The coldest city in every state
ANGHI // Shutterstock
The coldest city in every state
Pedestrians in a city during a severe blizzard.
The warmer months of the year are often cherished as a time of adventure and excitement, but after a summer scientists have declared the hottest on record, many are ready to embrace the cooler weather autumn and winter typically bring. While not every state gets particularly cold—especially places with notoriously mild winters like Florida—each has a city that is typically colder than the rest.
Citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Stacker identified the coldest city in every state. The list below is based on five-year average temperatures from January 2018 to December 2022 and also includes the average daily minimum and maximum temperatures for each ranked city. Cities are ranked relative to the entire national dataset of 214 cities.
Some of these locations experience a full range of temperatures annually—from very high temperatures in the summer to nail-bitingly cold temperatures in the winter. Others simply experience cooler versions of their typically warm (or cold) weather. But whether you’re looking to hike glaciers and ski down snow-packed mountains or just to enjoy a pleasant reprieve from the heat, there is likely a city here that meets your winter needs.
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Alabama: Huntsville
Pond in Huntsville.
– #142. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 62.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 73.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 52 F
sunsinger // Shutterstock
Alaska: Utqiaġvik
Barrow, the most northern part of Alaska.
– #1. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 16.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 22 F
– Average daily minimum: 11.1 F
Tim Roberts Photography // Shutterstock
Arizona: Flagstaff
Snowy skyline of Flagstaff in December.
– #30. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 32.4 F
Graves Creative Design // Shutterstock
Arkansas: Little Rock
Little Rock Winter Skyline.
– #141. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 62.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 72.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 52.1 F
Matt Gush // Shutterstock
California: Eureka
Historic downtown Eureka.
– #76. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 59.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.7 F
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
Colorado: Alamosa
Aerial view of Alamosa during winter.
– #8. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 24.5 F
Jennifer Yakey-Ault // Shutterstock
Connecticut: Hartford
Snowy Capitol building in Hartford.
– #71. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.4 F
– Average daily minimum: 42 F
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
Delaware: Wilmington
Wilmington skyline along the Christiana River.
– #110. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 56.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 47.3 F
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
Florida: Tallahassee
Tallahassee downtown skyline.
– #177. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 69.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 80.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 58.8 F
Mark F Lotterhand // Shutterstock
Georgia: Atlanta
Aerial view of Atlanta, Georgia in winter.
– #154. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 64.9 F
– Average daily maximum: 74 F
– Average daily minimum: 55.8 F
Vanessa Belfiore // Shutterstock
Hawaii: Hilo
Aerial view of rural Hilo, Hawaii.
– #50. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 76.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 83.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 69.1 F
Kirk Fisher // Shutterstock
Idaho: Pocatello
A winter scene of a country ranch home and barn covered in snow in the mountains of North Idaho.
– #32. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 61 F
– Average daily minimum: 33.7 F
Cheri Alguire // Shutterstock
Illinois: Rockford
Main Street District sign in Rockford.
– #53. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 50.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 40.4 F
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Indiana: South Bend
South Bend buildings on a sunny day.
– #59. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 42 F
Dawid S Swierczek // Shutterstock
Iowa: Dubuque
Historical buildings in downtown Dubuque.
– #33. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 56.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 38.3 F
Kimberly’s Impressions // Shutterstock
Kansas: Goodland
A windmill in a snowy winter landscape.
– #69. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 66.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 37.4 F
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Kentucky: Lexington
Lexington skyline.
– #100. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 55.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 46 F
Hegearl // Shutterstock
Louisiana: Monroe
Scene after Winter Storm Uri in Northeast Louisiana.
– #164. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 66.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 77.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 56 F
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Maine: Caribou
Rural winter scene.
– #3. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 41.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 51.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 31.8 F
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
Maryland: Baltimore
Baltimore’s Patterson Park Pagoda in the snow.
– #122. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 68.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 48.1 F
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Massachusetts: Worcester
Worcester cityscape.
– #49. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 49.9 F
– Average daily maximum: 58 F
– Average daily minimum: 41.8 F
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Michigan: Sault Ste. Marie
International bridge to Sault Ste. Marie in winter.
– #7. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 51.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 34.8 F
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
Minnesota: Rochester
Silver Lake Park and tall buildings in Downtown Rochester.
– #14. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 44.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 53.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 35.4 F
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Mississippi: Tupelo
Tupelo City Hall.
– #152. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 64.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 75.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 54.1 F
ANNVIPS // Shutterstock
Missouri: Kansas City
The skyline of Kansas City from an aerial view.
– #100. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 55.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.6 F
Nick Fox // Shutterstock
Montana: Kalispell
Scenic street view with shops and hotels in Kalispell.
– #8. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 43.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.9 F
– Average daily minimum: 31.2 F
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
Nebraska: Scottsbluff
Aerial View of Downtown Scottsbluff, Nebraska in Winter.
– #51. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 50 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 34.8 F
Sandra Foyt // Shutterstock
Nevada: Ely
Route 50 in Ely with mountain range in the background.
– #24. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 46.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 63.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 29.1 F
Cory Knowlton // Shutterstock
New Hampshire: Mount Washington
Sign for the Mount Washington Summit.
– #1. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 29 F
– Average daily maximum: 35.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 22.7 F
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New Jersey: Atlantic City
Atlantic City beach in winter.
– #106. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 56.1 F
– Average daily maximum: 65.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.4 F
PICTOR PICTURES // Shutterstock
New Mexico: Albuquerque
A gondola on Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway.
– #125. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 71.1 F
– Average daily minimum: 45.9 F
Paul Juser // Shutterstock
New York: Binghamton
Downtown Binghamton in winter.
– #28. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 47.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.4 F
– Average daily minimum: 39 F
Derek Olson Photography // Shutterstock
North Carolina: Asheville
The skyline of downtown Asheville at sunset.
– #119. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 57.8 F
– Average daily maximum: 67.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 47.7 F
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North Dakota: Grand Forks
Cityscape of Grand Forks.
– #2. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 39.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 50.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 28.5 F
John Judnick // Shutterstock
Ohio: Cleveland
Heavy snow on a side street in Cleveland.
– #72. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 60.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 43.9 F
Gerson Repreza // Shutterstock
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
Downtown Oklahoma City.
– #132. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 60.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 71.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 49 F
Bob Pool // Shutterstock
Oregon: Astoria
The Liberty Theater and downtown Astoria.
– #65. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.7 F
– Average daily maximum: 58.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.5 F
quiggyt4 // Shutterstock
Pennsylvania: Scranton
View of the Scranton Electric Building and statue of George Washington.
– #72. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 61.7 F
– Average daily minimum: 43 F
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Rhode Island: Providence
Winter skyline of Providence.
– #84. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 53.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 62.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.3 F
Ruoshi Cao // Getty Images
South Carolina: Columbia
A Christmas tree at night in front of the capitol building.
– #156. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 65.4 F
– Average daily maximum: 76.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 54.4 F
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
South Dakota: Aberdeen
Aerial view of Aberdeen in winter.
– #13. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 44.3 F
– Average daily maximum: 56.2 F
– Average daily minimum: 32.5 F
Donald R Slaughter // Shutterstock
Tennessee: Johnson City
Colony Park Drive in Johnson City.
– #121. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 58 F
– Average daily maximum: 69.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.5 F
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Texas: Amarillo
Amarillo cityscape.
– #126. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 59 F
– Average daily maximum: 73.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 44.7 F
Abdulelah Fakhrani // Shutterstock
Utah: Cedar City
Aerial view of a street in Cedar City.
– #62. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 51.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 66.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 37 F
yegorovnick // Shutterstock
Vermont: Montpelier
Houses covered in snow in Montpelier.
– #17. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 55.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 35.5 F
Cvandyke // Shutterstock
Virginia: Washington (Dulles)
Snow blankets the grounds around pond in the Herndon-Dulles Technology Corridor.
– #114. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 57 F
– Average daily maximum: 67.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 46.7 F
Kirk Fisher // Shutterstock
Washington: Spokane
The Great Northern Clocktower and Riverfront Park with snowfall.
– #44. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 49.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 58.5 F
– Average daily minimum: 39.9 F
David Harmantas // Shutterstock
West Virginia: Elkins
Downtown Elkins.
– #78. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 52.6 F
– Average daily maximum: 64.3 F
– Average daily minimum: 41 F
Apaullo // Shutterstock
Wisconsin: Wausau
Ski resort in the winter in Wisconsin.
– #19. nationally (tie)
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.5 F
– Average daily maximum: 54.8 F
– Average daily minimum: 36.1 F
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
Wyoming: Casper
Aerial view of Downtown Casper at dusk.
– #15. nationally
– Average temperature, 2018-2022: 45.2 F
– Average daily maximum: 59.6 F
– Average daily minimum: 30.7 F
Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Paris Close.
