Seasonal allergies are nothing to sniff at.
Spring allergy season is worsening with each passing year, as winds carrying pollen from other regions, combined with warmer temperatures, are making symptoms more unpredictable and unbearable.
And with some parts of the country now experiencing pollen year-round, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has ranked the top 20 worst places to live if you suffer from pollen allergies.
The report focuses on tree, grass and weed pollen counts throughout the year, noting that warmer temperatures can trap heat in urban areas, which can increase air pollution and stimulate pollen production.
The foundation also provides tips and treatments to relieve allergy symptoms, as well as explores the impact of climate change and other factors like mold.
The 2026 report named Boise, Idaho, as the allergy capital, highlighting that extreme weather was a contributing factor for several Western cities appearing at the top of the list.
Top 20 worst places to live with pollen allergies
- Boise, Idaho
- San Diego, California
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Provo, Utah
- Rochester, NY
- Wichita, Kansas
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Ogden, Utah
- Spokane, Washington
- Greenville, South Carolina
- San Francisco, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Richmond, Virginia
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Toledo, Ohio
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Lakeland, Florida
Utah has the most cities on the list, with three areas experiencing worse-than-average pollen counts.
Meanwhile, Boise took the top spot from Wichita, which had been No. 1 three years in a row. Wichita is now No. 6, scoring better-than-average in terms of all pollen this year.
In previous years, pollen afflicted many of those in the Southeast region of the US, due to warmer and more humid climates.
But thanks to significant weather phenomena like atmospheric rivers, warmer temperatures and drought, the West experienced more pollen spikes and longer pollen seasons.
Extra rain can cause plants to grow faster and earlier, while higher temperatures extend pollination season and dry, windy conditions keep pollen in the air longer.
Trees generally produce the most pollen from February through April, however, some southern states can begin producing as early as December or January and peak at multiple times during the year.
More than 106 million people suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma as a result of pollen, according to the AAFA.
Allergies caused by pollen can lead to debilitating symptoms for many, including itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing and coughing that lasts for weeks or months.
Plant pollen can worsen several conditions, with several millions experiencing nasal polyps, eczema and eosinophilic esophagitis, a chronic inflammatory disease where white blood cells build up in the esophagus.
The report also ranked cities by over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine use and access to board-certified allergists or immunologists.
Most first-line treatments like nasal sprays, oral antihistamines and eye drops are available at local pharmacies.
It’s recommended to start using these treatments sooner rather than later, as pollen counts are highest in the morning.
If OTC medications aren’t cutting it, allergy shots may be recommended, along with lifestyle changes like staying indoors on high pollen days, bringing medications or inhalers wherever you go and showering and changing clothes after spending time outside.
Washing bed sheets once a week in warm water can also help limit exposure to allergens, according to experts.
