re suffering from allergies, but you should limit it:
- Check the air quality when you first wake up. On days when it’s hot, dry and windy, pollen counts and pollution are often higher, so stay inside during peak hours.
- During cool, damp or rainy days, pollen gets pushed out of the air and onto the ground. That means you’ll breathe in less and can enjoy some outside time without suffering.
- On sunny days, skip outside time in the morning. Pollen counts are often highest between 5-10 a.m. and right after lunchtime.
Keep pollen out of your house
The worst thing to experience is an allergy attack indoors when you know all the allergens belong outside. This means keeping pollen and whatever else you’re allergic to out of your home. Do this by making sure windows stay closed during allergy season.
When you do come in from outside, remove your shoes and leave them by the door. Wash your hands immediately. If you can, change clothes and take a quick rinse-off in the shower. Removing all the pollen from your body means you won’t track it through your apartment.
Additionally, try to rinse your hair at the end of each day to prevent pollen from settling on your pillow at night.
Take allergy medication
It’s not uncommon for allergy sufferers to need the help of over-the-counter medication to get through the season. The trick is to start taking medication early. If you know about when you start experiencing allergy symptoms each year, begin taking allergy pills at least a week before. This allows the medication to build up in your system before you actually need it, lessening symptoms from the very start.
You should also take your allergy pill at around the same time every day, not stopping until allergy season is over. The consistency will help alleviate your symptoms.
If you need a little something extra to battle allergy symptoms, try a nasal spray. Medicated sprays can help reduce nasal inflammation and swelling, so it’s easier to breathe. Saline sprays will keep your nose moisturized and help loosen congestion. Both are OK to use in conjunction with an allergy pill and eye drops.
Manage your allergies no matter where you live
Whether home is one of the worst cities for allergies or one of the best, don’t ignore that seasonal stuffy nose. Use our allergy tips or find what works best for you so you can breathe easy as the flowers bloom and the pollen starts flying.
