In this piece, we will take a look at the 30 best places to live in the U.S. for the weather. For more places, head on over to 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather.
The U.S. is the fourth largest country in the world, coming in after Russia, Canada, and China. This lends it a diverse climate courtesy of vast differences between longitudes and latitudes. Considering all American territories, the northernmost American point is Point Barrow in Alaska, the southernmost point is Rose Atoll in American Samoa, the easternmost point is Point Udall in U.S. Virgin Islands, and the westernmost point is Udall Point in Guam. Within the Continental United States, which consists of the territory located primarily between Canada in the north and Mexico in the south, Minnesota, Florida, Maine, and Washington have the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost points, respectively. Additionally, altitude within the U.S. ranges between 14,494 feet of Mount Whitney in California and -282 feet in the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California.
This vast geography also lends America a variety of different climates. Some of these include semi arid, desert, humid continental, temperate, and oceanic, with Alaska also having some of the most extreme climatic conditions. However, while the U.S. is unique in terms of climatic diversity, it still is not immune to global warming or climate change. Temperatures are generally the highest in Florida and the lowest in Alaska, while precipitation is highest in Hawaii and the lowest in Nevada, mirroring the regions’ geographies.
The Economic Cost of Climate Change
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) there are several indicators of climate change that are already taking place. For instance, most of America’s lakes are freezing later, winter temperatures have increased by three degrees Fahrenheit since 1896, and the use of natural gas to heat homes has also dropped since 1974. Climate change has already made its mark on the global economy as well, with a report from Morgan Stanley estimating that between 2016 and 2018 climate related disasters have cost the world a whopping $650 billion. However, if this was surprising, you’ll be worried to learn about the estimates put forward by a United Nations panel that say that the cost of global warming can reach an absolutely stunning $54 trillion in just a couple of decades from now, or by 2040. Morgan Stanley adds that Asia will be one of the hardest hit regions by climate change, with the estimated cost of damages sitting at $180 billion.
These damages have already started to manifest as well, with devastating floods in the Southeast Asian country of Pakistan late last year being the worst in the country’s history. According to estimates from the World Bank, damages from the floods in Pakistan can touch as much as $15.2 billion, while economic reconstruction costs can go even higher to sit at $16.3 billion. Out of these, the worst damage is to houses, with housing damages estimated at $5.6 billion. Damages to agriculture and transportation are also quite significant, sitting at $3.7 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively.
Investment Opportunities
So, how much will it cost to mitigate climate change? Well, on this front, the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) believes that at least $6.3 trillion per year until 2030 is needed in investments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and this bill grows to $6.9 trillion in order to meet the sustainability goals under the Paris Accord. The body adds that in order to limit global warming to a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius, Carbon Dioxide levels will have to fall by about 45% of the levels seen in 2010 – a daunting task especially as a growing global middle class increases the need for transportation and housing, which are the biggest contributors to high emissions.
Another set of estimates to make the global infrastructure sustainable comes from the World Bank. The Bank notes that by 2030, investments in global architecture need to sit at $90 trillion to yield results, but it adds that these also provide a healthy source of return. The World Bank’s estimates suggest that a dollar of investment in sustainability yields four dollars in total benefits, with a direct economic gain estimated to sit at $26 trillion. It also notes that shifting energy generation to sustainable sources also carries with it the potential for costs savings. For instance, data shows that if the costly (and dirty) power generation through coal was replaced with solar and wind power, annual power generation costs could be reduced by $26 billion and stimulate the global economy by $940 billion. Not to mention, this shift could also create 65 million net new jobs. These new jobs will only add to the millions that have already been created, with a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) outlining that global employment in the sector stood at 12 million in 2020 – growing from the 11.5 million in the prior year.
Photo by Ovidiu Gruescu on Unsplash
With these details in mind, let’s stake a look at the best places to live in the U.S. for the weather.
Our Methodology
We consulted six reliable (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) sources to compile our list of the best U.S. cities to live in for the weather. Each time a city appeared on a list, it was awarded a single point, with the top thirty out of the 50+ locations compiled listed below. You can also check out 35 Safest Places to Live in the U.S. in 2023.
30 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather
30. San Jose, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
San Jose is one of the most prosperous cities in California and one of the most populous ones in America. It is also the home of several major technology firms such as Adobe and IBM.
29. Salinas, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Salinas is one of the younger cities in America as it was incorporated in 1874. The region is a hub for agricultural technology in the U.S. and has several fresh produce firms and farms.
28. Modesto, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Modesto is another young Californian city, as it was established in 1884. Like Salinas, it also has a diverse agricultural economy, and houses one of the largest wineries in the world.
27. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Oklahoma City is the capital of the state of Oklahoma. It ranks among the top 20 largest cities in America in terms of population. The city houses large energy companies among others.
26. Fairfield, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Fairfield is one of the oldest cities in America that was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years before the first European settlements. It houses several manufacturing plants as well as the Travis Air Force Base.
25. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Tulsa is the largest city in Oklahoma after Oklahoma City. The city was once the hub of the energy industry, as even today it is an economic powerhouse in Oklahoma as it contributes significantly to the state’s manufacturing output.
24. Santa Rosa, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Santa Rosa is a California city that was incorporated in 1868. Its economy is dominated primarily by the retail sector, but housing costs have been a problem.
23. Atlanta, Georgia
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and ranks among the top fifty most populous cities in America. It has one of the largest economies in the U.S. and houses large firms such as Coca-Cola.
22. Fayetteville, North Carolina
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Fayetteville is one of the older cities in the U.S. since it was settled in 1783. One of its largest employers is a civilian arm of the Pentagon.
21. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
San Juan is the capital city of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The city has been inhabited for hundreds of years and has strong financial and tourism sectors.
20. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Myrtle Beach is a tourist hub in South Carolina due to its pleasant weather. Due to this, it has a vibrant tourism industry and thousands of restaurants to boot.
19. Greenville, South Carolina
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Greenville is one of the smallest yet highly rated cities in the U.S., particularly in terms of urbanization.
18. Spartanburg, South Carolina
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Spartanburg is another small city with a population below fifty thousand people. It was founded in 1787 and is notable for its strong presence of the healthcare industry.
17. Stockton, California
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Stockton was incorporated in 1850 and is known for its mild winters and hot summers. The city serves as the regional hub for several large firms.
16. Mesa, Arizona
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Mesa is one of the largest cities in Arizona with mild winters and hot summers. Large firms such as Boeing and Wal-Mart are notable employers.
15. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico. It is an economic hub within the state.
14. Scottsdale, Arizona
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Scottsdale is one of the youngest cities in the U.S. since it was incorporated in 1951. It has a strong healthcare and tourism industry.
13. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Virginia Beach is one of the largest cities in Virginia and was initially incorporated in 1906.
12. Jacksonville, Florida
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Jacksonville is one of the largest cities in the U.S. in terms of area. It is an economic hub with a strong banking sector.
11. Austin, Texas
Insider Monkey’s Score: 2
Austin is the capital city of Texas and was settled in 1835. It is a major technology sector in the lone star state.
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Disclosure: None. 30 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather is originally published on Insider Monkey.