{"id":2705,"date":"2026-05-27T18:31:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=2705"},"modified":"2026-05-27T18:31:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:31:50","slug":"lawn-watering-costs-are-highest-in-these-cities-see-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=2705","title":{"rendered":"Lawn watering costs are highest in these cities \u2014 see the list"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo by Soeren Stache\/picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/span> <\/p> <\/div><\/div> <\/div>

With more than 60% of the contiguous U.S. in drought as the 2026 lawn care season begins, a new Lawn Love ranking reveals which cities homeowners pay the most to keep their lawns green.<\/p>

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By the numbers:<\/p>

Outdoor watering accounts for a major share of household water consumption in the U.S., with an estimated 30% of residential water use going toward landscape irrigation. As drought conditions persist across much of the country, the cost of maintaining a green lawn is becoming an increasingly significant expense for homeowners.<\/p>

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Across the 500 largest U.S. cities, households spend an average of 1.15% of their annual income on water bills. However, costs vary widely depending on location. Residents in Flint, Michigan, for example, pay about $459 per year for water, while households in Newton, Massachusetts, face annual bills averaging $2,160.<\/p>

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The financial strain is also growing nationwide. Water and sewer bills rose 5.1% in 2025, outpacing inflation and adding pressure to household budgets as utility costs continue climbing.<\/p>

Dig deeper:<\/p>

The rankings were based on a range of climate and landscaping factors, including drought risk, rainfall levels, and the length of the growing season.\u00a0<\/p>

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Researchers also considered average yard size, the water demands of the most common regional grass types, and whether cities encourage or limit the use of rainwater harvesting systems.<\/p>