Relating to discovering the proper place to dwell, climate performs an enormous function; in spite of everything, nobody desires to be caught inside for half the yr. Whereas some are drawn to crisp chilly or every day drizzle, most choose heat, sunny climate for many of the yr – a choice backed up by analysis.
A gentle Mediterranean local weather, an indicator of the Southern California coast, typically produces probably the most nice climate year-round (and it reveals). That’s a serious purpose why Mediterranean international locations 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 in recent times with their sunny winters and decrease housing prices. Nonetheless, scorching summers and extreme storms will 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 no less than 50,000 with probably the most nice climates year-round. Trace: they’re all in California.
We ranked cities primarily based on a spread of local weather components, favoring cities with snug temperatures, restricted seasonal change, low humidity, and year-round sunshine.
Because it turned out, each metropolis on the checklist was located on the California coast between San Francisco and San Diego – a area lengthy identified for its near-perfect climate.
The checklist 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 checklist have skilled excessive climate, equivalent to warmth waves and heavy storms. Because the local weather adjustments, make sure that to analysis climate extremes and how 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 Seaside, 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
The town with the perfect climate within the U.S. is Oxnard, CA. Delicate, sunny, dry climate dominates the forecast for many of the yr, with zero days that get under freezing and hardly any which might be too sizzling. The realm is identified 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 normally staved off by cool sea breezes. And in contrast to many coastal areas, it’s not humid – a dew level of 55°F or under is taken into account dry and cozy.
Some fog and cloudy climate is frequent within the early summer season, however most days are near-perfect. For reference, Yuma, AZ, the sunniest metropolis on the planet, sees a median of 142.8 sunshine hours per 30 days. Seattle – one of many cloudiest cities within the nation – sees a median 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.
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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, snug temperatures year-round and hardly any rain, the local weather nearly begs you to spend your days outdoors. Fortunately, there’s a lot to do within the space. You may surf at Tamarack Surf Seaside, go to LEGOLAND, discover the Flower Fields, and absorb a seaside sundown all in someday.
Southern California is known for its microclimates, and Carlsbad isn’t any exception. Fixed sea breezes stave off inland warmth (generally solely a few miles away), making for nearly completely excellent climate – even when it’s 90°F+ elsewhere.
The attractive climate is normally solely damaged up by the Santa Ana winds, which might happen from September to Might. These mountain hole winds shuttle sizzling, dry desert air to the coast, normally in robust breezes that may final days.
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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 gives the identical sun-soaked allure and Mediterranean local weather as its neighbors: delicate winters, heat summers, and a near-constant ocean breeze that retains issues snug all yr lengthy. Temperatures get a bit hotter within the inland parts of the town.
The Oceanside Pier is probably the most well-known spot on the town, however there’s much more to the realm. Hike at Guajome Regional Park, go to a few museums, and discover the quaint downtown full of scrumptious meals and ocean views.
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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 neighborhood identified for its college, parks, and purchasing. Whereas not a really coastal metropolis, it nonetheless advantages from sea breezes and heat sunshine that a variety of L.A. is known for, serving to maintain 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 ugly warmth a number of occasions per yr. Most rainfall additionally happens within the late winter months – normally just some occasions per 30 days.
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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, an enormous 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 checklist, San Clemente enjoys a quintessential Mediterranean really feel. Temperatures hover within the 60s and 70s many of the yr, rain is uncommon, and sunshine is ample.
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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 better Los Angeles coast, has the sixth-best climate within the nation. An iconic pier, year-round browsing, and quick access to the perfect of L.A. assist make Santa Monica one of many greatest 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 good for taking advantage of all the things Santa Monica has to supply: biking the Marvin Braude Bike Path, exploring the outlets and eateries alongside Third Road Promenade, or catching golden-hour views alongside 3.5 miles of shoreline. Heat temperatures and regular sunshine create a simple indoor-outdoor life-style that brings hundreds of thousands of individuals to the town yearly.
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7. Huntington Seaside, 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 Seaside is known for its browsing and top quality of life – it’s often called Surf Metropolis, in spite of everything. Discover the Worldwide Browsing Museum, stroll round Huntington Harbour, or take a dip within the ocean at Huntington Seaside Pier. Huntington Seaside Central Park is a hub for these much less ocean-inclined.
Summer season temperatures in Huntington Seaside can attain into the 80s, however that’s primarily as a result of the town stretches nicely inland. Alongside the coast, you’ll battle to discover a sizzling or cloudy day.
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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 gives a peaceable suburban retreat simply minutes from the coast. Loads of facilities, quick access to main cities, and a top quality of life make Thousand Oaks a good spot to dwell. 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 mountaineering, biking, or having fun with the various parks and open areas the town is understood for.
Importantly, hearth hazard is usually a main problem within the space, as was evident in the course of the Woolsey Hearth in 2018 and Palisades Hearth in 2025. It’s made worse in the course of the Santa Ana Winds and particularly throughout droughts, which have gotten extra frequent.
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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 checklist within the Bay Space, has the ninth-best climate within the nation. Nestled within the fertile Salinas Valley only a brief drive from Monterey Bay, it enjoys a cool, coastal local weather that not often will get too sizzling or too chilly – making it probably the most temperate locations to dwell in Northern California.
This cooler marine local weather is ideal for the floral, wine, and vegetable industries. Actually, 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 maintain temperatures nice within the afternoon.
This year-round consolation makes it simple to benefit from the space’s pure magnificence, like Toro Park, Large Sur State Park, and Pinnacles Nationwide Park.
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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 “greatest climate” lists. It’s simple to see why individuals find it irresistible a lot. With its Mediterranean local weather, light sea breeze, and historic beachside downtown, the town gives near-perfect climate for many of the yr. Ocean affect retains summers delicate and winters pleasantly cool, creating preferrred situations for spending many of the yr open air.
Nonetheless, a couple of too many days above 90°F and barely increased 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 illustration, got here in twenty sixth resulting from its hotter summer season temperatures.
Santa Barbara’s setting on the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains provides much more to the attraction. On uncommon winter days, you would possibly spot snow on the peaks whereas having fun with a light morning on the seashore.
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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 yr right here, with delicate seasonal differences, little rain, and loads of sunshine. Nonetheless, these cities can value a reasonably penny. So, if Cali isn’t in your finances 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 deal with humidity, rain, wind, and warmth from late spring by means of 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 by means of March, however 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. Probably the most well-known hazard for cities alongside the SoCal coast are the Santa Ana Winds, that are robust, dry, sizzling winter winds from the desert. Atmospheric rivers are one other rising danger. Extreme and protracted drought additionally impacts almost 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 stunning areas will be affected as temperatures rise and cities battle to adapt.
The cities with the perfect climate within the nation promise snug temperatures and many sunshine. Dwelling in them is usually a dream, however it’s vital to arrange for a altering local weather.
Methodology
To search out the cities with the “greatest” climate, we analyzed and aggregated publicly out there local weather knowledge from Meteostat (which makes use of knowledge from the Nationwide Oceanic and Environment 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, primarily based 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: increased = higher
- Common month-to-month dew level temperature: nearer to 55°F = higher
- Common month-to-month days ≥ 90°F (“sizzling days”): fewer = higher
- Common month-to-month days ≤ 32°F (“chilly 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 sizzling or chilly climate. There are research displaying that chilly climate and rain can enhance individuals’s well being, however we went with the widespread definition of “excellent” climate.
Humidity was measured utilizing the typical “dew level,” which is a extra correct method to measure how muggy the air truly feels. Dew factors at or under 55°F are thought-about most snug.
