Newark, New Jersey, has been named the worst city in the US for getting a good night’s sleep, according to new research analysing environmental conditions and health factors across the country.
The study, conducted by wellness company Mood, evaluated 343 American cities with populations of at least 100,000 people. Researchers created a composite sleep environment index based on three main criteria: average light pollution levels, average noise pollution, and the proportion of adult residents experiencing frequent mental distress.
Data sourced from the US Department of Transportation, the Earth Observation Group, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed a stark divide between heavily urbanised transport hubs and quieter suburban areas.
Newark finished bottom of the national index, recording a sleep environment score of just 12.01 out of 100. The city also recorded the highest average light pollution levels in the country, at 4.88 lux of artificial ground light detected from space. This is equivalent to the brightness of more than 48 full moons, as a full moon typically produces around 0.1 lux.
Transport infrastructure also contributed to Newark’s poor ranking. More than 78% of the city exceeded the 50 adjusted decibels threshold for transportation noise over a 24-hour period, a level comparable to the persistent hum of a household refrigerator. In addition, 20% of adult residents in Newark reported experiencing frequent mental distress.
America’s 10 worst cities for sleep environment
| Rank | City | Area averaging ≥50 dB noise pollution (%) | Average nighttime light pollution (lux) | Adults reporting frequent mental distress (%) | Sleep environment score (out of 100) |
| 1 | Newark, NJ | 78.05% | 4.88 | 20.0% | 12.01 |
| 2 | Elizabeth, NJ | 87.74% | 4.70 | 17.8% | 16.52 |
| 3 | Inglewood, CA | 81.59% | 3.57 | 18.2% | 25.53 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | 72.43% | 3.80 | 16.0% | 34.49 |
| 5 | Paterson, NJ | 29.76% | 4.09 | 18.6% | 40.69 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | 18.29% | 2.78 | 22.6% | 41.64 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | 42.23% | 2.97 | 18.9% | 42.79 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | 45.88% | 2.38 | 19.6% | 43.28 |
| 9 | Ontario, CA | 51.56% | 2.65 | 17.8% | 44.89 |
| 10 | Dearborn, MI | 22.44% | 2.53 | 21.5% | 45.31 |
Elizabeth, New Jersey, ranked 2nd worst overall, recording the study’s highest noise level, with 87.74% of its area exposed to constant transport noise. Detroit, Michigan, tied with College Station, Texas, for the highest rate of adult mental distress, at 22.6%.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Scottsdale, Arizona, ranked as the best US city for sleep, achieving an overall score of 92.87 out of 100. Scottsdale recorded the lowest proportion of adults experiencing frequent mental distress, at 12.1%, along with minimal noise and light disturbance.
America’s 10 best cities for sleep environment
| Rank | City | Area averaging ≥50 dB noise pollution (%) | Average nighttime light pollution (lux) | Adults reporting frequent mental distress (%) | Sleep environment score (out of 100) |
| 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | 8.94% | 0.75 | 12.1% | 92.87 |
| 2 | Carmel, IN | 5.76% | 1.09 | 12.5% | 90.42 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 3.78% | 0.38 | 14.5% | 89.84 |
| 4 | Fremont, CA | 13.72% | 0.66 | 12.7% | 89.70 |
| 5 | Peoria, AZ | 4.79% | 0.48 | 14.5% | 88.74 |
| 6 | Bellevue, WA | 13.03% | 0.97 | 12.5% | 88.48 |
| 7 | Goodyear, AZ | 6.58% | 0.50 | 14.4% | 88.20 |
| 8 | Surprise, AZ | 5.40% | 0.68 | 14.2% | 88.05 |
| 9 | Rio Rancho, NM | 2.43% | 0.32 | 15.4% | 87.90 |
| 10 | Buckeye, AZ | 1.89% | 0.13 | 15.9% | 87.84 |
Expert insights on sleep quality
David Charles, chief executive of Mood, emphasised the importance of restful surroundings: “Sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health and overall mental well-being, since it helps you recharge and recover from the stresses of the day. However, not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy good sleep, with 1 in 7 Americans having trouble falling asleep, and 1 in 6 having trouble staying asleep. Your bedroom should be as quiet, calm, and dark as possible, and preferably at a cool temperature. The less this applies, the harder most people are going to find it to fall asleep. A good environment for sleep is critical for getting a good night’s sleep. While you can change the sleeping environment within your home, there is only so much you can do if you live in a noisy neighborhood or where there is a large amount of light pollution.”
“We found that Newark’s low score is largely due to severe levels of noise and light pollution, which stem from the fact that Newark is a major transportation hub for the New York City metro area. It has one of the busiest airports in the country in Newark Liberty and has many major highways running through the city limits like I-95. It also has extensive heavy rail networks transporting goods through the area, only adding to the noise. Finally, Newark was the brightest city on average in the study, and this was partly due to Newark’s high population density, and partly due to the airport and transportation infrastructure adding to the glow.
“Scottsdale, on the other hand, performed so well because of relatively few major transport routes passing through the city limits, a relatively low population density, and excellent scores for mental health. Scottsdale is an affluent suburban commuter city in the Phoenix metro area, with many areas still left as undeveloped desert. This low intensity suburban development contributes to lower levels of light pollution in the area, plus it moves a lot of noise pollution away from where people live. The high average income for people in the area also helps with mental health. Better incomes generally give people less stress and more security, which usually contributes to better mental health, plus people with high incomes will be less likely to work shifts or other unusual hours, further helping with mental health and sleep schedules.”
Overall, Newark, New Jersey, was identified as the worst US city for sleep, with severe light and noise pollution compounded by high levels of reported mental distress.