When you think of the dirtiest city in America, your mind might immediately picture New York City—with its 8 million residents, crowded streets, and infamous rat population.

But this year, the Big Apple has been dethroned in a surprising twist you might not expect.

A new city has taken the (unwanted) crown, and the numbers behind it are jaw-dropping.

Baltimore, Maryland: A Dirty New Champion​

According to a new report from House Fresh, Baltimore, Maryland, has officially been named America’s dirtiest city. The ranking is based on 311 sanitation complaints—and Baltimore’s numbers are staggering.

The city of 565,000 residents recorded over 47,000 complaints per 100,000 people, far outpacing all other major cities.


Once notorious as one of the most dangerous places in the country, Baltimore continues to battle challenges like crime and poverty. These issues have spilled over into sanitation concerns, creating a perfect storm that helped it claim the top spot.

"The real winner for filthy city - based on 311 sanitation complaints - is Baltimore, Maryland," the report said, cementing Baltimore’s new reputation.

Who Else Made the List?​

Baltimore wasn't the only city facing cleanliness challenges. Here's how others stacked up:

• Sacramento, California, landed in second place, with 34,186 complaints per 100,000 residents. Officials there noted that Sacramento encourages residents to use 311 for a wide variety of service requests—like reporting broken trash can lids or starting waste collection service—which could partially explain the high numbers.
• Charlotte, North Carolina, ranked third, tallying 31,112 complaints according to House Fresh. As the city grows rapidly, it's no surprise that some areas struggle to keep pace with cleanliness.
• Los Angeles, California, often criticized for issues like homelessness and public drug use, surprisingly ranked only fourth on the list—lower than many would have expected.
• Memphis, Tennessee, rounded out the top five, showing that major metro areas across the country are facing mounting urban cleanliness issues.

What About New York City?​

If you thought New York City would top the list, you'd be wrong. The Big Apple actually came in 17th, despite its size and reputation.

New Yorkers registered only 3,728 sanitation complaints per 100,000 residents, beating out major cities like Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, and Chicago.

One hotspot remains problematic, Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood is home to the dirtiest zip code in NYC, according to the report.

It’s worth noting that Mayor Eric Adams’ initiatives—including the rollout of trash cans with lids last summer—may be contributing to the city's lower-than-expected ranking.

"New York may rank lower than expected due to its recent sanitation efforts," House Fresh reported.

The Cleanest Zip Code in America?​

On the flip side, some areas are excelling at staying clean. The title for America’s cleanest zip code goes to an area in Houston: zip code 77546, which covers parts of Houston, Friendswood, and League City.

Only 19 complaints per 100,000 residents were logged there—a sharp contrast to Baltimore’s figures.

Two other Houston zip codes, 77070 and 77014, also reported impressively low complaint rates with 33 and 36 complaints per 100,000 residents, respectively.

Meanwhile, Baltimore holds six of the country's most filthy zip codes, including 21213, 21223, 21216, 21217, 21205, and 21218.

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Are you surprised by Baltimore’s ranking? Do you think your city is cleaner—or dirtier—than these findings suggest? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.