{"id":62225,"date":"2021-04-30T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=62225"},"modified":"2026-03-30T23:47:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:47:57","slug":"best-places-to-live-with-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/local-resources\/best-places-to-live-with-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Places to Live with Allergies 2021 \u2014 Durham, NC Tops the AAFA List"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watery eyes? Sneezing as soon as you set foot outside? Asthma acting up? It must be allergy season. Seasonal allergies can be a real pain, but the city you call home can actually make living with them a more bearable experience. So, to determine the best places to live with allergies, we turned to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

The annual AAFA report considers the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. and focuses on three important factors: seasonal pollen scores<\/strong>, over-the-counter allergy medication use<\/strong> and the number of local allergy specialists<\/strong>. Not only does this reveal the best places to live if you have allergies, but it also identifies the best places to live with asthma or sinus issues. The data also accounted for the differences in allergens that challenge us during spring and fall<\/strong>, as certain allergens peak at different times of the year \u2014 meaning symptoms may worsen during one season more so than another.<\/p>\r\n

According to the AAFA<\/a>, if you\u2019re dealing with allergies or asthma, or are one of the millions of sinus sufferers, Durham, NC and Seattle, WA are the way to go, with breezy California spots dominating much of the list.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Best Places to Live with Allergies 2021<\/h2>\r\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
City<\/th>Overall Rank<\/th>Spring Rank<\/th>Fall Rank<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Durham, NC<\/a><\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seattle, WA<\/a><\/td>2<\/td>3<\/td>2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Provo, UT<\/a><\/td>3<\/td>2<\/td>4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Salt Lake City, UT<\/a><\/td>4<\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Jose, CA<\/a><\/td>5<\/td>6<\/td>5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stockton, CA<\/a><\/td>6<\/td>9<\/td>3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Milwaukee, WI<\/a><\/td>7<\/td>4<\/td>12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Portland, OR<\/a><\/td>8<\/td>12<\/td>7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fresno, CA<\/a><\/td>9<\/td>8<\/td>10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Denver, CO<\/a><\/td>10<\/td>10<\/td>11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/td>11<\/td>16<\/td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Diego, CA<\/a><\/td>12<\/td>11<\/td>14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Francisco, CA<\/a><\/td>13<\/td>15<\/td>9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Madison, WI<\/a><\/td>14<\/td>7<\/td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boise, ID<\/a><\/td>15<\/td>13<\/td>13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ogden, UT<\/a><\/td>16<\/td>17<\/td>15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colorado Springs, CO<\/a><\/td>17<\/td>19<\/td>18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Raleigh, NC<\/a><\/td>18<\/td>21<\/td>17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cincinnati, OH<\/a><\/td>19<\/td>14<\/td>22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minneapolis, MN<\/a><\/td>20<\/td>18<\/td>25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n\r\n

For allergy relief, go west. According to the AAFA report, 18 of the top 20 places for allergy sufferers are located in the west, midwest and southwest. However, the best place for people with allergies for two years in a row is Durham, NC<\/a>. In fact, North Carolina is the only southeastern state with large cities that made the top 20 list of best places to live with allergies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Seattle<\/a> is the second-best option for allergy-sufferers who need their symptoms dampened. That\u2019s because wetter and colder climates lead to less exposure to airborne allergens. Living in Utah\u2019s Provo<\/a> or Salt Lake City<\/a> is also recommended if allergies make your life difficult.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, a colder climate doesn\u2019t necessarily mean a lower pollen count, and several California cities on the list account for that. Essentially, it looks like living in the west can help you keep allergies at bay, unlike in some south-central cities (such as Wichita, KS or McAllen, TX) or northeastern cities (like Scranton or Pittsburgh, PA or Richmond, VA), which are not so allergy-friendly, according to the AAFA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Best<\/figure>\r\n\r\n

Best States for Allergies<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Allergic rhinitis \u2014 better known as hay fever \u2014 is one of the most common conditions that cause symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy, runny or itchy nose, watery or itchy eyes, and itching of the roof of the mouth. Commonly occurring in spring, summer and early fall, the highest prevalence of hay fever is in the southeastern and southern states, per the AAFA. This highlights the fact that some states can be less challenging for allergy sufferers. Based on the AAFA data, the best states for people with allergies are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Utah<\/li>\r\n
  2. California<\/li>\r\n
  3. North Carolina<\/li>\r\n
  4. Wisconsin<\/li>\r\n
  5. Colorado<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    With three of its biggest cities making the top 10 \u2014 and two of them in the top 5 \u2014 Utah<\/strong> earns the title of best state for allergies. Here, cities like Provo, Salt Lake City and Ogden experience better-than-average pollen counts and are better suited for those prone to allergies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Next up, although it might not be the first state that comes to mind when we think of low-pollen states, California<\/strong> dominated the top 20 with 6 allergy-friendly cities, 3 of which made the top 10. Specifically, cities like Stockton or San Jose show lower-than-average pollen counts despite sunshine all year round \u2014 a testament to salty air and coastal climates aiding in allergy relief and pollen sensitivity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    When it comes to allergy-friendly states, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Colorado<\/strong> are practically tied, with each contributing two cities to the top 20. However, North Carolina<\/strong> rises above as Durham leads the pack, while Milwaukee represents Wisconsin<\/strong>\u2019s low-pollen city that made the top 10. Denver, CO, also managed to make the top 10 this year after being crowned the best place to live with allergies back in 2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"Best<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    How to Deal with Allergies<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    While symptoms vary depending on multiple factors, one thing is for sure: Allergies can be life-limiting. However, for those in need of some allergy relief, it\u2019s good to know that allergies can often be managed with prevention. But, if you can\u2019t just pack up and move to another city<\/a>, the AAFA has some useful tips to make living with allergies more manageable:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n