Almost all of the top ten eco-living cities in the United States are located on the West Coast

In honor of Earth Month, realtyhop ranks the greenest cities in America for homebuyers. The report evaluates each city based on the following criteria:

• Sustainable development
• policy and infrastructure
• vitality
• environment
• Affordability

Overall, the study found that most of the greenest cities are on the West Coast, with five in California alone.

California is one of the states taking on climate change head-on, passing laws requiring companies to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks. According to CNBC, one of the laws signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom will require large companies operating in California with annual revenue of more than $1 billion to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions in detail.

Portland, Oregon, ranks first on Realtyhop’s ranking of America’s greenest cities with an overall score of 62.34.

It ranks 10th in sustainability, 14th in policy and infrastructure, 4th in the energy category, 2nd in environment and 4th in affordability.

Portland is actively working toward a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 and is using wind and other forms of renewable energy to help keep the city running.

More than one-third of Portland’s 2,500 miles of sewer pipes are more than 80 years old, so the city uses green infrastructure to protect aging sewer systems, according to the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.

The city uses green streets, eco-roofs, trees and more to manage stormwater.

Portland’s housing market is relatively affordable compared to other major cities in the region, with the average home price at $539,524, up 0.9% over the past year, according to Zillow.

1. Portland, Oregon.
2. Washington DC
3. San Francisco, California
4. Seattle, Washington.
5. Oakland, California
6. Spokane, Washington.
7. New York City, New York
8. sacramento california
9. San Diego, California
10. San Jose, California

The second greenest city on the list is Washington, D.C.

The report ranked the capital highest in the environment, in the top three for sustainable development, and in the top five for energy, with an overall score of 60.25.

Washington, D.C. continues to be at the forefront of energy efficiency. According to the carbon-free zone plan launched by Mayor Muriel Bower at the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit in Dubai in 2023, the zone will reduce emissions by 36% between 2006 and 2021.

Key strategies of the plan include phasing out the burning of fossil fuels in buildings, reducing transportation costs through free or reduced-price transportation, and enabling more residents to walk, bike and take public transportation.

“Climate change is here… As we work to implement a carbon-free Washington, D.C., we recognize that addressing climate change is part of the District’s broader commitment to promote health, opportunity, prosperity, and equity for all District residents, Richard Jackson, the department’s director of energy and environment, said in a press release.

However, homes in Washington, D.C. are more expensive compared to Portland, OR. According to Zillow, the average value of a home in Washington is $619,321.

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