NEW YORK CITY—In honor of Earth Month, RealtyHop recently compiled a list of the Top 100 Greenest Cities in America and evaluated each city based on its sustainability, policy and infrastructure, energy, environment, and affordability.
Among their key findings, New York City was one of two east coast cities on the Top 10 list. “While the Concrete Jungle does not seem inherently green, it scores higher than any other city when it comes to sustainability,” Realtyhop says. “New York is the only city where over three-quarters of the workforce commutes via public transportation. However, New York City is also the least affordable city on the Top 10 list, and owners will pay more to live here.”
The west coast also topped the charts. They found that Portland is the greenest city in America, boasting high energy, policy, and environmental scores. “The city optimizes its location to harness wind and other forms of renewable energy, helping homeowners save money and live sustainably. The city actively works to achieve a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 by enforcing new sustainable initiatives across the energy, development, and transportation sectors. Portland also features a relatively affordable housing market compared to other major cities, with a median list price of $459,950,” RealtyHop says.
Those looking to live in an environmentally friendly city can also consider purchasing in San Francisco, which ranked No. 3 on their list. “Homeowners adhere to robust recycling regulations, and residents can find sets of three collection bins across the city for trash, recycling, and composting. The city also includes multiple refiller farmers’ markets and dedicates significant resources to policy infrastructure that adopts ordinances and innovative initiatives.”