Top 10 Most Comfortable States Year-Round (Based on Comfort Index)

Hawaii and Alaska Not included in this Map 

This posting is inspired from our recent discussion on what state in the US is the place to live or retire just based on the Comfort Index ( Climate Only). My AI search reveal the following confirming my first guess, that the State of Florida ( a lot of retirees) is not really the best place for retirement.

The ranking of U.S. states by year-round comfort is based on the comfort index — which typically considers temperature, humidity, and dew point.  Several studies and indices (like those from BestPlaces.net and NOAA data) help identify which states offer the most pleasant weather conditions throughout the year.

Here’s a ranked list of U.S. states by average year-round climate comfort (highest to lowest), with a brief explanation:

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🔝 Top 10 Most Comfortable States Year-Round (Based on Comfort Index)

1. California (Central Coast - e.g., San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara)

   • Mild temps year-round, low humidity, ocean breezes.

   • Rarely too hot or too cold.

2. Hawaii

   • Warm year-round with steady trade winds.

   • High humidity but offset by consistent temps and ocean breeze.

3. Washington (Western part, like Seattle)

   • Mild summers and winters, relatively low humidity.

   • Some rain but comfortable temps.

4. Oregon (Coastal and Willamette Valley)

   • Like Washington, but slightly drier in some areas.

   • Moderate humidity, no extreme temps.

5. Arizona (Higher elevation areas like Prescott or Flagstaff)

   • Warm summers, cool winters, low humidity.

   • Avoids the scorching desert heat of Phoenix.

6. New Mexico (e.g., Santa Fe, Albuquerque)

   • Low humidity, four mild seasons, lots of sun.

   • High elevation keeps temps comfortable.

7. Colorado (especially along the Front Range)

   • Dry air, lots of sunshine, cooler nights even in summer.

   • Some winter cold, but less humidity.

8. Nevada (e.g., Reno, Carson City)

   • Dry climate, manageable temperatures away from Las Vegas.

   • Very low humidity, good comfort score.

9. South Carolina (e.g., Greenville or Upstate region)

   • Mild winters, but summers can be hot and humid.

   • Inland areas are more comfortable than coastal.

10. North Carolina (e.g., Asheville)

• Four mild seasons, moderate humidity.

• Elevation in western NC provides cooler temps.

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⚠️ States With More Extreme Conditions (Low Comfort Index)

• Florida – Very humid summers, hot year-round. Comfort index drops due to humidity.

• Texas – Wide variations, but often hot and humid or arid.

• Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama – High humidity and summer heat reduce comfort.

• North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin – Long cold winters hurt overall comfort scores.

• Alaska – Low temps most of the year, despite low humidity.

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🧾 Notes:

• The Comfort Index often ranges from 1 to 10, where 10 is the most pleasant. Many of the top states above score 7.5–9+ in comfort.

• Microclimates matter. For example, Southern California (e.g., San Diego) is very different from Inland California (e.g., Fresno).

• Humidity is often the deciding factor in whether a hot or cold day feels “comfortable.”

• Conclusion: Not a Surprise!

  🌟 California and Hawaii top the list with the most ideal weather.

• ❄️ Northern states and ☀️ humid southern states rank lower due to extreme cold or oppressive humidity

  
  

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