We may be biased, but Ocala, Florida is one of the most affordable and best cities to live in. Now, it seems there’s another reason to love Ocala! As stated in an article recently published on realtor.com, a new study declares Ocala to be the third cleanest city to live in in the United States. The study analyzed 150 of the biggest metro areas before determining the top 10 cleanest cities. Naples, Florida also made the list, landing in the number one spot.

Here’s what the article had to say about Ocala:

“Tucked in Central Florida’s horse country, Ocala (No. 3) is home to a national forest with the world’s largest sand pine tree habitat—a glorious 673 square miles of vegetation, absorbing carbon dioxide in the air and pumping out fresh oxygen. Not enough for you? Check out the crystal-clear water of Silver Springs, best known for its star turn in the (many) underwater fight scenes of the classic Sean Connery–era James Bond movie ‘Thunderball.'”

So, how did the study determine which cities were the least polluted? Several different factors, ranging from the number of greenhouse emissions to water quality, were analyzed to determine which cities are the cleanest. According to the realtor.com article written by Yuqing Pan, the study showed, “The cleanest cities are typically set amid agricultural communities, with a national forest or natural reserve nearby. Meanwhile, the most polluted cities are former industrial hubs in the Rust Belt and along the Gulf of Mexico.”

If you find yourself curious about the study or what other cities made the list, you can check out the full article here.

Convinced Ocala is the right place for you? Triple Crown Homes has homes and homesites available in many amazing communities in the Ocala area, including beautiful Evergreen Estates. Whether you’re looking for a move-in ready home or to build a brand-new home from scratch, we’ve got you covered! To learn more about our available homes or building process, contact our team. We can’t wait to hear from you!