The Earth Day Network has a report on their website that scores 72 of the urban areas in the United States on over 200 indicators such as air quality, water quality, toxins and waste, and quality of life.
The report, according to info on the earthdaynetwork website, “broadens our view of environmental quality of life by taking into account those who often suffer the most but are heard the least.”
When I found the website, I just wanted to see how the urban areas closest to where I live rank. The environmental and quality of life areas measured for each city include: toxics and waste, air quality, drinking and surface water, quality of life, parks and recreation opportunities, human and public health, and global warming climate change.
Fargo, North Dakota has the best overall ranking. Detroit, Michigan has the worst overall ranking. 
Burlington, Vermont has the best toxics and waste ranking. Houston, Texas has the worst.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota has the best air quality ranking and drinking and surface water ranking. Cleveland, Ohio has the worst air quality ranking and Los Angeles, California has the worst drinking and surface water ranking.
Fargo, North Dakota has the best quality of life ranking. Miami, Florida has the worst.
Columbia, South Carolina has the best parks and recreation ranking. Anchorage, Alaska has the worst.
Seattle, Washington has the best human and public health ranking. Miami, Florida has the worst.
Billings, Montana has the best global warming climate change ranking. Miami, Florida has the worst.
To check out the data for your area, click here.
To read about the methodology used for the rankings, click here.
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