Most Americans are encouraged or ordered to stay indoors — except for essential activities as well as some exercise — in an effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic. For those who are able to get outdoors safely, the beginning of warmer weather is welcome good news. Springtime in the United States, however, also means the start of peak pollen season. Those going outdoors to find relief from cabin fever may be at risk of hay fever.
Plants seasonally release pollen grains as a way of reproducing. Plants seasonally release pollen grains as a way of reproducing, and during the season, people may breathe it in. In those who are allergic to pollen, breathing it causes an allergic reaction. Allergy sufferers report sneezing, runny noses, and itchy and watery eyes.
In each state, there is one city where pollen levels stand out from the rest of the state. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Pollen.com’s pollen index score for every major U.S. city. The pollen index score measures and records the daily pollen severity on a scale of 0 to 12. To determine the city in each state with the highest pollen levels, we averaged the pollen index scores of the most recent 30-day period, from March 8 through April 5. No data was available for Alaska or Hawaii.
Some parts of the country have more pollen than others. In several states, even the city with the highest 30-day average pollen level has a relatively low 30-day average compared to most U.S. cities. Meanwhile, a number of Southern states have 30-day average scores above 10 out of 12. For context, a pollen score of 9.7 or higher is considered “high” by pollen.com. If you’re struggling with allergies, here are some easy remedies that can help.
Click here to see the city with the worst pollen in every state
Source: miroslav_1 / Getty Images
Alabama: Dothan
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, SweetGum
[in-text-ad]
Source: sorincolac / Getty Images
Alaska: no data available
Source: JacobH / Getty Images
Arizona: Phoenix
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.4 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Mulberry, Ash, Juniper
Source: benkrut / Getty Images
Arkansas: Little Rock
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.3 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Oak, SweetGum
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: LPETTET / Getty Images
California: Bakersfield
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.2 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Mulberry, Ash, Walnut
Source: chapin31 / Getty Images
Colorado: Pueblo
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.5 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Elm, Maple, Juniper
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Connecticut: Hartford
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.5 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
Source: Ataraxy22 / Wikimedia Commons
Delaware: Dover
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.9 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Poplar, Juniper, Maple
Source: LUNAMARINA / Getty Images
Florida: Orlando
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Grasses, Bayberry
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: sshepard / Getty Images
Georgia: Albany
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, SweetGum
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii: no data available
[in-text-ad]
Source: bpperry / Getty Images
Idaho: Lewiston
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.2 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Alder, Birch, Juniper
24/7 Wall St.
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Illinois: Rockford
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.3 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Elm, Poplar
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Indiana: Evansville
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.4 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, Juniper
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: steveodonnell / Getty Images
Iowa: Council Bluffs
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.7 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Birch, Ash
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Kansas: Wichita
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Maple, Birch
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Kentucky: Owensboro
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.4 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, Juniper
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: New Orleans
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.8 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Grasses, Bayberry
Source: HaizhanZheng / Getty Images
Maine: Portland
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 4.1 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Alder, Poplar, Juniper
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Maryland: Silver Spring
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Elm, Juniper
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Massachusetts: Springfield
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.5 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
[in-text-ad]
Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images
Michigan: Detroit
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.7 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Elm, Juniper
Source: BanksPhotos / Getty Images
Minnesota: Rochester
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 4.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Alder, Elm
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Mississippi: Gulfport
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Grasses, Bayberry
[in-text-ad-2]
Missouri: Saint Louis
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.7 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Juniper, Maple
Source: leezsnow / Getty Images
Montana: Great Falls
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 3.9 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Alder, Poplar, Juniper
[in-text-ad]
Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
Nebraska: Lincoln
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.9 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Birch, Ash
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Nevada: Las Vegas
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Mulberry, Ash, Juniper
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Manchester
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 3.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Elm, Juniper
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
New Jersey: Camden
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Mexico: Roswell
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.5 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Juniper, Oak, Ash
[in-text-ad]
Source: Eloi_Omella / Getty Images
New York: New York
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
24/7 Wall St.
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
North Carolina: Raleigh
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.3 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, Juniper
Source: powerofforever / Getty Images
North Dakota: Bismarck
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 3.1 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Juniper, Alder, Elm
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images
Ohio: Dayton
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.1 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Elm, Alder
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.4 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Juniper, Maple, Ash
[in-text-ad]
Source: Grant Wylie / Getty Images
Oregon: Medford
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.5 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Mulberry, Ash
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Providence
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 5.7 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Juniper, Alder, Poplar
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
South Carolina: Charleston
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 9.8 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Birch, SweetGum
Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 5.4 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Juniper, Elm, Maple
[in-text-ad]
Source: Joel Carillet / Getty Images
Tennessee: Johnson City
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.1 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Elm, Maple, Juniper
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Texas: El Paso
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 10.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Mulberry, Ash, Poplar
Source: SweetyMommy / Getty Images
Utah: Saint George
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.2 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Mulberry, Ash, Juniper
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Vermont: Brattleboro
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 5.3 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Poplar, Juniper
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Virginia: Richmond
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.8 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Oak, Maple, Elm
[in-text-ad]
Source: aiisha5 / Getty Images
Washington: Seattle
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 7.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Sycamore, Mulberry, Ash
Source: hkim39 / Getty Images
West Virginia: Beckley
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 8.1 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Birch, Juniper, Oak
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Wisconsin: Madison
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.0 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Maple, Juniper, Alder
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Avg. pollen index (30 days): 6.6 out of 12
> Most common pollen types: Elm, Alder, Maple
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Here’s a Great First Step
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
