2022 Allergy Capitals™ 

It’s the season for sneezing and itching! If you live in one of the top 2022 Allergy Capitals™, use AAFA’s tips to reduce your contact with pollen and improve your quality of life.  

More than 50 million Americans live with various types of allergies every year. Many of them have seasonal pollen allergies. AAFA’s yearly Allergy CapitalsTM report explores how challenging it is to live with spring or fall allergies in the top 100 U.S. cities*.  

The report looks at these important factors:  

  • Spring pollen scores
  • Fall pollen scores
  • Over-the-counter medicine use
  • Availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists


This year’s report named Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the top 2022 Allergy Capital™ due to its: 

  • Higher-than-average spring pollen
  • Higher-than-average fall pollen
  • Fewer board-certified allergists/immunologists

*Data was studied from the 100 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas. 

Full List of Top 100 Allergy Capitals™ in 2022 

 

 

The top 10 most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies are:

  1. Scranton, Pennsylvania
  2. Wichita, Kansas
  3. McAllen, Texas
  4. Richmond, Virginia
  5. San Antonio, Texas
  6. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  7. Hartford, Connecticut
  8. Buffalo, New York
  9. New Haven, Connecticut
  10. Albany, New York

The top 10 least challenging places to live with seasonal allergies are:

  1. Fresno, California
  2. Phoenix, Arizona
  3. Provo, Utah
  4. Denver, Colorado
  5. Sacramento, California
  6. Portland, Oregon
  7. San Jose, California
  8. San Francisco, California
  9. Durham, North Carolina
  10. Seattle, Washington

 


Download 2022 Allergy Capitals™ - Full Ranking List of 100 U.S. Metro Areas  Download PDF
Press Release Download PDF

 

  • 2022 Allergy Capitals Top 10 Worst and Best Cities to live in with seasonal allergies

    Many of the most challenging cities for seasonal pollen allergies are in the Northeast and South Central United States. The West has some of the least challenging places to live for pollen allergies.

  • 2022 Allergy Capitals ranks Scranton, PA #1

    Scranton, Pennsylvania, is not only our #1 overall Allergy Capital for the year, but it also ranks #1 separately for both spring and fall allergies.

  • A list of tree and grass pollens responsible for spring allergy season

    In general, trees release their pollen in the spring, grasses in late spring. Weeds release their pollen in the fall.

  • Seasonal allergy tips for reducing pollen inside your home - keep windows closed when pollen is high and use CERTIFIED air filters or portable air cleaners

    Keep your windows closed during peak pollen time. Air filters or cleaners may help remove pollen from indoor air. More healthy home tips from AAFA.

  • Seasonal allergy tips keep pollen from coming inside your home after being outside - cover your hair, take off shoes, don't wear outside clothes to bed, shower before bed

    Pollen can get on your clothes, shoes, and hair. Take care not to carry the pollen into your home or bed.

  • Seasonal allergy tips - CERTIFIED asthma and allergy friendly Products can help reduce your exposure to pollen

    CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products can reduce your exposure to pollen. Visit aafa.org/certified

  • Pollen allergy can make your nose run and mouth itch when you eat certain fruits and vegetables. This is oral allergy syndrome or OAS.
    Pollen can trigger nasal allergy symptoms, eye allergy symptoms, or even asthma episodes (attacks). It can also cause an itchy mouth when you eat certain plants. This is called oral allergy syndrome.
  • Talk with your doctor about treatment options for your pollen allergy. It is best to start treatment before your pollen allergy season.

    Talk with your doctor about treatment for your pollen allergy. Options may include nasal sprays, eye drops, allergy shots, over-the-counter medicines, or prescription medicines.

 

Get Seasonal Allergy Relief No Matter Where You Live 

In the spring, the warm weather brings people outdoors to face one of the season’s biggest problems: tree pollen. Grass pollen follows later in spring into summer. Then in the late summer and early fall, weed pollen – especially ragweed pollen – can trigger symptoms just as kids are returning to school.

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by seasonal allergies include:  

  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
  • Runny nose (usually a thin, clear discharge)
  • Red and watery eyes
  • Itchy nose, eyes, ears, or mouth
  • Swelling around the eyes
     

Take these actions to reduce your contact with pollen: 

  • Check pollen counts or forecasts daily and plan outdoor activities on days when pollen counts are expected to be lower.
  • Keep windows closed during pollen season or peak pollen times.
  • Use central air conditioning or air cleaners with a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter and/or HEPA filtration to reduce indoor airborne allergens (including pollen that may enter your home through doors, windows, on your clothes, and on pets).
  • Wear sunglasses, a mask, and a hat or other hair covering when outdoors.
  • Take a shower and wash your hair before going to bed (if your hair was uncovered outside).
  • Change and wash clothes after outdoor activities.
  • Dry laundry in a clothes dryer or on an indoor rack, not on an outdoor line.
  • Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Wipe pets off with a towel before they enter your home.
  • Remove your shoes before entering your home.
  • Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week.

When cleaning inside your home, be aware that you may stir up pollen that has collected on surfaces. CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® vacuums and dusting cloths help trap and contain allergens such as pollen.

Asthma and Allergy Friendly

 

There are also over-the-counter and prescription allergy treatments available to prevent or treat allergy symptoms: 

  • Nasal corticosteroid sprays (the most effective medicine for allergic rhinitis)
  • Allergy medicines – such as non-drowsy, long-acting antihistamines
  • Decongestants (for short-term use - check with your doctor before using if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyroid disease, or trouble urinating)
  • Leukotriene modifiers (such as SINGULAIR®)
  • Immunotherapy – allergy shots or tablets for long-term treatment to reduce how severe your allergic reactions are 

Talk with your doctor before your pollen allergy seasons begin to discuss which treatment is right for you.   

Climate Change and Allergies 

The impact of climate change has become a dangerous cycle. Rising global temperatures lead to more extreme weather. Weather changes – such as heat waves and droughts – can lead to a lack of air flow. When the air doesn’t move, pollutants react together in the heat and sun. This increases ground-level ozone.1 

Ground-level ozone is a major part of urban smog. More air pollution and smog cause higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO­­2). This results in warmer temperatures. And the cycle continues. 

This cycle results in increased pollen. This can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. Rising CO2 levels lead to longer growing seasons that change flowering time and increase pollen. The length of the growing season refers to the number of days when plant growth takes place. Warmer, longer seasons increase exposure to allergens that trigger asthma and other respiratory and allergic responses.2 

Climate change is also impacting the health of people who live in urban centers. Warmer temperatures and extreme heat waves are made worse in urban areas due to an effect called an “urban heat island” (UHI). A UHI has higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to more buildings, roads, population, and lack of green space. Extreme heat made worse by UHIs can increase air pollution and allergic sensitivity.3 Climate change will make these UHIs worse. Black and Hispanic Americans − who already have higher rates of asthma and allergies − will be affected the most by worsening UHIs due to a long history of discrimination in U.S. housing policies. 

If we don’t slow down the cycle, pollen production and air pollution will only get worse. Millions of people already have seasonal allergic rhinitis, and pollen allergies are a major cause. If this cycle continues, we may see the number of people with seasonal allergies increase. 

 

Our Allergy Capitals™ report is an independent research project of AAFA.

 

Recommended Citation 

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, (2022). [2022 Allergy Capitals: The Most Challenging Places to Live With Allergies]. Retrieved from allergycapitals.com.

 

Media Inquiries 

For media and related inquiries, contact media@aafa.org.

 

References
1. Climate Central. (2019, July 30). Climate change is threatening air quality across the country. https://www.climatecentral.org/news/climate-change-is-threatening-air-quality-across-the-country-2019
2. Schmidt, C. W. (2016). Pollen overload: Seasonal allergies in a changing climate. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(4). https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.124-a70
3. D’Amato, G., Liccardi, G., D’Amato, M., & Cazzola, M. (2002). Outdoor air pollution, climatic changes and allergic bronchial asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 20(3), 763–776. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.02.00401402