This Is the Best Place to Live in the U.S. for Near-perfect Weather

For some, climate can be a real dealbreaker when it comes to relocating. That’s because it affects not just something as trivial as our clothing but also more consequential things like home insurance, utility bills, and overall wellness. U.S. News, for example, includes weather as a factor for determining the best places to live in the U.S., ranking higher destinations with warmer temperatures and sunshine, indicating their desirability.

The California coastal city of Santa Barbara recently topped the publication’s report for its “near-perfect climate.”

U.S. News noted that Santa Barbara experiences as many as 329 days without rain per year, with average temperatures ranging from lows in 55 and highs in 65. 

“Residents enjoy a moderate climate, but June weather patterns create fog that comes in off the ocean, bringing gray mornings and afternoons,” the publication reported, adding that the city is an “outdoor lover’s paradise.”

Santa Barbara has a Mediterranean-like climate with dry summers and cool and wet winters. It is primarily affected by the Pacific High Pressure System, which also impacts Hawaii. 

However, just like other parts of the country and the world, Santa Barbara has also been impacted by the effects of climate change, like rising sea levels, coastal erosion, landslides, changes in rainfall patterns, and wildfires. ClimateCheck, a website that tracks climate risk data, projects that about 85 percent of buildings in Santa Barbara “are at risk of wildfire, and the risk level for these buildings is very high.”

Despite its excellent climate, though, Santa Barbara ranked 71st in U.S. News’ overall best places to live list, mainly for its high cost of living and expensive real estate. The city, which is also known as The American Riviera, is home to many celebrities and other A-listers who come here for its idyllic landscapes, wine culture, outdoor recreation, and grand Mediterranean-style homes. The current median home value in the city is $1,789,765, according to Zillow.

Seven of the top 10 places to live for excellent weather are in California, with Los Angeles snatching the second spot and Vallejo ranking third, followed by San Francisco (4th) and San Diego (5th). The three cities, located outside of California, are Charleston, South Carolina (8th); Mobile, Alabama (9th); and New Orleans (10th). At the bottom of the ranking is Seattle, which experiences, on average, 156 days of rain per year.

You can read the full report at usnews.com.