We were just reading and article in Outside Magazine about 2019’s best places to live. And while their list typically highlights only idyllic outdoor destinations near mountains and other natural wonders the first city we encounter in the list took us by surprise – Chicago.
Now before you jump to conclusions on why Chicago surprises us as an Outside Magazine “Best Place to Live” consider that our entire business is air purification. Granted Chicago may have problems common to any other large metro… but how’s the air quality compare? That question brings us to today’s blog post. We wanted to know… is Outside recommending cities with good air quality for those who love the outdoors? Let’s take a closer look.
Chicago, Illinois
The windy city seems like a place where air pollution would be blown to the next town before it had any adverse affect on air quality. To find out how it stacks up we turned to the American Lung Association’s 2019 “State of the Air Report.” This is an annual report that ranks cities in three major categories – Ozone Pollution, Long Term Particle Pollution, and Short Term Particle Pollution.
Now before we get into their findings for ’19, lets take a quick look at what Outside liked about Chi-town and see how air quality might impact those aspects of outdoor livability. The big thing that stands out to us is the fact that Chicago is in the midst of a large scale public space boom. Pair that with an okay trail system (like the 18.5 mile long waterfront trail), and some paddle boarding and your city now has what it takes to join Outside’s list.
So… while Chicago isn’t quite an outdoor mecca metro like Salt Lake City, Seattle, or Denver – it does offer some reasons to get out side and exercise those lovely lungs. And, if you’re working away running along the water or paddling across it – air quality matters in Chicago.
Ozone Pollution
Ozone is pretty irritating. Especially to sensitive populations. And when it comes to Ozone pollution Chicago ranks 18 out of 25. And that means that Chicago’s ozone issues are less problematic that more traditional outdoor-oriented locations like Denver (#12), Salt Lake City (#14), and San Diego (#6).
Year Round Particle Pollution
When it comes to a 12 month average… Chicago finds itself at number 19 on the list. Which is another surprise to us. Especially with tree-filled places like Missoula Montana, Fairbanks Alaska, and Grants Pass Oregon in the top 11 most polluted cities – year round.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Here’s the shocker, for us at least. Chicago doesn’t even crack the top 25 most polluted cities when you’re looking a short term pollution problems. Taking that into consideration… we have to admit that Outside didn’t fail readers in recommending Chicago – when it comes to breathable air for runners, bikers, and paddlers. Does it stand out for outdoorsy qualities, that’s for you to decide.
Tucson, Arizona
This city was another surprise for us. When it comes to outdoor recreation in Arizona, cities south of the Phoenix Metro hardly come up in conversation. We’ve heard and experienced plenty of great golfing, hiking, and mountain biking in and to the north (Sedona, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, etc.). But, Tuscon came as quite a surprise.
According to Outside Tuscon offers residents some great climbing, mountain bike trails, and a 22 mile road bike climb (6,600’ gain in elevation). Sounds pretty appealing, right. We thought that Tuscon was more of a haven for Gila Monsters, huge spiders, and snakes.
Ozone Pollution
With Phoenix sitting at #7 you would think other Arizona desert cities would have similar issues. But, Tucson doesn’t even crack the top 25 in Ozone pollution. Which is great – especially for air quality sensitive retirees. Who should really take a closer look at the city according to livability.com – who ranks the Arizona city as the 8th best place to retire.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Once again Tucson isn’t in the top 25. In fact you won’t find any Arizona city in the list. This is a pretty big deal when you consider that most of Arizona provides year-round outdoor activities. Unlike places with colder… cloudier climates (Chicago… cough.. cough).
Short Term Particle Pollution
When we look at short term poor air quality the Phoenix Metro reappears at number 13 on the list. Once again Tuscon is nowhere to be seen; int the top 25 at least.
Lesson learned – When it comes to fresh air in Arizona to fuel outdoor pursuits, Tuscon tops Phoenix. And if you find yourself living in the latter location, you should probably consider an in-home air purifier to help reduce exposer to pollutants post workout.
Boston, Massachusetts
We know that this part of the country is home to a huge marathon and a bunch of smart kids. But beyond that we can’t really name a reason to head to Boston for anything outdoorsy. And, for some reason – we’re not seeing anything in the Outdoor Magazine to convince us otherwise.
So if you’re into running or walking the city’s historic neighborhoods – you’ll be happy to know that “Beantown” isn’t in the top 25 for any of the three categories analyzed.
Ozone Pollution
Not on the list.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Not on the list.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Not on the list.
Maimi, Florida
Once again Outside really surprised us with this recommendation. But, you can probably only recommend Bend, Oregon and Tahoe on your list so many times before people call you out for a lack of creativity. Beyond that, and our original naive analysis of Miami’s outdoor activities being limited to tanning and wading in the surf, Outside’s analysis piqued our interest in Miami.
A 45 min drive will take you to the Everglades where you can kayak with crocodiles on the Hells Bay Canoe Trail. Closer to town you’ll find epic Cuban cuisine and Spanish Architecture. But, travel 30 minutes north and you’ll find yourself in Oleta River state park – a great spot for cycling, paddle boarding, and hiking around the 1,000 acre greenspace.
So, Outside surprised us again and added a city to our must visit list. But, how’s the air?
Ozone Pollution
While Miami doesn’t appear on the top polluted cities for Ozone, digging a little deeper will show you that the city receives a “C” grade from the American Lung Association. Which isn’t terrible, but its not perfect. It is important to mention though that Miami’s moderate ozone problems are improving.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Again Miami isn’t in the top 25. The city gets a passing grade from the American Lung Association – another tick in the pro-Miami column.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Short term pollution doesn’t seem to be a problem in Miami. Once again it’s nowhere in the top 25… and the city receives a “B” grade from the American Lung Association.
Little Rock, Arkansas
If you’re old enough to remember Bill Clinton’s presidency – you’ve probably heard of Little Rock. But, what kind of air quality and outdoor activities does Bill’s former home offer?
According to Outside’s article this city is located close to some outstanding cycling opportunities. And as somewhat avid cyclists that’s pretty much all you have to say to sell us on a city.
But how’s the air? It’s much much better than it used to be… and that keeps it off the top 25 most polluted cities list in every category.
Ozone Pollution
If you have a chance to look at an Ozone pollution graph for Little Rock you’ll see that they haven’t always had the best air quality. During the Clinton presidency the Ozone problem in his former home was getting worse by the year. Fast Forward a couple of decades and the number of high ozone days each year is fewer than five. That’s down from almost 40 days in 2002. Nicely done Little Rock – we’re bringing our bikes your way.
Year Round Particle Pollution
With a passing grade and numbers getting better each year you’ll obviously find Little Rock absent from the top 25 most polluted cities in this category.
Short Term Particle Pollution
From 2004 – 2008 Little Rock wasn’t a good place for short term particulate pollution problems. In fact it was pretty nasty. In 2019… its close to as good as you can get. The line on the American Lung Association’s site is dropping faster than health insurance prices in a socialist country.
Overall Little Rock Looks like a great place to be if you love bikes and breathing!
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway takes cyclist on a 51 mile loop of the city. Along the way you can stop at over a hundred great eateries, bars, and breweries. And when the mercury drops and snow starts falling there are plenty of opportunities to get outside.
Combine that with a bunch of parks and an outstanding arboretum residents of the MSP region are good to go when it comes to getting exercise outdoors. But what about the air they breath while pedaling away on that bike commute or weekend tour of the city.
Ozone Pollution
So, the Ozone data on the American Lung Association isn’t very comprehensive for Minneapolis. In fact there are only three data points. And all three of those are the best possible score. Sounds a little unlikely… but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. And they’re not included in the top 25 worst cities. So let’s call this one good for now.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Minneapolis / Hennepin County has a long term passing grade in this category. But, don’t assume that they’re resting on their laurels. The overall trend in the area is that air pollution is getting better each year.
Short Term Particle Pollution
About 20 years ago short term air pollution was a bit of a problem, but these days MSP residents don’t have to worry too much. They’re not on the naughty list so to speak and in this category the American Lung Association gives them a fairly impressive “B” grade.
Overall, we think this is an excellent pick by Outside Magazine. It’s clearly an outdoorsy location with plenty of activities locally and nearby. On top of that it looks like the air quality is pretty stellar as well.
Atlanta, Georgia
Here’s another city that we second guessed as residents of a region with abundant outdoor activities. So why did Outside include this metro in its list of best places to live.
Well, it looks like it’s primarily a good place to live from an economic standpoint and that neighborhoods are experiencing some improvements. When it comes to single track, there’s only 1.25 miles of legal trails to ride. There are some cool hike two hours north… but we don’t really think that compares well to other locations on the list. There is a 22 mile beltline trail for exploring on foot and by bike… but compared to MSP’s 50+ miles and Seattle’s Burke Gilman trail it’s a little short.
This leaves us a little perplexed. Maybe the air is ultra clean in Atlanta.
Ozone Pollution
Which city is just bad enough to make the Ozone list? You guessed it – it’s Atlanta. This begs the question is it bad that it’s on the list or good that its the least bad of the 25 cities? We’ll lean toward the latter, but from an air purifier perspective – if you buy one make sure it’s not spewing harmful ozone to the air in your home. Atlanta already has enough to make the list as it is. But overall ozone pollution is on the decline in the region. So that’s good news.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Atlanta is tied for 19th place with Indianapolis in this category. While not in the top ten, Atlanta’s appearance in this list and mediocre outdoor activities lead us to question Outside’s decision on this pick. Maybe we’re missing something… but for a publication focused on outdoor recreation (though their political coverage is increasing rapidly), we can’t spot the connection.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Atlanta totally redeems itself in this category. It’s absent from the top 25 worst cities list. Which to be honest is brings us a collective sigh of relief.
Overall… we don’t get it. Other than being a cool and growing city, Atlanta’s outdoor offerings are pretty unimpressive. We’ll have to assume that the author knows something we do not.
Denver, Colorado
Here we go… a cool city near the mountains with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Denver is exactly the type of place we’d expect to find on a list like this one. When it comes to biking, hiking, and other fun stuff the Mile High City is tough to beat. It is an expensive place to live thanks to decades of high earning transplants migrating to the area. Most estimates put the number near 100k in the past decade.
This growth fuels a crazy housing market, an epic beer scene, and enough activities to bring a show like Outdoor Retailer to the city.
The downside and surprise to some – Denver’s air quality is nothing to praise.
Ozone Pollution
Like SLC you’ll find Denver on the top 25 worst places in the ozone category. It sits at number 12… two spots higher than the similar spot in neighboring Utah.
Year Round Particle Pollution
It’s not a terrible place for year round pollution… but there was a big multi year gap in data a few years ago. The American Lung Association give the city a passing grade. But, when you think of all the outdoor activities taking place in Denver, you really wish it were better.
Short Term Particle Pollution
while not on the top 25 list in this category… Denver does earn a “D” grade in this category. Which is a little scary. If you’re in the area be sure to check the local air quality before you head out the front door for your daily jog or bike ride.
Overall, we are a little disappointed to see places like Denver (and Salt Lake City) on these lists. There’s just so many opportunities to get outside and have a good time. But, when you weigh mediocre air quality against the sheer amount of recreation – we still think Denver belongs on the list. Just consider getting a good air purifier for the home or office to help out on those bad days. If we lived in Denver we’d probably go with an AirMega purifier in an awesome loft downtown.
Los Angeles, California
This is surely a mistake, right? Maybe a biased opinion? How is LA on a best place to live list of any variety – let alone one that targets outdoor recreation enthusiasts. LA is polluted, plagued by traffic, and the only natural place they haven’t blighted with sprawl is the part with waves. We honestly don’t get it… unless sitting in traffic is now an outdoor recreational activity.
So what did Outside have to say? There’s the 67 mile Backbone Trail, a beach, some parks, and the Summer Olympics are returning in 2028. On paper that might sound passable, but as someone who has been to LA – it’s hardly a place I’d recommend to anyone with a garage full of camping gear, mountain bikes, or fishing gear.
It would be nice to stop there with the critique but we are talking about the intersectionality between outdoor activities, and air quality. So here we go…
Ozone Pollution
Los Angeles leads the the charge in the list of cities with an Ozone problem. That’s right LA is the very worst city in the United States of America when it comes to ozone pollution.
Year Round Particle Pollution
LA slips down the list to the 5th worst place in the country when it comes to year round air pollution. Though nearby Fresno, Visilia, and Bakersfield help keep Cali in 4 of the 5 spots for the worst year round air quality in the country.
Short Term Particle Pollution
It’s no surprise that LA sits in the third and final category in the American Lung Associations annual report. What is surprising is that its way down at #7 on the list. We assumed it would be higher.
Overall, this is the most perplexing City included in Outside Magazine’s 2019 top places to live. Maybe they’re trying to recapture some residents… in case you didn’t know more people leave the area each year than any other city in the country.
Charleston, South Carolina
We know food in this part of the country is incredible. Evidently it’s also a great place for people to live if they like being outside. So let’s but that LA recommendation debacle behind us and see what Charleston has to offer in terms of outdoor recreation and air quality.
According to Outside’s article Charleston isn’t known for challenging terrain to climb on a bike of any variety or on foot. The biggest hill in the area is a bridge that reaches 200 feet above sea level. But, don’t let the lack of hiking, biking, or running scare you away from Charleston. What it lacks in land-based recreation it makes up in paddling and water focused activities. Paddle boarding and kayaking are huge in the region and there’s so much awesomeness to see from the water.
When you’re done paddling around you can refuel with some of the country’s best cuisine and walk off the calories in one of the most beautiful cities in the entire USA.
So how is the air… based on a pretty high median household income, awesome food, and almost unrivaled flat water paddling this sounds like a great pick. Let’s take a look.
Ozone Pollution
Not in the top 25. Thats good news. The City’s overall grade is a solid “B” but we’d give them extra credit for a huge improvement over the past 20 years. Back in the 90’s the city averaged 10-20 bad days each year… fast forward to the past few years and they’re seeing 0 days to maybe two annually. Nice work Charleston.
Year Round Particle Pollution
Again the city is absent from the top 25 worst list. They receive a passing grade and from what we can see each year is getting better when it comes to overall particle pollution in the city.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Here’s where Charleston slips up a bit. They’re not on the “naughty list” but their overall grade is a “C” according to the American Lung Association. Their pollution graph is bouncing around a bit from year to year, but they still have a good buffer between current conditions and a failing grade.
Overall… we’re on board with this recommendation. Flat water paddling doesn’t get a ton of love. Charleston is a ridiculously cool city. And the food is insane. This recommendation goes a long way in the fight to redeem Outside from its ridiculous LA recommendation.
Reno, Nevada
A few years ago… maybe a decade or so… we’d be surprised to see Reno on a list like this one. However, we’re hearing a lot of good things about the city from friends who are heading there for outdoor activities, lower taxes, and more affordable housing.
With what we now know about Reno… we totally see why this city should be included in this list. Mountain biking, snow sports, you name it this town is pretty close to some great terrain for outdoor recreation.
Based on what we’ve seen on a handful of visits we expect to see good air quality in the area… maybe a little of the problems other mountain towns see with inversion layers. But overall without looking at the report we’d assume this is a good pick on Outside’s part.
So how’s the air?
Ozone Pollution
Not on the list…
Year Round Particle Pollution
Not on the list…
Short Term Particle Pollution
Once again… not on the list.
New York, New York
Here we go again. Outside was starting to redeem itself near the end… then they make what we presume to be a ridiculous recommendation.
In popular culture New York City is the antithesis of what we’d presume to be an outdoorsman’s dream city. Sure you’re “hiking” everywhere, but that’s because people don’t have cars. There’s a big park in the middle too. But, pretty much everyone we know from the City that Never Sleeps shares a view of the great outdoors with famous New Yorkers like Jim Gaffigan. By the way if you haven’t heard him talk about camping… give it a listen.
Ozone Pollution
Okay we assumed this would be right behind LA, but New York City is roughly midway down the list at number 10 when it comes to Ozone pollution. Nothing to brag about, but better than expected.
Year Round Particle Pollution
While not on the list… New York still has some issues in this category. This year they’re getting a passing grade, but they’re pretty close to the “fail” threshold. The good news is that they’re trending downward, so hopefully that gap widens a bit more in years to come. Either way we’d get a nice purifier and learn to keep it clean… the Big Apple hasn’t completely cleaned up its act.
Short Term Particle Pollution
Surprisingly to us at least… the city is not on the list in this category. It would have been a couple of decades ago, but something changed around 2007 or 2008 and the solution really started to drop. In fact this year the American Lung Association gave them an “A.” Nice work New York. You definitely don’t belong on an outdoor lovers best places to live list. But, your air quality is looking pretty appealing.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we’re a little disappointed – but pleased with this list. We’re disappointed by the lack of justification in recommending some of these places to Outdoor Magazine readers. Sure she are spot on, some are a pleasant surprise, but 2-3 are ridiculous.
But, we are actually pleased to see that none of our favorite places are on the list. For too many years awesome towns have been getting a little too much love from lists like these. And, while some will say that population growth and the CA migration is ruining cities like Bend, Boise, Bozeman, etc. We’re just happy to see some variety in the recommendations.
So to wrap things up… good work Reno, Tucson, and a few others. You totally deserve the attention.