Most dirty words have four letters, but at least one has six — pollen. These seed plant microspores predominately show up in the spring and fall as fine dust, causing allergic reactions known as “hay fever,” with symptoms including stuffy/runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat and congestion.
A person’s pollen allergies can vary by type (ragweed, grass, pine) and severity, from mild to massive and everything in between. In short, even if you escape one type of pollen allergy, chances are there’s another one lurking to take you down.
Certain factors affect how bad an area’s pollen count gets, like the type of plants native to the area, as well as the length of the growing season. The annual Allergy Capitals™ report by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) provides allergy-weary people with guidance about the best and worst places to live related to pollen. While some of the worst places to live for people with fall allergies won’t surprise anyone who lives there (Scranton, PA, and Wichita, KS, consistently top the list), the best cities for allergies offer something to think about.
10. Denver, CO
One of the factors that make a city tough for allergy sufferers is the growing season. Areas where more plants grow for longer periods are likely more difficult for the nasally-challenged population. This is why Denver is a good place for people who have pollen problems! The city’s high altitude keeps pollen levels pretty low when they’re around, and it has a shorter growing season than many other areas, so even those affected don’t have to worry about it for very long.
9. Stockton, CA
Stockton, in the San Joaquin Valley, is but the first of several California cities on the list. Although Stockton is inland, it nonetheless benefits from California’s coastal climate, which helps keep pollen levels on the low side during the fall months, especially. The Northern California city is also close to a number of large cities, which helps residents have plenty of access to allergy specialists, as well as medication, some of the main factors on the survey.
8. Provo, UT
Pollen counts in Provo are usually on the lower side than in many other cities, which is why this Salt Lake City suburb consistently lands on the list of best cities for allergy sufferers. In particular, Provo boasts great air quality, low humidity, cooler climate and high-altitude location, making it ideal for people with asthma and allergies.
Although pollen isn’t nonexistent, the area does have plenty of access to medications and specialists, making fall allergy season very manageable.
7. Washington, DC
Our nation’s capital has a pretty severe spring allergy season, with all of those cherry blossoms, but the fall isn’t nearly as tough. Although ragweed pollen is still found in the Washington, DC, area, it’s not as prevalent as it is further south because it’s simply not as humid. Fortunately, there’s also an allergist and/or a pharmacy on just about every corner in this major metropolitan area, so it’s easy enough to seek relief if the need strikes.
6. Portland, OR
In general, the Pacific Northwest experiences delightfully cool fall seasons, which brings the pollen count down to equally delightful levels. This is no doubt a huge relief to people who suffer through the long grass pollen experience in the spring. In particular, Portland’s mountainous terrain keeps pollen from spreading freely, which is another reason that the fall months are less taxing than in many other areas of the country.
5. San Jose, CA
Not so far from the previously mentioned city of Stockton is the tech hub of San Jose. Although it’s rich in opportunity, this northern California city enjoys low ragweed and other pollen levels during the fall months (although spring is a bit of a beast). Again, that pleasingly cooler climate and the fact that San Jose is smack in between two mountain ranges play a big part in mitigating the fall allergy season.
4. Sacramento, CA
A couple of hours northeast of San Jose is the state capital of Sacramento, which, like the other Golden State cities, gets pummeled pretty hard during the spring allergy season. However, hot summers quickly give way to mild fall months, which leave pollen literally in the dust. As a result, ragweed and other fall pollens are only likely to impact the most sensitive allergy sufferers, as they’re at lower levels than the rest of the country.
3. Durham, NC
The only city on this list in the South, Durham has many rain showers that are critical for keeping pollen from building up and flying around. Indeed, Durham gets about 46 inches of rain every year, which is significantly above the national average of 38 inches. It also doesn’t hurt that Durham’s status as one-third of the cities in the acclaimed “Research Triangle” make it a hub of all things medical. As a result, there are many allergists and related experts to consult if the need strikes.
2. San Francisco, CA
Back on the West Coast, the city of San Francisco is the second-best city in the country for people with fall allergies. In fact, many San Francisco residents can get by without any allergy medication at all during the fall months!
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Like the other Northern California cities on this list, San Fran locals do deal with some sniffles and sneezes during the grassy spring months, but by the end of summer, they’re almost always completely gone. Coupled with the fact that dust mites are less common in San Francisco, this makes the Golden Gate City ideal for sensitive populations.
1. Seattle, WA
Seattle routinely finds itself at or near the top of positive allergy-related lists, and for good reason. Its mountainous terrain and cool temps, coupled with low humidity and higher than average rainfall are a perfect storm of sorts for preventing fall allergies from getting out of control. Even springtime isn’t too offensive in Emerald City, as pollen levels are lower than just about anywhere else in the country. Too bad the city’s notorious rent prices can’t say the same, but we’ll take our wins wherever we can get them, right?
How to limit pollen impact
Very few places in the world have no pollen. Typically, they’re so consistently hot that their plants always stay in bloom, or they have very little vegetation at all to speak of. Or, they’re extremely cold year-round. If living in an extreme climate doesn’t seem doable to you, take some easier steps to mitigate pollen’s impact on your life. It’s easy enough to beat seasonal allergies if you know what you’re doing!
Premedicate
Keep an eye on pollen counts in the spring and fall and premedicate accordingly. Many people experience relief using an over-the-counter antihistamine (like Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra), or a corticosteroid nasal spray, such as Nasacort or Flonase. Some people also turn to the use of nasal decongestants or even allergy shots when things get really out of hand.
Don’t expose yourself to allergens
People with known allergies can limit their risk by taking a few steps to prevent overexposure.
- Wear a mask when doing yard work, like mowing the lawn or tending the garden
- Take off clothes worn outside and wash them immediately upon coming inside
- Shower before bed to get pollen off of the hair and skin
- Don’t spend time outside if it’s very windy and dry
The ideal time to head outside is immediately after it rains because the pollen has all been temporarily washed away.
Protect your indoor space
Inside is the allergy-sufferers sanctuary, so don’t let your home get polluted by outdoor allergens! Take these steps to keep your home pollen-free, especially the bedroom area, where you spend most of your time.
- Keep windows and doors to the house and car closed. Use air-conditioning, instead
- The early morning hours are when the pollen counts are at their peak, so don’t exercise outside during that time. Avoid outdoor exercise completely on high pollen count days.
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter regularly to keep floors clean
- Run a HEPA filter in your bedroom to reduce allergens where you sleep
- Do not wear clothes to sleep if they have been outside. Doing so will only transfer pollen to the bedding.
Even if it seems like a nice idea to open up the windows and “air out the house,” it’s probably not the smartest move for allergy sufferers.
Fall allergies are annoying but manageable
If the AAFA’s report has taught us anything, it’s that the world is growing ever more aware of how to prevent allergy problems. Whether or not you live in one of these best cities for allergies, there are resources everywhere to make the fall allergy season manageable, even enjoyable.
