Where Michigan Cities Rank on 2025’s Dirtiest Cities List

A new study aiming to determine "2025’s Dirtiest Cities in America" reveals some interesting insights into some of Michigan's biggest cities.

Lawnstarter.com looked at data from the 500 biggest cities in the United States.  The study considered more than a dozen factors, ranging from air and water quality to recycling efforts and levels of waste in landfills. Study authors then eliminated from contention any of the cities for which there wasn't enough data in one or more of the categories, leaving slightly more than 300 U.S. cities to consider.

READ MORE: Lansing, Flint Listed Among 'Best Cities to Live in the U.S.', But There's a Catch

Five Michigan cities made the cut. Let's take a look at how they fared, starting with the "dirtiest" and working our way to the "cleanest".

Detroit Lands in the Top 3 Dirtiest Cities

The Lawnstarter study found Detroit to be the 3rd-dirtiest city in America, behind only San Bernardino and Los Angeles, California (numbers 1 and 2, respectively.)

The Motor City ranks among the 5 worst cities in the country when it comes to inadequate living conditions and resident satisfaction with their surroundings. It's got the worst numbers among the 5 Michigan cities that were ranked in the study.

Flint's Ratings Nearly as Poor as Detroit's

The figures from Flint are only slightly better than those from Detroit. Both Flint's living conditions and resident satisfaction ratings are among the 10 worst in the nation.

However, Flint lands in the middle of the pack nationally when it comes to pollution and waste infrastructure. Overall, among the 303 American cities considered, only 11 were deemed to be dirtier than Flint.

Grand Rapids Is the Middle Ground

Things could be better, but also worse for Grand Rapids. It's the 114th dirtiest city in America according to Lawnstarter — 3rd dirtiest (or 3rd cleanest) of Michigan's big cities, depending how you want to spin it.

Grand Rapids fares best in regards to its living conditions and waste infrastructure, both of which are in the better half of American cities in the study.

Ann Arbor Scores Among the Cleaner Cities

The 2nd-cleanest big city in Michigan? Ann Arbor. The home of the University of Michigan ranks as the 82nd cleanest city in America, with rankings for its pollution, living conditions, waste infrastructure and resident satisfaction all landing among America's better half.

But perhaps most stunning of all is the Michigan city that Lawnstarter deems to be the cleanest the state has to offer.

Lansing Takes Michigan’s Top Spot for Cleanliness

Lansing takes honors as the 32nd cleanest city in America, according to this study.

The study found Lansing to be among the 10 least polluted cities in the entire country, ranking #8 — far and away better than anywhere else in Michigan. Lansing's living conditions also rank favorably, among the upper third of American cities.

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Lansing's waste infrastructure and resident satisfaction rankings weren't as good as its rankings for pollution and overall living conditions, but still high enough to rank as the cleanest big city in Michigan.

Surprised? See the full list of America's dirtiest (and cleanest) cities here.