New Study Ranks Michigan City ‘2nd Filthiest in America’

Another year and another less-than-stellar showing for Michigan in LawnStarter.com's annual Dirtiest Cities in America ranking. Last year, one Michigan city had the dubious honor of being crowned the 4th filthiest in America for 2023. If you'd been rooting for Michigan to clean up its act, you weren't rooting hard enough.

Another new addition to LawnStarter.com's 2024 ranking is a Mitten State city that didn't even appear on last year's list but is now firmly placed as one of America's top 25 dirtiest metro areas. In fact, only two cities were named in the 2023 ranking, which considered 300-plus towns in America. This year, Michigan has five cities on the list.

Michigan Gets Dirty in 2024

The LawnStarter study ranks cities based on several data points, including pollution, living conditions, and infrastructure. Perhaps each city's biggest disadvantage is resident dissatisfaction.

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Pride in your community is a rare commodity as everyone is quick to criticize and slow to compliment, especially in hometowns. That may be why cities that weren't included in last year's ranking suddenly appeared in 2024.

Making their first appearance on the LawnStarter list:

• Lansing
  • 150th Dirtiest City
• Ann Arbor
  • 292nd Dirtiest City

Grand Rapids, Michigan, made both the '23 and '24 countdown, coming in 128th last year, and this year (unfortunately), it moved up to 122nd. So, that leaves two cities left, both of which appear in the top 25. Who are they? Keep scrolling for the complete top 25 list.