A new analysis reveals just how fed up residents are with the state of cleanliness in some of America’s largest cities—and the results aren’t pretty. According to data compiled by HouseFresh, a publication that focuses on indoor air quality, Baltimore, Maryland, leads the nation in sanitation complaints, with more than 47,000 reports per 100,000 people.
The study analyzed 12.3 million sanitation-related 311 complaints—everything from litter and missed trash pickups to sewage issues and water quality—in major U.S. cities. The result? A ranked list that sheds light on which metro areas are struggling the most to keep clean.
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The Top Offenders
Baltimore took the No. 1 spot by a wide margin, with 47,295 complaints per 100K residents, suggesting that trash, pollution, and general grime are part of daily life for many of its citizens. That’s nearly 14 times higher than Philadelphia, which barely cracked the bottom tier of the list.
Sacramento, California came in second with 34,186 complaints, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina with 31,112. Both cities have seen rapid growth in recent years, and the surge in population may be outpacing infrastructure and sanitation services.
Los Angeles, a city long plagued by waste management issues, landed in fourth with 21,616 complaints—no surprise to residents familiar with overfilled trash bins and street encampments.
Other high-ranking cities include:
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Memphis, Tennessee – 17,408
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Boston, Massachusetts – 10,252
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San Antonio, Texas – 8,929
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Kansas City – 8,874
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Buffalo, New York – 8,509
Cities Trying to Keep it Clean
On the opposite end of the spectrum, cities like Milwaukee, Wisconsin (309 complaints) and Riverside, California (1,609 complaints) appear to have much cleaner streets—or perhaps just less vocal residents.
Even New York City, often criticized for its garbage-strewn sidewalks and rat problems, logged relatively few complaints, with only 3,728 per 100K residents.
San Francisco, Austin, and Philadelphia also ranked surprisingly low in reported sanitation issues, despite frequently being called out in public discourse for urban cleanliness struggles.
What the Numbers Say
These rankings don’t just highlight overflowing trash bins—they reflect deeper issues related to public services, infrastructure management, and city planning. High complaint rates may indicate overburdened sanitation departments or underfunded waste management systems. On the flip side, low complaint rates could mean better-run systems—or simply lower civic engagement.
HouseFresh’s report puts a data-driven spotlight on the places where urban grit is more than just a nuisance—it’s a serious quality-of-life concern.
As cities grow and evolve, these numbers provide a sobering look at which ones are literally choking on their own garbage—and which are finding ways to stay a step ahead of the mess.
Want to see where your city ranks? Here’s the full breakdown (complaints per 100K residents):
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Baltimore, MD – 47,295
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Sacramento, CA – 34,186
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Charlotte, NC – 31,112
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Los Angeles, CA – 21,616
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Memphis, TN – 17,408
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Boston, MA – 10,252
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San Antonio, TX – 8,929
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Kansas City – 8,874
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Buffalo, NY – 8,509
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Dallas, TX – 8,382
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Pittsburgh, PA – 7,854
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Nashville, TN – 7,703
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Chicago, IL – 7,376
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Houston, TX – 6,275
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Oakland, CA – 6,139
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New Orleans, LA – 5,295
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New York, NY – 3,728
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Miami, FL – 3,284
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San Francisco, CA – 2,411
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Austin, TX – 2,245
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Philadelphia, PA – 2,144
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Riverside, CA – 1,609
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Milwaukee, WI – 309
Clean city or dirty secret? The numbers don’t lie.