Nine Illinois Cities Rank Among the Dirtiest in America — Full List Inside

If you’ve ever looked around Rockford and thought, Wow, people treat littering like it’s a competitive sport, congratulations, you’re not imagining things. A new LawnStarter study just confirmed that nine Illinois cities made the Dirtiest Cities in America list.

How Illinois Cities Got Graded

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LawnStarter ranked 303 U.S. cities using 20 different environmental and public health metrics. Categories included pollution, living conditions, infrastructure, and my personal favorite — resident dissatisfaction. As reported by thetelegraph.com, the data came from sources like the EPA and U.S. Census Bureau, and in this case, a higher score means you’re dirtier.

Rockford’s Trashy Claim to Fame

Rockford earned the ninth-highest landfill waste per capita in the entire country. That’s a polite way of saying we throw away a lot, and sometimes it doesn’t even make it to the landfill, just into those convenient potholes doubling as trash bins.

The Nation’s Top Five Dirtiest Cities

Before we get to the Illinois hall of shame, here’s who took home the gold (or maybe the mold):

1. San Bernardino, CA
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Detroit, MI
4. Reading, PA
5. Ontario, CA

READ MORE: Only One Illinois City Ranked High on 2025’s Safest Cities List

Illinois’ Filthy Nine

Here’s where our state’s cities landed on the list:

(And remember, a higher score means you’re dirtier)

• Schaumburg – 33
• Chicago – 34
• Rockford – 62
• Naperville – 71
• Aurora – 110
• Springfield – 156
• Champaign – 231
• Bloomington – 264

The award for Illinois’ dirtiest city goes to..

• Peoria – 276

Hey, my fellow Rockfordians, maybe next year we’ll aim for “Most Improved.” Or at least start with not using the road as a garbage can.

READ MORE: The 22 Best Places to Live in Illinois for 2025, Ranked