In honor of Earth Month, realtyhop ranked the greenest U.S. cities for homebuyers. The report evaluated each city based on the following criteria:
- Sustainability
- Policy and infrastructure
- Energy
- Environment
- Affordability
Overall, the study found that the majority of the greenest cities are on the West Coast – five are in California alone.
California is one of the states tackling climate change head-on by passing laws that will require companies to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks. One of the laws signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom will require large companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue and operating in California to provide detailed information on their greenhouse gas emissions, according to CNBC.
Portland, Oregon, is the greenest city in America
With a total score of 62.34, Portland, Oregon took the top spot on Realtyhop’s list of greenest U.S. cities.
It ranked 10th for sustainability, 14th for policy and infrastructure and took 4th place in the energy category, second place for environment and 4th place for affordability.
Portland is ranked as the greenest city for home buyers in the United States, according to Realtyhop.
Jordan Siemens | Getty Images
Portland is actively working toward a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and uses wind power and other forms of renewable energy to help keep the city running.
More than a third of Portland’s 2,500 miles of sewer pipes are more than 80 years old, so the city is using green infrastructure to protect the aging sewer system, according to Portland Environmental Services.
The city uses green streets, eco-roofs, trees and more to manage stormwater.
Portland also has a relatively affordable housing market compared to other major cities in the region, with an average home value of $539,524, up 0.9% from last year, according to Zillow.
Top 10 greenest cities in America
- Portland, ore.
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco, California.
- Seattle, Washington.
- Oakland, California.
- Spokane, Washington.
- New York, New York
- Sacramento, California.
- San Diego, California.
- San Jose, California.
The second greenest city on the list is Washington, DC.
The report ranks the nation’s capital first for environment, top three for sustainability and top five for energy, with a total score of 60.25.
Washington, DC, ranked the second greenest place for home buyers in the United States, according to Realtyhop.
Kanzilyou | Istock | Getty Images
Washington, DC, continues to be at the forefront of energy efficiency. The district reduced its emissions by 36% between 2006 and 2021, according to the Carbon Free DC plan, which Mayor Muriel Bower released at the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit in Dubai in 2023.
Key strategies in the plan include phasing out on-site fossil fuel combustion in buildings, allowing more residents to walk, bike and take public transportation by reducing public transportation costs through at free or reduced rates, and much more.
“Climate change is here…As we work to implement Carbon Free DC, we recognize that addressing climate change is part of the District’s broader commitment to promoting health, opportunity, prosperity and equity for all district residents,” Richard Jackson, Department of Energy and Environment Director, said in a statement.
However, compared to Portland, Oregon, Washington DC is a bit more expensive when it comes to housing. According to Zillow, the average home value in Washington is $619,321.
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