Millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, with symptoms ranging from mildly irritating to severe. For those with conditions like asthma, allergies can trigger far more than the occasional sneeze; they can pose actual health risks. As a result, many severe allergy sufferers must carefully consider where they live.
Pollen is the most common trigger for seasonal allergies. With that in mind, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently mapped out the worst cities for pollen as part of its Allergy Capitals report for 2026. They are:
- Boise, ID
- San Diego, CA
- Tulsa, OK
- Provo, UT
- Rochester, NY
- Wichita, KS
- Raleigh, NC
- Ogden, UT
- Spokane, WA
- Greenville, SC
- San Francisco, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Richmond, VA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Little Rock, AR
- Toledo, OH
- New Orleans, LA
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Lakeland, FL
Pollen allergies are getting worse as a result of climate change, making location an even more important consideration than it used to be.
“Some parts of the United States now experience pollen (tree, grass, or weed) year-round,” AAFA says. “Warmer temperatures also trap heat in urban areas, increasing air pollution, and stimulating pollen production.”
List and data were compiled by AAFA and may not reflect statistics on all cities.