House & Home - Most and Least Lead-Paint Vulnerable Cities

 

Around 35% of U.S. homes contain lead paint, so in which cities is the risk of lead paint exposure — and the need for a lead paint inspection — greatest? To find out, Paint Gnome ranked 2024’s Most Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities. With over 410,000 annual deaths in the U.S. attributed to lead contamination, the EPA is looking to tighten regulations on lead paint in homes and childcare facilities. They compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 2 categories. They looked at the number and share of homes built in the years when lead paint use was common. They also considered access to certified lead-based paint inspection, risk assessment, and abatement firms, among 8 total metrics. See the 10 most (and 10 least) lead paint-vulnerable cities below, followed by key stats from the report.

Most Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities Least Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities Rank City Rank City 1 Cicero, IL 1 Frisco, TX 2 Chicago, IL 2 Surprise, AZ 3 Buffalo, NY 3 Castle Rock, CO 4 Reading, PA 4 Fishers, IN 5 St. Louis, MO 5 Gilbert, AZ 6 Philadelphia, PA 6 Cedar Park, TX 7 Detroit, MI 7 Palm Coast, FL 8 Somerville, MA 8 Murrieta, CA 9 Cleveland, OH 9 Goodyear, AZ 10 Scranton, PA 10 Buckeye, AZ Key Insights: Northeastern and Midwestern cities with older homes like Buffalo, New York (No. 3), and St. Louis (No. 5) finished among the most vulnerable places for residential lead paint. 13 states — plus Washington, D.C. (No. 58) — landed in the most hazardous half, including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Every city representing Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island scored in the top 100 most vulnerable cities. Some cities — such as Chicago (No. 2) and Philadelphia (No. 6) — stand out with abundant lead paint inspection and abatement professionals. Despite a clear need, smaller cities like Windy City suburb Cicero, Illinois (No. 1), Somerville, Massachusetts (No. 8), and Scranton, Pennsylvania (No. 10), lack professional lead paint removal services. Younger cities out West like Castle Rock, Colorado (No. 498), and Surprise, Arizona (No. 499), finished at the healthier end of our ranking alongside Frisco, Texas, as the least vulnerable. Every city in Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona — except Tucson (No. 242) — scored in the safer half. Most homes in these cities are not old enough to have prevalent lead paint hazards. Helpful Links: See Where Your City Ranks Full Study Article Expert Insights Methodology What is Paint Gnome? For interior, exterior, and floor painting, Paint Gnome connects you to the best residential painting professionals in your area. Paint Gnome is part of the Home Gnome family of home services sites. More from Paint Gnome: How to Test for Lead Paint Painting Safety Tips How Long Does Paint Last, and How Can You Tell If It’s Still Good? How to Choose a Painting Contractor How to Get Paint Off Skin How to Dispose of Paint Safely 14 Pro Tips for Painting a Room