If you got hit with last winter’s “snowpocalypse,” you probably found yourself wishing for sunny days as you begrudgingly unearthed your car from a snowdrift. Take heart: there are plenty of cities throughout the US with balmy weather for most of the year. We used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data to determine which US cities had consistently pleasant weather, which we defined as: rarely colder than 45 degrees, rarely hotter than 85 degrees, and little to no snowfall annually. Then, we looked at city data, like crime rates and home prices, to compile our list of the best places to live in America based on the weather. Not surprisingly, most are coastal cities, and California takes the lead with more fair-weather cities than any other state.
1. San Diego, California
August and September are San Diego’s hottest months, with high temperatures averaging 76 degrees. On the other end of the spectrum, December marks the lowest average at 48 degrees. Residents can bask in 266 sunny days per year and virtually no snowfall. It’s considerably more affordable than San Francisco, with a median list price of $452,000 for homes. The crime rate here is 21 percent lower than the national average. Factoring in all these metrics, San Diego tops our list of best places to live in America.
2. Prescott Valley, Arizona
Prescott Valley enjoys the mildest climate in Arizona, generally 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the state. Its hottest month is July, averaging 77 degrees, and its coolest is December at an average of 37 degrees. The median home price of $175,000 is slightly below the national average, and the crime rate is 14 percent below the US average, making it overall an excellent city in terms of climate and livability.
3. San Francisco, California
High temperatures peak at an average of 70 degrees in late summer, with the lowest temperatures in the mid-40’s through December and January. There’s no snowfall to speak of, and the Golden Gate City enjoys an average of 259 sunny days each year. The median home price is rather steep at about $750,000, and the crime rate is about twice the national average.
4. Santa Barbara, California
Located just north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara basks in 283 days of sunshine annually, with an average high of 76 and average low of 43 degrees. The delightfully Mediterranean climate gives the city its unofficial nickname, the “American Riviera.” Although high at a median $880,000, home prices in Santa Barbara are considerably lower than some coastal California cities. Palo Alto, for instance, has a median list price of more than $2.5 million for real estate. Santa Barbara crime rates are equal to the national average.
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
Tropical Hawaii has glorious weather, if you can take a little bit of heat. The average high in Honolulu is 84, with several days hitting 90 in the summer. The average low is 66 degrees. Honolulu gets an average of 271 days of sunshine each year, and hurricanes are rare here. Sea temperatures stay in the mid to high 70’s year-round. Hawaii’s cost of living is considerably higher than the national average, with median home prices at about $548,000. Crime is about 21 percent higher than the national average rate.
6. Key West, Florida
The southernmost city in the US, Key West enjoys a paradise climate almost year-round, with an average high of 86 and an average low of 70 degrees. It has never dropped below 41 degrees here. The trade winds keep summers cooler than they might be otherwise, and hurricanes rarely strike Key West. The catch? The median home price is $458,000, 1.5 times the national average, and crime is about double the national average rate.
7. Astoria, Oregon
Most people think of the Pacific Northwest as cool and rainy, but Astoria lies in the Mediterranean climate zone. The average low in Astoria occurs in December, when the mercury drops to the low 40’s. Summer highs top out at an average 60 degrees, though some days in July can reach near 90. Snowfall is not unheard of, but rarely exceeds an inch per year. Home prices are a median $248,000, and the crime rate is 42 percent higher than the national average.
8. Austin, Texas
Austin can get quite warm, maxing out at more than 100 degrees in late summer, but on average, summer temperatures are comfortably in the low to mid 80s. Average lows are around 50 degrees. Home prices are reasonable for a metropolitan area at a median $217,000. The crime rate is about 53 percent higher than the national average.
9. Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville’s hottest month is August, averaging 84 degrees. January sees an average of 57 degrees, though the temperature drops to the low 30s on rare occasions. The median home price of $157,000 is actually below the national average, though the crime rate here is about 56 percent higher than the US average.
10. Virginia Beach, Virginia
This Hampton Roads city boasts a relatively mild climate, with the coolest months averaging low 40’s. However, it can drop below freezing here. Snowfall is not common, occurring an average of four days per year, with accumulation of less than six inches annually. The hottest months average just under 80 degrees. The median list price for real estate is $273,000, and the crime rate is more than 20 percent lower than the national average.
11. Memphis, Tennessee
Low temperatures in Memphis average 44 degrees in December and January. Summer weather gets hot, with highs above 100 degrees possible, but average highs don’t exceed 83 degrees. Snowfall is rare here, maxing out at about 3 days and 4 inches total per year. The median home price is quite low at $98,000, almost half the national average. However, the crime rate, 161 percent higher than the US average, drops Memphis to a lower spot on our list.
12. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Located in the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras is noted for its lighthouse and its status as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” due to the many ships lost to its perilous shoals. Temperatures range from 45 to 85 degrees, exceeding 90 degrees only about two days per year. It does snow occasionally in Cape Hatteras, but with little to no accumulation. Though calm weather is balmy, watch out for hurricanes – the Outer Banks are often hard-hit by storms. Living is affordable, with median list prices of about $272,000 for real estate, and crime rates are 20 percent below the national average.
