The Best Cities for Green Spaces in America

Whether you need to clear your head or have room to do outdoor activities, having a nearby green space to your apartment can be a great amenity that's often overlooked.

Research shows that spending time outside can lead to significant health benefits such as reduced fatigue, depression, anxiety and lower blood pressure. Being surrounded by trees and nature is beneficial to your well-being and mental health.

Beyond the apartment building's amenities, where can you find a nearby park to run, walk your dog or have a picnic? Craving some greenery? We rounded up the 10 best cities for green spaces based on the ratio of parks to the municipal population.

You'll find some surprises on the list as we take you from coast to coast.

10. Rochester, NY

Located on Lake Ontario, Rochester is the third most populous city in New York state after New York City and Buffalo. The city is famous for its universities and being the birthplace of important brands like Kodak, Western Union, Xerox and others.

Beyond a thriving economy, residents of Rochester also get to enjoy its many green spaces and parks. Out of 44 parks in the city, Highland Park, Cobb's Hill and Genesee Valley are especially scenic, with large trees providing ample shade throughout the trails.

Every May, the city hosts the Lilac Festival, when more than 500 varieties of lilacs bloom in the gardens, the largest collection in the country.

Thinking of flying north and settling down in upstate New York? If so, you can find a one-bedroom unit for $1,120 on average.

9. Omaha, NE

Omaha offers more than 125 miles of trails for bicyclists and hikers, including the country-wide American Discovery Trail and dog parks. Within the city limits, you can find 101 parks for its 466,893 residents (per the last census). The Missouri River flows through the city, providing several picnic opportunities.

The Midwestern city is home to five Fortune 500 companies and Forbes recently named the city one of the best places for business and careers.

If that sounds like a dream come true and you're ready to unpack your bags in Omaha for good, you can find a one-bedroom unit for $896 on average.

8. Saint Paul, MN

One half of the Twin Cities, Saint Paul is the state capital and second-most populous city in Minnesota, according to the U.S. Census. The city's business hub has won several accolades as the best place to live.

Winter doesn't stop its residents from flocking to the city's many parks — an impressive one per 4,576 residents. You have an adventure at the nearby Wabasha Street Caves, Lake Como, Indian Mounds Park and others lining the Mississippi River. Nearby Minneapolis offers even more outdoor opportunities.

Ready to enjoy Saint Paul's green spaces? Get a one-bedroom apartment for $1,323 on average and immerse yourself in the city's thriving culture.

7. Tampa, FL

Tampa is located about halfway down the Sunshine State on the Gulf coast. The city had a recent economic boom that increased business opportunities, especially in the IT industry. Another great amenity? Plenty of green spaces in the city.

The city has one park for every 3,854 residents. Don't miss the Bayshore Boulevard Linear Trail, a 10-foot wide sidewalk with beautiful views of the bay and a great place to catch the sunset. And a fun fact: the world's smallest official park is also here, Snow Park.

Tampa's nightlife and proximity to the Gulf make it an attractive place to settle down. At an affordable $1,287, you can grab a one-bedroom unit in the city.

6. Miami, FL

Miami is more than nightclubs and beaches. The city also has an expansive network of parks per capita. If you love the outdoors and year-round warm weather, Miami is the right fit for you. You'll have access to outdoor spaces beyond your apartment pool.

The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is one of the city's most beautiful outdoor spots with colorful gardens and stunning architecture.

Don't miss out on Bayfront Park, a waterfront green space. It's the perfect spot for a picnic with local delicacies like Cuban pastries, fresh juice and sandwiches.

However, rents are a bit high in the Magic City with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,865 per month.

5. Simi Valley, CA

Simi Valley is located about 40 miles from Los Angeles and it offers an oasis of green and outdoor spaces. Surrounded by the Santa Susana Mountain range and the Simi Hills, Simi Valley provides breathtaking views and more than 30 parks. That means there's a park for every 3,524 residents.

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District inventories the open green spaces, parks and trail systems for hiking, biking, wildlife preservation and horseback riding.

If you hear the mountains calling and you want to head to the Golden State, you can rent a one-bedroom unit for an average of $1,904.

4. Minneapolis, MN

While the city is famous for its epic winters, Minneapolis comes alive as the warmer weather arrives and its residents flock to its many parks. At 124 parks, Minneapolis provides one park for every 3,406 residents.

Minneapolis is the other half of the Twin Cities, separated by the Mississippi River. The city boasts many creeks, wetlands, 13 lakes and several parks, including Minnehaha Park, with its impressive waterfalls and biking trails.

The metropolitan area is also one of the largest economic centers in the Midwest and made the Top 20 for best places to live in 2019. If you're looking to nab a one-bedroom unit in the city, it will set you back $1,536 on average per month.

3. Lubbock, TX

Famous for being the birthplace of music legend Buddy Holly, Lubbock sits in the middle of Texas' high plains and the state's wine country. Did you know that this area produces more than 75 percent of the grapes used in Texas wine?

Beyond wineries, the city of Lubbock also offers plenty of green spaces. Parks line several of the rivers, lakes and streams around the city. A sight not to miss is the American Wind Power Center's 100-plus historic windmills, a history museum about wind power.

At 77 parks, you'll find the perfect outdoor space for your next afternoon walk. Can you picture yourself doing so? You can rent a one-bedroom apartment in this Texas town for $714 on average.

2. Dayton, OH

Located on the western part of Ohio, Dayton offers both affordable housing and green spaces as amenities. The city currently offers a one bedroom apartment for $786.

Dayton has had a great place in the history books. As the birthplace of aviation, the Wright brothers built their first powered airplane in 1903 within the city limits. It saw a manufacturing boost during World War II and was involved in the Manhattan Project as the Dayton Project.

Better yet, along with riveting history and a recently revitalized downtown area, Dayton offers a wide variety of green spaces and parks to its residents. The city has 43 parks for its population of a little above 140,000 residents.

No wonder the locals have nicknamed Dayton "the gem city."

1. Columbia, SC

The capital city of South Carolina, and second largest city in the state, will keep your attention with its manicured parks and you won't miss the beach one bit.

The 26,276-acre Congaree National Park boasts several trails and outdoor sports while the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has beautiful expansive botanical gardens. The Congaree River flows through the city, as well.

Columbia has 42 parks within its limits — that's a park for every 3,169 Sandlappers in the state. And with the beach only a 2-hour drive away, you don't have to choose between parks or sand.

While the city sees very hot summers, Columbia is a metropolitan city with a lot to offer, from the Fort Jackson Army Base to a quaint downtown main street and local universities. A one-bedroom will cost you around $998 on average.

Still thinking of the outdoors?

If you're still aching for some fresh air and shaded parks, check out our list of the 50 best cities for green spaces.

Rank	City	State	Count of Parks	Population	Per Capita
1	Columbia	SC	42	133,114	3,169
2	Dayton	OH	43	140,371	3,264
3	Lubbock	TX	77	253,888	3,297
4	Minneapolis	MN	124	422,331	3,406
5	Simi Valley	CA	36	126,878	3,524
6	Miami	FL	127	463,347	3,648
7	Tampa	FL	100	385,430	3,854
8	Saint Paul	MN	67	306,621	4,576
9	Omaha	NE	101	466,893	4,623
10	Rochester	NY	44	208,046	4,728
11	Cincinnati	OH	53	301,301	5,685
12	West Palm Beach	FL	19	110,222	5,801
13	Orlando	FL	48	280,257	5,839
14	Saint Louis	MO	52	308,626	5,935
15	Lakeland	FL	18	108,054	6,003
16	Cleveland	OH	59	385,525	6,534
17	Honolulu	HI	53	350,395	6,611
18	Sunnyvale	CA	23	153,656	6,681
19	Milwaukee	WI	85	595,351	7,004
20	Concord	CA	17	129,783	7,634
21	Irvine	CA	36	277,453	7,707
22	Fairfield	CA	15	116,266	7,751
23	Salt Lake City	UT	24	200,544	8,356
24	Fayetteville	NC	25	209,889	8,396
25	Syracuse	NY	17	143,396	8,435
26	Denton	TX	16	136,268	8,517
27	Phoenix	AZ	187	1,626,078	8,696
28	Hialeah	FL	27	239,673	8,877
29	Buffalo	NY	29	258,612	8,918
30	Seattle	WA	80	724,745	9,059
31	Columbia	MO	13	121,717	9,363
32	Eugene	OR	18	168,916	9,384
33	Augusta	GA	21	197,166	9,389
34	Victorville	CA	13	122,441	9,419
35	Denver	CO	74	704,621	9,522
36	Green Bay	WI	11	105,116	9,556
37	El Paso	TX	71	683,577	9,628
38	Pittsburgh	PA	31	302,407	9,755
39	Durham	NC	27	267,743	9,916
40	Clovis	CA	11	109,691	9,972
41	Lowell	MA	11	111,346	10,122
42	Gainesville	FL	13	132,249	10,173
43	Madison	WI	25	255,214	10,209
44	Wichita	KS	38	390,591	10,279
45	Independence	MO	11	117,306	10,664
46	Lancaster	CA	15	160,316	10,688
47	Baton Rouge	LA	21	225,374	10,732
48	San Angelo	TX	9	100,119	11,124
49	Atlanta	GA	43	486,290	11,309
50	Sacramento	CA	44	501,901	11,407

Top 10 cities based on the total number of parks

Looking for the cities with the most parks, regardless of population? Here are those rankings for you.

Rank	City	State	Number of Parks
1	Phoenix	AZ	187
2	Chicago	IL	164
3	New York	NY	136
4	Miami	FL	127
5	Minneapolis	MN	124
6	Houston	TX	122
7	Los Angeles	CA	102
8	Omaha	NE	101
9	Tampa	FL	100
10	Milwaukee	WI	85

Methodology

We took cities with populations more than 100,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2018 estimate and used 8 million commercially available listings to add up the green spaces in each city. We then divided each city's population by this total to determine a ratio of the number of parks for each resident to come up with our quantitative ranking.

The rent information included in this article is based on June 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on ApartmentGuide.com and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

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