Best Places to Live For Allergies

For many people, allergies present only a mild annoyance, and only vaguely affect their day to day lives. For an unfortunate number of people around the world, however, allergies are a severe problem that can truly inhibit their ability to lead happy, productive lives. When considering allergy symptoms, many people only think in terms of relief, however, for those severely affected by allergies, they need to look beyond relief and toward complete prevention. These individuals must seek out the best places to live for allergies. If you are an allergy sufferer in the United States who is looking to relocate to a more allergy-friendly location, the top three factors to consider are the location’s pollen score, the average medication use per patient, and the number of licensed allergists in the area.

Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine are both excellent cities for allergy sufferers. These two cities each have low pollen scores and their inhabitants typically have their allergies under control. Whether on the west or east coast, both Portlands rate better than average in all three factors.

California is also a great location for those wishing to avoid allergy problems as six different cities rank in the top 26% of cities to live in the United States when suffering from allergies. Those cities are San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, and San Jose. Not only does California rate well when considering the factors outlined above, but the area’s emphasis on healthy lifestyles can reduce allergy symptoms by promoting a healthier immune system.

The mountain west is another popular area for those with allergies. With their reputation for clean air and clean living, cities such as Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, and Ogden are all noted as healthy spots for allergy sufferers.

Although they are thought of mainly for their urban settings with heavy traffic congestion and air pollution, a few cities in New England also rate well when considering pollen score, medication use, and allergist availability. Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, Massachusetts are all good choices as are Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven, Connecticut.

Although many cities in the Midwest are considered to be the worst places to live for those dealing with allergies, there are a few safe havens as well. Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio both score very well with allergy sufferers. Those seeking allergy relief also seem to find solace in Chicago, Illinois as well as Minneapolis, Minnesota.