San Diego considered ‘greenest’ US city of 2023: study
SAN DIEGO — San Diego is considered the “greenest” city in the country, according to a recent study by WalletHub.
“Green living,” according to the personal finance company, means a choice to engage in cleaner, more sustainable habits in order to preserve the planet as much as possible.
Researchers at WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities by population across key indicators that were subcategorized into four groups: energy sources, transportation, environment, as well as lifestyle and policy.
Free ‘Dump Day’ to be held at two San Diego-area locations this month
Things that were taken into consideration included factors like water quality, green space, light population, miles of bicycle lanes, community gardens, presence of plastic bag bans, the number of smart-energy initiatives, among several other components.
More on the methodology can be found here.
San Diego ranked No. 1 nationwide with a total score of 71.76. Here’s a breakdown of some factors this study determined for America’s Finest City:
“Greenness” of San Diego (1=Best; 50=Avg.)
Overall rank for San Diego: 1st
44th – Greenhouse-Gas Emissions per Capita
12th – % of Green Space
23rd – Annual Excess Fuel Consumption
31st – % of Commuters Who Drive
29th – Walk Score
7th – Farmers Markets per Capita
San Diego gets record ranking as top big city destination for travelers
Slightly trailing San Diego, Honolulu, Hawaii ranked No. 2 and Portland, Oregon ranked No. 3. On the contrary, Gilbert, Arizona was listed in last place at No. 100.
This is the second year in a row WalletHub ranked San Diego as the “greenest city” in America. Their full rankings for 2023 can be found below:
Overall Rank* | City | Total Score | Environment | Transportation | Energy Sources | Lifestyle & Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Diego, CA | 71.76 | 4 | 26 | 2 | 3 |
2 | Honolulu, HI | 69.53 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 10 |
3 | Portland, OR | 68.79 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 1 |
4 | Washington, DC | 68.20 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 8 |
5 | Seattle, WA | 67.22 | 37 | 10 | 11 | 2 |
6 | San Jose, CA | 66.83 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 25 |
7 | San Francisco, CA | 66.65 | 22 | 3 | 20 | 6 |
8 | Oakland, CA | 66.59 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 13 |
9 | Fremont, CA | 66.47 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 35 |
10 | Minneapolis, MN | 64.45 | 12 | 1 | 31 | 14 |
11 | Irvine, CA | 62.45 | 20 | 31 | 5 | 23 |
12 | Sacramento, CA | 62.24 | 61 | 13 | 16 | 7 |
13 | Denver, CO | 61.00 | 75 | 7 | 21 | 5 |
14 | Albuquerque, NM | 59.85 | 28 | 58 | 14 | 29 |
15 | Madison, WI | 59.58 | 5 | 4 | 62 | 31 |
16 | Buffalo, NY | 59.37 | 30 | 8 | 47 | 19 |
17 | Riverside, CA | 57.14 | 83 | 55 | 19 | 4 |
18 | St. Paul, MN | 57.07 | 27 | 50 | 28 | 34 |
19 | Stockton, CA | 56.90 | 34 | 97 | 25 | 11 |
20 | Long Beach, CA | 56.85 | 88 | 9 | 10 | 30 |
21 | Boston, MA | 56.52 | 9 | 11 | 37 | 72 |
22 | Los Angeles, CA | 56.37 | 87 | 38 | 12 | 21 |
23 | Austin, TX | 56.29 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 32 |
24 | Chula Vista, CA | 56.04 | 57 | 63 | 4 | 46 |
25 | New York, NY | 55.26 | 64 | 36 | 34 | 18 |
26 | Bakersfield, CA | 55.05 | 86 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
27 | Pittsburgh, PA | 55.03 | 11 | 17 | 76 | 22 |
28 | Anaheim, CA | 54.96 | 60 | 56 | 5 | 33 |
29 | San Bernardino, CA | 54.92 | 70 | 62 | 5 | 20 |
30 | Boise, ID | 54.69 | 73 | 21 | 23 | 42 |
31 | Lincoln, NE | 54.66 | 23 | 15 | 33 | 89 |
32 | Fresno, CA | 53.95 | 85 | 65 | 18 | 12 |
33 | Reno, NV | 53.74 | 50 | 42 | 35 | 40 |
34 | Las Vegas, NV | 53.19 | 82 | 30 | 17 | 48 |
35 | Baltimore, MD | 52.89 | 42 | 34 | 58 | 15 |
36 | Cincinnati, OH | 52.67 | 21 | 24 | 90 | 17 |
37 | Colorado Springs, CO | 51.86 | 49 | 46 | 32 | 62 |
38 | Orlando, FL | 51.79 | 56 | 39 | 60 | 16 |
39 | Atlanta, GA | 51.55 | 24 | 23 | 56 | 49 |
40 | Philadelphia, PA | 50.87 | 41 | 33 | 70 | 27 |
41 | Santa Ana, CA | 50.23 | 94 | 48 | 5 | 37 |
42 | Anchorage, AK | 49.62 | 54 | 47 | 54 | 45 |
43 | Scottsdale, AZ | 49.56 | 53 | 43 | 71 | 44 |
44 | San Antonio, TX | 49.49 | 67 | 59 | 30 | 66 |
45 | Lubbock, TX | 49.05 | 63 | 61 | 40 | 54 |
46 | St. Louis, MO | 48.93 | 44 | 85 | 57 | 26 |
47 | Milwaukee, WI | 48.87 | 43 | 29 | 82 | 36 |
48 | Aurora, CO | 48.81 | 77 | 70 | 24 | 58 |
49 | Raleigh, NC | 48.74 | 28 | 40 | 75 | 53 |
50 | Omaha, NE | 48.38 | 19 | 44 | 61 | 79 |
51 | Kansas City, MO | 48.32 | 52 | 27 | 59 | 64 |
52 | Garland, TX | 48.14 | 48 | 100 | 40 | 41 |
53 | Charlotte, NC | 48.06 | 31 | 52 | 64 | 52 |
54 | Nashville, TN | 47.78 | 16 | 60 | 67 | 78 |
55 | Toledo, OH | 47.72 | 15 | 35 | 98 | 67 |
56 | Tampa, FL | 47.66 | 45 | 19 | 94 | 43 |
57 | Wichita, KS | 47.37 | 35 | 96 | 49 | 90 |
58 | Miami, FL | 47.33 | 81 | 20 | 88 | 9 |
59 | El Paso, TX | 47.30 | 47 | 64 | 53 | 85 |
60 | Virginia Beach, VA | 47.11 | 1 | 98 | 83 | 65 |
61 | Henderson, NV | 47.00 | 65 | 79 | 48 | 56 |
62 | Tucson, AZ | 46.71 | 72 | 18 | 69 | 47 |
63 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 46.59 | 17 | 74 | 95 | 82 |
64 | New Orleans, LA | 46.43 | 51 | 37 | 65 | 88 |
65 | Phoenix, AZ | 46.18 | 74 | 83 | 38 | 51 |
66 | Indianapolis, IN | 46.10 | 36 | 66 | 63 | 73 |
67 | Columbus, OH | 45.99 | 39 | 41 | 80 | 70 |
68 | Laredo, TX | 45.88 | 66 | 81 | 40 | 80 |
69 | Tulsa, OK | 45.80 | 89 | 45 | 27 | 99 |
70 | Chesapeake, VA | 45.63 | 6 | 90 | 92 | 81 |
71 | Jacksonville, FL | 45.25 | 10 | 49 | 91 | 96 |
72 | Durham, NC | 45.24 | 55 | 67 | 66 | 93 |
73 | Dallas, TX | 45.19 | 76 | 72 | 52 | 50 |
74 | Irving, TX | 45.13 | 68 | 99 | 40 | 61 |
75 | St. Petersburg, FL | 45.11 | 26 | 77 | 78 | 87 |
76 | Jersey City, NJ | 44.96 | 92 | 6 | 99 | 38 |
77 | Fort Wayne, IN | 44.76 | 46 | 76 | 85 | 98 |
78 | Winston-Salem, NC | 44.68 | 25 | 87 | 79 | 95 |
79 | Norfolk, VA | 44.27 | 40 | 84 | 92 | 75 |
80 | Chicago, IL | 44.16 | 95 | 51 | 55 | 28 |
81 | Oklahoma City, OK | 43.86 | 90 | 68 | 39 | 76 |
82 | Fort Worth, TX | 43.85 | 80 | 80 | 51 | 63 |
83 | Memphis, TN | 43.56 | 38 | 69 | 77 | 97 |
83 | Birmingham, AL | 43.56 | 8 | 92 | 96 | 69 |
85 | North Las Vegas, NV | 43.48 | 84 | 73 | 29 | 100 |
86 | Louisville, KY | 43.27 | 58 | 53 | 89 | 55 |
87 | Cleveland, OH | 43.20 | 33 | 91 | 86 | 68 |
88 | Arlington, TX | 43.11 | 69 | 82 | 40 | 94 |
89 | Plano, TX | 42.53 | 71 | 95 | 40 | 86 |
90 | Corpus Christi, TX | 42.27 | 79 | 94 | 40 | 92 |
91 | Greensboro, NC | 41.59 | 59 | 93 | 81 | 71 |
92 | Detroit, MI | 41.18 | 62 | 54 | 84 | 84 |
93 | Hialeah, FL | 41.14 | 78 | 86 | 97 | 39 |
94 | Newark, NJ | 40.59 | 93 | 28 | 87 | 57 |
95 | Houston, TX | 37.96 | 99 | 89 | 50 | 60 |
96 | Chandler, AZ | 36.83 | 96 | 78 | 71 | 74 |
97 | Baton Rouge, LA | 36.22 | 91 | 57 | 100 | 77 |
98 | Mesa, AZ | 36.20 | 97 | 71 | 68 | 83 |
99 | Glendale, AZ | 35.70 | 98 | 75 | 71 | 91 |
100 | Gilbert, AZ | 35.17 | 100 | 88 | 71 | 59 |
According to a Gallup poll, 52% of Americans believe environmental protections should be prioritized over economic growth.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
