In terms of discovering the proper place to reside, climate performs an enormous position; in spite of everything, nobody desires to be caught inside for half the 12 months. Whereas some are drawn to crisp chilly or every day drizzle, most want heat, sunny climate for many of the 12 months – a choice backed up by analysis.
A gentle Mediterranean local weather, a trademark of the Southern California coast, usually produces essentially the most nice climate year-round (and it reveals). That’s a significant purpose why Mediterranean nations like Italy, Spain, and Greece are famend for his or her climates.
In the meantime, Solar Belt cities like Phoenix, Tampa, and Austin have drawn homebuyers lately with their sunny winters and decrease housing prices. Nonetheless, scorching summers and extreme storms may be main drawbacks.
So, which U.S. cities have the perfect climate? On this Redfin article, we’ll rank the highest cities with a inhabitants of at the least 50,000 with essentially the most nice climates year-round. Trace: they’re all in California.
We ranked cities based mostly on a spread of local weather elements, favoring cities with comfy temperatures, restricted seasonal change, low humidity, and year-round sunshine.
Because it turned out, each metropolis on the listing was located on the California coast between San Francisco and San Diego – a area lengthy identified for its near-perfect climate.
The listing focuses on month-to-month and annual averages over a few years to achieve a extra full image of every metropolis’s local weather. Nonetheless, all cities on our listing have skilled excessive climate, equivalent to warmth waves and heavy storms. Because the local weather modifications, make sure that to analysis climate extremes and the way a metropolis is adapting earlier than making the transfer.
Prime 10 cities with the perfect climate within the U.S.
Oxnard, CA
Carlsbad, CA
Oceanside, CA
Irvine, CA
San Clemente, CA
Santa Monica, CA
Huntington Seashore, CA
Thousand Oaks, CA
Salinas, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
1. Oxnard, California
Summer season excessive/low: 71.6°F – 60.7°F
Winter excessive/low: 65.2°F – 48.3°F
Dew level: 54.7°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.58 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 132.4 hours
Town with the perfect climate within the U.S. is Oxnard, CA. Gentle, sunny, dry climate dominates the forecast for many of the 12 months, with zero days that get beneath freezing and hardly any which are too scorching. The world is thought for its browsing, seashores, proximity to the Channel Islands, and year-round strawberries.
Oxnard sits on the Southern California coast simply half-hour from Santa Barbara, sheltered by the Santa Monica Mountains to the south and Santa Ynez to the north. Due to its location, warmth waves are often staved off by cool sea breezes. And in contrast to many coastal areas, it’s not humid – a dew level of 55°F or beneath is taken into account dry and comfy.
Some fog and cloudy climate is widespread within the early summer season, however most days are near-perfect. For reference, Yuma, AZ, the sunniest metropolis on the planet, sees a mean of 142.8 sunshine hours per 30 days. Seattle – one of many cloudiest cities within the nation – sees a mean of 83.7 sunshine hours per 30 days. 132.4 month-to-month sunshine hours is about 4.4 hours of sunshine per day, solely measured throughout daylight.
Oxnard properties on the market | Oxnard homes for hire | Oxnard residences for hire
2. Carlsbad, California
Summer season excessive/low: 73.3°F – 65°F
Winter excessive/low: 64.9°F – 49.4°F
Dew level: 54.6°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.56 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 130.8 hours
Carlsbad, simply north of San Diego, is a beachside haven. With heat, comfy temperatures year-round and hardly any rain, the local weather nearly begs you to spend your days exterior. Fortunately, there’s a lot to do within the space. You may surf at Tamarack Surf Seashore, go to LEGOLAND, discover the Flower Fields, and take in a seaside sundown all in sooner or later.
Southern California is legendary for its microclimates, and Carlsbad isn’t any exception. Fixed sea breezes stave off inland warmth (typically just a few miles away), making for nearly completely excellent climate – even when it’s 90°F+ elsewhere.
The beautiful climate is often solely damaged up by the Santa Ana winds, which may happen from September to Might. These mountain hole winds shuttle scorching, dry desert air to the coast, often in robust breezes that may final days.
Carlsbad properties on the market | Carlsbad homes for hire | Carlsbad residences for hire
3. Oceanside, California
Summer season excessive/low: 76.4°F – 62.8°F
Winter excessive/low: 66.3°F – 42.7°F
Dew level: 54.6°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.49 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 130.8 hours
Simply north of Carlsbad, Oceanside is a laid-back coastal metropolis on the northern fringe of San Diego County. It provides the identical sun-soaked appeal and Mediterranean local weather as its neighbors: delicate winters, heat summers, and a near-constant ocean breeze that retains issues comfy all 12 months lengthy. Temperatures get a bit hotter within the inland parts of the town.
The Oceanside Pier is essentially the most well-known spot on the town, however there’s much more to the world. Hike at Guajome Regional Park, go to a few museums, and discover the quaint downtown stuffed with scrumptious meals and ocean views.
Oceanside properties on the market | Oceanside homes for hire | Oceanside residences for hire
4. Irvine, California
Summer season excessive/low: 78.8°F – 66.4°F
Winter excessive/low: 67.9°F – 50.8°F
Dew level: 49.2°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.41 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 130.8 hours
A part of the Los Angeles metropolitan space, Irvine is a master-planned group identified for its college, parks, and buying. Whereas not a really coastal metropolis, it nonetheless advantages from sea breezes and heat sunshine that quite a lot of L.A. is legendary for, serving to preserve temperatures cool and climate calm. The additional inland you get, although, the warmer it will get.
Nonetheless, the Santa Ana Winds are a winter common, bringing hearth hazard and unsightly warmth a number of occasions per 12 months. Most rainfall additionally happens within the late winter months – often just some occasions per 30 days.
Irvine properties on the market | Irvine homes for hire | Irvine residences for hire
5. San Clemente, California
Summer season excessive/low: 73.8°F – 64.3°F
Winter excessive/low: 64.3°F – 50.8°F
Dew level: 49.2°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.32 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 130.8 hours
Tucked between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente is called the “Spanish Village by the Sea,” and its local weather is simply as dreamy as its nickname. 6.8 miles of ridgeline trails, 2.3 miles of coastal trails, a large pier, and iconic Spanish structure span throughout hills, canyons, and shoreline. Browsing is a mainstay amongst residents and guests – not not like most coastal California cities.
Like each different metropolis on the listing, San Clemente enjoys a quintessential Mediterranean really feel. Temperatures hover within the 60s and 70s many of the 12 months, rain is uncommon, and sunshine is ample.
San Clemente properties on the market | San Clemente homes for hire | San Clemente residences for hire
6. Santa Monica, California
Summer season excessive/low: 75.1°F – 64°F
Winter excessive/low: 66.8°F – 50.2°F
Dew level: 50.5°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.97 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 135.1 hours
Santa Monica, the westernmost metropolis alongside the higher Los Angeles coast, has the sixth-best climate within the nation. An iconic pier, year-round browsing, and easy accessibility to the perfect of L.A. assist make Santa Monica the most effective seashore cities on the planet and a real coastal haven. Health buffs particularly benefit from the well-known Santa Monica Stairs and intensive beachside trails.
The local weather is right for taking advantage of all the pieces Santa Monica has to supply: biking the Marvin Braude Bike Path, exploring the outlets and eateries alongside Third Avenue Promenade, or catching golden-hour views alongside 3.5 miles of shoreline. Heat temperatures and regular sunshine create an easy indoor-outdoor life-style that brings hundreds of thousands of individuals to the town yearly.
Santa Monica properties on the market | Santa Monica homes for hire | Santa Monica residences for hire
7. Huntington Seashore, California
Summer season excessive/low: 80°F – 63.4°F
Winter excessive/low: 67.5°F – 46°F
Dew level: 54.6°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.46 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 130.8 hours
One other coastal L.A. mecca, Huntington Seashore is legendary for its browsing and top quality of life – it’s often known as Surf Metropolis, in spite of everything. Discover the Worldwide Browsing Museum, stroll round Huntington Harbour, or take a dip within the ocean at Huntington Seashore Pier. Huntington Seashore Central Park is a hub for these much less ocean-inclined.
Summer season temperatures in Huntington Seashore can attain into the 80s, however that’s primarily as a result of the town stretches effectively inland. Alongside the coast, you’ll battle to discover a scorching or cloudy day.
Huntington Seashore properties on the market | Huntington Seashore homes for hire | Huntington Seashore residences for hire
8. Thousand Oaks, California
Summer season excessive/low: 77.2°F – 61.7°F
Winter excessive/low: 67.9°F – 46.5°F
Dew level: 50.5°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.62 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 135.1 hours
Located between the Santa Monica Mountains and rolling oak-dotted hills, Thousand Oaks provides a peaceable suburban retreat simply minutes from the coast. Loads of facilities, easy accessibility to main cities, and a top quality of life make Thousand Oaks an ideal place to reside. That’s earlier than even attending to the local weather.
Summers are heat however not sweltering, because of coastal affect, and winters are sunny and funky—excellent for mountain climbing, biking, or having fun with the various parks and open areas the town is thought for.
Importantly, hearth hazard could be a main situation within the space, as was evident throughout the Woolsey Hearth in 2018 and Palisades Hearth in 2025. It’s made worse throughout the Santa Ana Winds and particularly throughout droughts, which have gotten extra widespread.
Thousand Oaks properties on the market | Thousand Oaks homes for hire | Thousand Oaks residences for hire
9. Salinas, California
Summer season excessive/low: 72.5°F – 56.5°F
Winter excessive/low: 64°F – 43.2°F
Dew level: 50.6°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 0.88 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 126.4 hours
Salinas, the one metropolis on our listing within the Bay Space, has the ninth-best climate within the nation. Nestled within the fertile Salinas Valley only a quick drive from Monterey Bay, it enjoys a cool, coastal local weather that not often will get too scorching or too chilly – making it one of the crucial temperate locations to reside in Northern California.
This cooler marine local weather is ideal for the floral, wine, and vegetable industries. The truth is, Salinas is called the Salad Bowl of the World because of its large lettuce farms. Just like San Francisco, morning fog is a mainstay in the summertime, which helps preserve temperatures nice within the afternoon.
This year-round consolation makes it simple to benefit from the space’s pure magnificence, like Toro Park, Massive Sur State Park, and Pinnacles Nationwide Park.
Salinas properties on the market | Salinas homes for hire | Salinas residences for hire
10. Santa Barbara, California
Summer season excessive/low: 74.4°F – 58.2°F
Winter excessive/low: 65.8°F – 42.6°F
Dew level: 47.7°F
Month-to-month rainfall: 1.2 inches
Month-to-month sunshine: 132.4 hours
On the finish of our California parade is Santa Barbara – an everyday on “best weather” lists. It’s simple to see why individuals like it a lot. With its Mediterranean local weather, mild sea breeze, and historic beachside downtown, the town provides near-perfect climate for many of the 12 months. Ocean affect retains summers delicate and winters pleasantly cool, creating ideally suited circumstances for spending many of the 12 months outdoor.
Nonetheless, a number of too many days above 90°F and barely larger rainfall nudged Santa Barbara to the tenth spot in our rankings. Nonetheless, it comfortably outperformed many different well-known California cities and boasts an ultra-comfortable dew level. San Diego, as an example, got here in twenty sixth attributable to its hotter summer season temperatures.
Santa Barbara’s setting on the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains provides much more to the enchantment. On uncommon winter days, you would possibly spot snow on the peaks whereas having fun with a light morning on the seashore.
Santa Barbara properties on the market | Santa Barbara homes for hire | Santa Barbara residences for hire
What about cities not in California?
The highest 32 cities with the perfect climate within the U.S. are alongside the Central and Southern California coast. Heat, nice climate dominates the forecast for a majority of the 12 months right here, with delicate differences due to the season, little rain, and loads of sunshine. Nonetheless, these cities can value a fairly penny. So, if Cali isn’t in your funds or doesn’t resonate with you, there are different nice choices.
Exterior of California, 5 cities with nice year-round climate are:
Florida cities additionally rank fairly extremely, however they take care of humidity, rain, wind, and warmth from late spring via fall. Different Solar Belt cities like Hampton and Savannah get pleasure from nice winters however can get hotter and extra humid in the summertime. Lastly, Seattle might seem to be a shock, with cool, constant rain from October via March, nevertheless it in any other case has a really delicate local weather.
How are the climates in these cities altering?
Whereas the highest cities for climate within the nation have extremely nice climates, they’re additionally extremely inclined to drought, wildfires, and coastal storms. Essentially the most well-known hazard for cities alongside the SoCal coast are the Santa Ana Winds, that are robust, dry, scorching winter winds from the desert. Atmospheric rivers are one other rising danger. Extreme and chronic drought additionally impacts practically each SoCal metropolis.
Plus, local weather change has thrown norms into disarray and fueled stronger, extra intense climate occasions. The January 2025 L.A. wildfires are only one instance of how these lovely areas may be affected as temperatures rise and cities battle to adapt.
The cities with the perfect climate within the nation promise comfy temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Residing in them could be a dream, nevertheless it’s essential to arrange for a altering local weather.
Methodology
To seek out the cities with the “best” climate, we analyzed and aggregated publicly accessible local weather knowledge from Meteostat (which makes use of knowledge from the Nationwide Oceanic and Ambiance Administration) and NASA POWER (which takes satellite tv for pc readings). We averaged 10 years of information from 2014 to 2023, then matched it to U.S. cities with populations of fifty,000 or extra, based mostly on 2023 Census estimates. All knowledge was calculated every day and averaged over a month or season.
We centered on seven local weather classes, every weighted equally and scored from 1 (greatest) to 100 (worst). A decrease rating meant higher climate.
Common summer season excessive temperature: decrease = higher
Common winter low temperature: larger = higher
Common month-to-month dew level temperature: nearer to 55°F = higher
Common month-to-month days ≥ 90°F (“hot days”): fewer = higher
Common month-to-month days ≤ 32°F (“cold days”): fewer = higher
Common month-to-month sunshine hours (throughout daylight): extra = higher
Common month-to-month precipitation: much less = higher
We prioritized delicate climates with low humidity, little rainfall, extra sunshine, and fewer occurrences of scorching or chilly climate. There are research exhibiting that chilly climate and rain can enhance individuals’s well being, however we went with the favored definition of “perfect” climate.
Humidity was measured utilizing the common “dew point,” which is a extra correct approach to measure how muggy the air really feels. Dew factors at or beneath 55°F are thought of most comfy.
