This list looks at annual averages for a more holistic view of the general climate picture in each metro area.(GETTY IMAGES)
Weather can be a major factor in determining how much you enjoy a particular place. Since many people prefer clear skies and warm temperatures, U.S. News looked for metro areas among the 150 most populous in the U.S. considered for our Best Places to Live rankings that offer the most moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
We looked for places that had the most temperate days on average – with lows above freezing and highs below 90 degrees Fahrenheit – as well as those with the most sunny days, based on information from the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
Although some regions may be experiencing extreme heat this summer or have faced a particularly cold winter or rainy spring in recent months, this list looks at annual averages for a more holistic view of the general climate picture in each metro area. While this list looks at weather temperateness, you may want to additionally consider weather extremes in a specific metro area before deciding to move there.
The Best Places to Live ranking also considers the risk of extreme weather and natural disasters, as well as a metro area’s resilience to such events in its Quality of Life score, based on information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Read on for the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather, counting down to the top spot.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 96 Metro Population: 1,035,063 Median Home Price: $378,577 Average Annual Salary: $52,990 Temperate Days: 202 Rainy Days: 51
Located in southern Arizona and in the Sonoran Desert, Tucson may surprise you with its temperate weather. It certainly has plenty of hot days, with average Fahrenheit temperatures in June and July in the triple digits, according to National Weather Service data, but it doesn’t experience any average temperatures below freezing. Overall, 202 days out of the year are between freezing and 90 degrees.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 24 Metro Population: 3,146,074 Median Home Price: $427,241 Average Annual Salary: $53,270 Temperate Days: 275 Rainy Days: 107
If you’re looking for a completely different type of heat than in the desert, Florida offers more humidity, which means temperatures can often be lower. But Florida can feel warmer due to the amount of water in the air. Still, as many as 275 days in Tampa register highs below 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above freezing. On average, as many as 107 days can see some rain.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 15 Metro Population: 601,573 Median Home Price: $217,400 Average Annual Salary: $54,360 Temperate Days: 296 Rainy Days: 120
Like many parts of coastal Florida, Melbourne sees its fair share of rainy days – an average of 120, specifically. However, not every one of those days experiences rain for the entire day, and fast-moving weather ensures there’s plenty of sun. Home to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, the Melbourne metro area experiences 296 temperate days, on average.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 18 Metro Population: 478,654 Median Home Price: $392,696 Average Annual Salary: $40,470 Temperate Days: 299 Rainy Days: 107
This popular tourist destination in coastal South Carolina doesn’t see particularly low or high temperatures more than 66 days a year, on average. Still, residents and visitors don’t have to worry about too many gloomy days since 258 days per year are typically clear of precipitation. If you feel the pull to Myrtle Beach, you’re certainly not the only one. Myrtle Beach is the fastest-growing metro area on the Best Places to Live list, having increased in population by 4.46% between 2020 and 2021 due to net migration alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 5 Metro Population: 824,160 Median Home Price: $387,630 Average Annual Salary: $49,760 Temperate Days: 280 Rainy Days: 106
The Sarasota metro area takes the No. 5 spot on the overall Best Places to Live list, but when it comes to weather, it ranks No. 21. Sarasota is a major destination for retirees looking to move to the Sunshine State, and the warm weather and fair share of good weather are certainly a part of the attraction. Sarasota experiences few to no temperature lows below freezing on an annual basis, with an average of 280 temperate days, overall.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 49 Metro Population: 662,671 Median Home Price: $375,917 Average Annual Salary: $44,620 Temperate Days: 301 Rainy Days: 116
The fourth of seven Florida metro areas to make the top 25 list for weather temperateness is Daytona Beach, which ranks No. 49 on the overall Best Places to Live list. Daytona Beach experiences a whopping 301 temperate days throughout the year, though there are a hefty amount of rainy days as well. Expect at least some rain for 116 days out of the year.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 6 Metro Population: 372,797 Median Home Price: $823,196 Average Annual Salary: $50,820 Temperate Days: 282 Rainy Days: 118
In South Florida, Naples is a small metro area nestled up against the national parks that make up the Florida Everglades. Don’t expect to experience any days below freezing in the Naples area in the typical year, and 282 days tend to keep temperature highs below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are, on average, 118 days with some rain throughout the year.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 63 Metro Population: 482,922 Median Home Price: $429,104 Average Annual Salary: $47,710 Temperate Days: 310 Rainy Days: 132
The city of Port St. Lucie doesn’t have beaches, but there are plenty of ways to take in the good weather within the larger metro area. As many as 310 days out of the year experience temperatures between 32 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and 233 days are completely free of rain. Like many other coastal spots, however, Port St. Lucie’s rainy days are often not entirely rainy, and you’ll have at least a portion of the day to enjoy the sun and sand.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 136 Metro Population: 2,231,147 Median Home Price: $495,457 Average Annual Salary: $50,360 Temperate Days: 204 Rainy Days: 26
For a climate that can feel opposite to Florida’s, the desert setting in Las Vegas has only 26 days throughout the year that get any rain. Of course, with the hot sun and few clouds to interrupt it, there are a greater number of days above 90 degrees. On average, 204 days throughout the year experience temperatures between freezing and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, an average of about 26 days experience lows that reach below freezing, but it’s less common than in many other parts of the U.S.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 148 Metro Population: 771,406 Median Home Price: $589,200 Average Annual Salary: $55,020 Temperate Days: 259 Rainy Days: 55
Located along the San Joaquin River, Stockton makes the list for its few cold days and plentiful sun. With an average of only 55 rainy days per year, residents are lucky enough to enjoy the sun more than 84% of the year. With weather like this, it’s easy to get out and visit the vineyards and wineries in the surrounding area.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 147 Metro Population: 470,999 Median Home Price: $375,910 Average Annual Salary: $50,100 Temperate Days: 245 Rainy Days: 46
In Visalia, there are about 120 days on average that will either dip below freezing or over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the overwhelming number of days throughout the year experience more temperate weather. Additionally, just 46 days log any precipitation throughout the year, so if you’re looking for a dry climate, consider this inland California metro area.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 53 Metro Population: 789,932 Median Home Price: $459,772 Average Annual Salary: $51,850 Temperate Days: 325 Rainy Days: 107
One of the few metro areas on this list outside Florida and California, Charleston benefits from its proximity to the coast and location in the South. It experiences few freezing days, and not many days become dangerously hot. Just 40 days, on average, will experience more extreme temperatures on either end of the spectrum. As many as 107 days get some rain throughout the year.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 149 Metro Population: 905,644 Median Home Price: $370,572 Average Annual Salary: $54,570 Temperate Days: 242 Rainy Days: 37
Another inland California metro area to consider for temperate weather and little precipitation is Bakersfield, where just 37 days out of the year get any rain. There will be a few days with freezing temperatures or highs above 90 degrees, but 242 days, on average, remain in between either extreme. Expect more from your paycheck to go toward housing costs than in many other parts of the U.S. The cost of living in Bakersfield requires 27.64% of the area’s median annual household income.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 138 Metro Population: 6,105,897 Median Home Price: $608,742 Average Annual Salary: $54,790 Temperate Days: 300 Rainy Days: 107
Known for its hot, sunny weather on the Atlantic coast, Miami is a popular destination for tourists seeking ideal weather for going to the beach during the day and club-hopping at night. The humidity can certainly make it feel hotter, but there are 300 temperate days throughout the year. Expect a decent amount of rain – 107 days annually – but clouds can move quickly through the Miami area for a partly sunny day.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 145 Metro Population: 829,992 Median Home Price: $463,918 Average Annual Salary: $53,906 Temperate Days: 275 Rainy Days: 56
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Modesto is one of 13 California metro areas on the Best Places to Live for the Weather list. Generally, California is known for sunny, moderate weather that draws visitors and new residents year-round. In Modesto, you can expect an average of 275 days each year that don’t fall below 32 degrees or reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Just 56 days each year experience any rain.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 127 Metro Population: 2,379,368 Median Home Price: $619,981 Average Annual Salary: $65,580 Temperate Days: 273 Rainy Days: 57
This Northern California metro area, and the state’s capital city, averages 308 rain-free days per year. Located away from the coast, Sacramento gets some hot and cold days while avoiding extremes in either direction. Additionally, you can expect 92 days either above 90 degrees in summer or below freezing during the coldest times of the year.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 142 Metro Population: 451,432 Median Home Price: $606,442 Average Annual Salary: $64,270 Temperate Days: 302 Rainy Days: 65
Located north of San Francisco and northeast of San Pablo Bay, the Vallejo and Fairfield metro area offers proximity to the job opportunities and attractions of San Francisco without the same notoriously steep home prices. Weather-wise, Vallejo and Fairfield offer similar temperatures to other Northern California metro areas on this list: few cold and hot days, and plenty of sunny days.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 125 Metro Population: 492,498 Median Home Price: $889,590 Average Annual Salary: $64,080 Temperate Days: 311 Rainy Days: 76
Part of what makes the heart of California wine country such a popular destination for people looking for an enjoyable weekend – wine aside – is the pleasant, moderate weather. With just over 50 days either below freezing or that surpass 90 degrees, Santa Rosa residents and visitors enjoy weather that makes being outside easier. Plus, the area sees nearly 289 days without any rain, on average.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 59 Metro Population: 1,015,167 Median Home Price: $581,658 Average Annual Salary: $61,860 Temperate Days: 340 Rainy Days: 92
That tropical vacation wasn’t too good to be true – Hawaii’s weather really is that nice all the time. Honolulu’s island location is ideal if you want to avoid freezing lows at night while experiencing just a few dozen days above 90 degrees. With weather typically moving quickly over the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu residents see just 92 rainy days a year.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 13 Metro Population: 1,995,351 Median Home Price: $1,524,907 Average Annual Salary: $99,430 Temperate Days: 343 Rainy Days: 62
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose experiences similar weather to other metro areas nearby, including San Francisco and Salinas. San Jose averages only 22 days that reach either cold or hot extremes, and rarely do any of those days hit below freezing. Residents can expect an average of just 62 rainy days per year. It’s no wonder the city is the capital of Silicon Valley – people looking to join or launch a tech startup can’t resist the ideal weather.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 45 Metro Population: 4,725,584 Median Home Price: $1,122,946 Average Annual Salary: $86,590 Temperate Days: 363 Rainy Days: 67
Since it’s known for rolling fog, San Francisco ranking high on the list may come as a surprise. But that fog often burns off by the afternoon or rolls in late in the day. In fact, 298 days out of the year are completely free of rain. Additionally, San Francisco experiences no days below freezing throughout the year and just two days above 90 degrees.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 143 Metro Population: 438,953 Median Home Price: $925,458 Average Annual Salary: $56,350 Temperate Days: 356 Rainy Days: 60
South of the San Francisco Bay Area, the Salinas metro area includes Monterey Bay and the area inland from it. Salinas offers residents just nine days that either dip below freezing or reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, throughout the year. With an average of 305 days free of rain, Salinas has just 60 days throughout the year that have precipitation, which makes for ideal weather to visit the beaches, marine reserves and parks along Monterey Bay.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 139 Metro Population: 18,628,215 Median Home Price: $836,831 Average Annual Salary: $63,056 Temperate Days: 344 Rainy Days: 35
Not the only SoCal metro area on the list, Los Angeles averages just 35 rainy days per year. With no nights of freezing temperatures and 21 days over 90 degrees, on average, the City of Angels makes for a great place to enjoy warm weather without extremes. Because the metro area includes both beachfront towns and valley locations, expect cooler, breezier weather near the water and more heat and sun inland.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 93 Metro Population: 3,296,317 Median Home Price: $919,507 Average Annual Salary: $67,200 Temperate Days: 362 Rainy Days: 41
With no freezing days and an average of just three days over 90 degrees, San Diego is second on the list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather, beating out 148 of the 150 most populous metro areas in the U.S. And with residents experiencing just 41 rainy days per year on average, they’ll be spending plenty of time at the beach enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.
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Best Places 2023-2024 Rank: 124 Metro Population: 447,651 Median Home Price: $464,954 Average Annual Salary: $62,020 Temperate Days: 351 Rainy Days: 36
A little northwest of Los Angeles, along the California coast, Santa Barbara benefits from beach breezes and the beauty of Los Padres National Forest, located directly north of the metro area. As many as 351 days throughout the typical year have temperatures above freezing and below 90 degrees. With as many as 329 days without rain per year, on average, Santa Barbara tops the list of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. for the Weather.
