Best Climates for Living
How to evaluate US climates using NOAA data — temperature ranges, precipitation, humidity, sunshine, and what the numbers actually reveal about livability.
Key Takeaway
Climate preference is partly subjective, but NOAA data reveals consistent patterns: most people prioritize moderate year-round temperatures, low humidity in summer, sufficient sunshine, and predictable (not extreme) precipitation. Pacific coastal cities and higher-elevation inland cities score best on composite comfort metrics. Humidity and precipitation frequency matter as much as raw temperature numbers.
The Four Dimensions of Climate Comfort
When evaluating a city's climate for long-term living, four dimensions matter most: temperature range (how extreme the seasonal swing is), summer heat and humidity (peak discomfort), winter severity (cold, snow, and grey skies), and precipitation character (frequency, type, and seasonality). NOAA climate normals provide data for all four.
The ideal city in each dimension looks roughly like this: a temperature range that stays between 40°F and 85°F for most of the year, summer humidity low enough that 90°F still feels bearable, winters that don't require months of heavy snow removal, and rain that falls in moderate amounts without dominating the calendar. Very few US cities hit all four targets — the tradeoffs are real.
Temperature: Annual Range vs. Seasonal Extremes
The most important temperature metric for relocation is not the annual average — it is the annual range. A city averaging 60°F annually could achieve that with mild, stable conditions (San Francisco, CA: roughly 52°F winter, 63°F summer) or with extreme seasonal swings (Denver, CO: 33°F January average, 88°F July average). Both might "average" similarly but feel radically different to live in.
NOAA climate normals give you the monthly high, low, and mean temperature for every month, making the range explicit. Look at the coldest month's average low and the warmest month's average high — the gap between those numbers tells you more about what daily life feels like than any annual average. Browse city pages on PlainClimate for full monthly temperature profiles.
| Temperature Range | Examples | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<30°F swing) | San Diego, Miami | Very mild, stable seasons |
| Moderate (30-50°F swing) | Seattle, Raleigh | Distinct but moderate seasons |
| Large (50-70°F swing) | Denver, Kansas City | Strong seasonal contrast |
| Extreme (>70°F swing) | Minneapolis, Bismarck | Harsh winters, warm summers |
Precipitation: Totals, Frequency, and Type
Annual precipitation totals range from under 10 inches in desert Southwest cities to over 60 inches in the humid Southeast. But raw totals can be misleading. What matters for day-to-day quality of life is how rain and snow fall: in brief intense bursts, in sustained grey drizzle, or in concentrated seasons.
The Pacific Northwest is the classic example: Portland and Seattle have moderate annual totals but persistent winter rain that dominates the grey-sky months from November through March. Meanwhile, Phoenix gets similar or less annual precipitation than Seattle but concentrated in monsoon bursts in July-August and brief winter rains, leaving the vast majority of days sunny and clear.
Snowfall matters most for winter livability. Cities with 20-40 inches of annual snow (Denver, Salt Lake City) have infrastructure built for it and typically rapid melt from sunshine. Cities with 60-120 inches (Buffalo, Syracuse) require much more intensive snow management. Check snowfall data alongside temperatures on city pages — a city that's 30°F in January with 5 inches of snow is very different from one that's 28°F with 80 inches.
See precipitation and snowfall rankings to compare US cities across these dimensions.
Sunshine and Cloud Cover
Sunshine hours are a frequently underestimated factor in climate satisfaction. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mood, energy levels, and outdoor activity are all significantly influenced by how many sunny days a city gets. Phoenix, Arizona leads US cities with over 300 sunny days per year. Seattle, Washington averages only about 150 sunny days — ranking among the least sunny major US cities despite mild temperatures.
The sunniest regions of the US are the Desert Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, southern California) followed by the High Plains states. The cloudiest regions are the Great Lakes corridor (Michigan, Ohio, western New York, northwest Pennsylvania), the Pacific Northwest coast, and parts of Alaska. The Southeast gets a lot of sunshine despite substantial rainfall — it comes in short bursts, not all-day overcast.
For cities with cloud cover data in PlainClimate, the city detail pages show percentage of possible sunshine from NOAA hourly observations.
Humidity: The Often-Overlooked Variable
Humidity fundamentally changes how temperature is experienced. In high-humidity environments (Gulf Coast, Southeast, Midwest in summer), a 90°F day can feel like over 100°F because moisture in the air prevents sweat from evaporating efficiently. In the dry Southwest, 100°F can feel far more bearable because sweat evaporates immediately, providing rapid cooling.
The most comfortable summer climates tend to be either moderate temperature (Pacific Coast, Mountain West above 5,000 feet) or hot-but-dry (interior Southwest before monsoon season). The least comfortable summer climates combine heat with high humidity: Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Washington DC, and St. Louis all have "feels like" temperatures that regularly exceed 100°F on summer afternoons.
Winter humidity matters too — dry air can cause respiratory irritation and discomfort at cold temperatures, while humid cold feels more penetrating. The "wind chill" effect (how wind speed amplifies cold) is separate from humidity but similarly makes raw temperatures an incomplete picture of winter comfort.
Using PlainClimate for Relocation Research
PlainClimate's data makes it practical to compare specific cities across all these dimensions simultaneously. Start with the comfort score rankings to find cities that score well on composite livability — these represent the best compromise across temperature, precipitation, humidity, and extremes. Then drill into individual city pages to check the monthly profile for any cities that make your list.
Key things to check on a city's climate page:
- Annual temperature range: Compare January mean low to July mean high
- Precipitation pattern: Monthly totals show whether rain is year-round or seasonal
- Annual snowfall: Total inches per year and which months carry the bulk
- Growing season: Frost dates tell you about shoulder-season severity
- Comfort score: The composite metric integrating multiple variables
Also browse state pages for regional context before narrowing to specific cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What climate variables matter most for where you live?
Research on climate preferences and migration patterns consistently points to four key variables: year-round temperature range (how extreme the seasonal swing is), summer heat (peak temperatures and humidity), winter cold (how severe and prolonged), and precipitation character (how often it rains and in what amounts). Sunshine hours and storm frequency (severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes) round out the picture. Most people weight temperature comfort highest, followed by precipitation type — rain versus snow — and then humidity.
Which US region has the best climate for most people?
Survey data and internal migration patterns consistently favor the Pacific Coast (coastal California and the Pacific Northwest) and parts of the Mountain West (Colorado Front Range, high-desert New Mexico) for climate satisfaction. Coastal California offers mild temperatures year-round with low humidity. The Pacific Northwest has mild, rainy winters but spectacular summers. However, "best" is genuinely subjective — people from northern states often prefer warm, sunny climates that others find oppressively hot. PlainClimate's comfort score captures broad preference patterns, but your personal tolerance for heat, cold, rain, and humidity should guide the search.
What does humidity do to perceived temperature?
Humidity dramatically affects how temperature feels. High relative humidity (above 60-70%) slows sweat evaporation, which is the body's primary cooling mechanism. A 90°F day with 80% humidity in Houston, Texas feels significantly more oppressive than a 100°F day in Phoenix, Arizona at 10% humidity — which is why meteorologists use the "heat index" (or "feels like" temperature) to capture this. For relocation purposes, cities in the humid Southeast and Midwest can feel brutally hot in summer even at temperatures that would be comfortable in the dry Southwest. Check city pages on PlainClimate for humidity data where available.
Is it better to live somewhere with more or less rain?
This depends heavily on how the rain falls. Many people are more affected by rain frequency than rain totals. Seattle, Washington averages about 38 inches of rain per year — less than Atlanta, Georgia's 52 inches — yet Seattle feels much rainier because its precipitation comes as persistent drizzle across many days, particularly in winter. Atlanta gets its rain in intense but short thunderstorm bursts, leaving most days sunny. If you dislike overcast skies and grey days, high precipitation frequency matters more than total inches. If you dislike severe thunderstorms, the distribution pattern matters more than the total amount.
How many snow days are considered "a lot"?
This is deeply regional. In cities like Miami, Florida or Phoenix, Arizona, any snow day is a rare anomaly. In Denver, Colorado, 60+ inches of snowfall per year is normal but manageable due to infrastructure and rapid melting. In Buffalo, New York, lake-effect snow can bring 100+ inches per year — far more than most cities. For most people accustomed to warm-weather climates, more than 20-30 snow days per year represents a significant adjustment in terms of commuting, physical activity, and seasonal mood. PlainClimate shows annual snowfall totals in inches, which you can compare across cities in our climate rankings.
What is a "comfortable" climate score on PlainClimate?
PlainClimate's comfort score (1-100) is a composite metric weighting four factors: temperature moderation (avoiding extremes in both directions), low frequency of extreme weather days (very hot or very cold), moderate precipitation (avoiding both drought and flood conditions), and humidity levels. Cities scoring above 70 tend to have mild year-round climates without extreme seasonal swings — think San Diego, California or Asheville, North Carolina. Cities scoring below 40 tend to have harsh winters, brutal summers, or both. The score reflects general preferences; individuals vary significantly.
Explore Climate Data
Related Guides
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information — U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020
- NOAA — Climate Comfort and Livability Metrics
- US Census Bureau — Migration and Climate Preference Research
This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. Climate conditions are one of many factors to consider when making relocation decisions. Consult multiple data sources and visit locations in person to verify climate suitability for your needs.
