Based on consistent temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, California and Hawaii are generally considered to have the best year-round weather in the United States. Specifically, coastal Southern California (San Diego, Santa Barbara) and coastal Hawaii (Honolulu) are frequently cited for having the most comfortable climates.
Read on for the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather, counting down to the top spot.
Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.
Type C: Moderate or Temperate Climates
Often described as moderate in temperature and precipitation, type C climates are the most favorable to human habitation in that they host the largest human population densities on the planet. Type C climates are found mostly in the midlatitudes bordering the tropics.
The Atacama is the driest place on earth, other than the Poles. It receives less than 1 millimeter of precipitation each year, and some areas haven't seen a drop of rain in more than 500 years. Forget “photo-worthy” or “memorable.” The landscapes here inspired Salvador Dalí (the guy who painted those melting clocks).
While "best" is subjective, San Diego, California, is frequently cited for exceptional year-round weather, offering mild temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, with similar Mediterranean climates found in nearby Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, while Honolulu, Hawaii, provides warm tropical weather, and other contenders include cities in Spain like Barcelona, and locations like Sydney, Australia, and Johannesburg, South Africa, offering great climates.
The "nicest" places to live in the U.S. vary by preference, but top contenders often cited for quality of life, affordability, and strong job markets include Johns Creek (GA), Carmel (IN), Apex (NC), League City (TX), and Raleigh (NC), while cities like Austin, Denver, San Diego, and Boulder (CO) are popular for outdoor access and culture, with options ranging from thriving suburbs to desirable large cities across the Midwest, South, and West.
For low humidity and mild winters, consider the Southwest states like Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, which offer dry desert air and warm winters, or High Plains/Mountain states like Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, offering drier air but cooler, sometimes snowier, but still milder winters than the East, with California's central/southern coast and parts of the Pacific Northwest (like Oregon's high desert) also fitting for their dry heat and temperate conditions.
Read on to find out more about the cities most at risk, and why.
Delaware has experienced the fewest federally declared natural disasters of any state since 1953, according to a new analysis of disaster data. The state has faced a total of 21 declared disasters over the past 70 years, making it the least disaster-prone state in the nation.
In research compiled as recently as two years ago, it was determined that people living in cooler regions of the world may live an average of 2.2163 years longer than those who don't.
1. Canary Islands, Spain. Located off the northwest coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, the Canary Islands are often regarded as having the best climate on Earth. Thanks to the Gulf Stream and trade winds, the islands enjoy mild temperatures and low humidity year round.
Hawaii consistently ranks as the state with the best air quality due to its remote Pacific location, trade winds dispersing pollutants, and focus on renewable energy, with nearby states like Alaska, Maine, and Vermont also frequently cited for excellent air quality because of low population density and strong environmental efforts.
Arizona is an ever-popular retirement destination. With its dry desert air, Arizona's warm winters and hot summers feel far more tolerable than more humid states.
WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).
Nine U.S. states currently have no state income tax on earned income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, though some nuances exist, like Washington's new capital gains tax and New Hampshire's phase-out of its interest/dividend tax. These states often balance their budgets with higher sales, property, or excise taxes.