a landable guide
Phoenix has 133 extreme heat days and $1,739 median rent. These cities have a fraction of the heat and a lower monthly bill.
By Karol Gajda
Phoenix has a real pitch: an enormous metro, a low Arizona tax rate, and rent that looks cheap next to the coasts. Then there are the 133 days a year above 95 degrees. For a lot of people, that last number is the one that eventually ends the arrangement.
This list finds cities with far fewer extreme heat days, median rent under Phoenix's $1,739, and enough parks and pleasant weather to make the move feel like an upgrade rather than a retreat. Every blurb reports how many fewer scorching days and how many more pleasant days each city gets than Phoenix.
01
AL · 412k metro
Mobile tops the Phoenix exits: 3 extreme heat days is 130 fewer than Phoenix's 133, and 225 pleasant days is 44 more. Rent at $1,302 runs $437 less a month on top of it.
225
pleasant days a year
3
days a year above 95°F
$1,302
median rent / month
02
Photo by Drew Perales on Unsplash
SC · 397k metro
Myrtle Beach lands second with 0 heat days, 133 fewer than Phoenix, and $1,727 rent for $12 less a month. The summer goes from survival to usable.
249
pleasant days a year
0
days a year above 95°F
$1,727
median rent / month
03
Photo by Emanuel Odadjiev on Unsplash
LA · 962k metro
New Orleans takes third: 235 pleasant days, 54 more than Phoenix, with only 3 extreme heat days and $1,612 median rent.
235
pleasant days a year
3
days a year above 95°F
$1,612
median rent / month
04
Photo by Alex Reynolds on Unsplash
SC · 975k metro
Greenville pairs 4 heat days (129 fewer than Phoenix) with $1,551 rent, $188 less a month. A calendar you can actually spend outside.
202
pleasant days a year
4
days a year above 95°F
$1,551
median rent / month
05
Photo by Sarah Mason on Unsplash
NC · 467k metro
Wilmington earns it on the heat math: 132 fewer scorching days than Phoenix, 235 pleasant days, $1,675 rent.
235
pleasant days a year
1
days a year above 95°F
$1,675
median rent / month
06
Photo by Ken Jacobsen on Pexels
NC · 417k metro
Asheville is the mid-list pick for heat-fatigued movers: 0 extreme heat days, $1,738 median rent, $1 under Phoenix.
201
pleasant days a year
0
days a year above 95°F
$1,738
median rent / month
07
NM · 924k metro
Albuquerque clears the bar with 34 heat days, 205 pleasant days, and $1,489 rent, $250 less than Phoenix a month.
205
pleasant days a year
34
days a year above 95°F
$1,489
median rent / month
08
Photo by Jenny Gregg on Pexels
SC · 383k metro
Spartanburg keeps the cooler-and-cheaper promise: 16 extreme heat days versus Phoenix's 133, at $1,434 a month.
191
pleasant days a year
16
days a year above 95°F
$1,434
median rent / month
09
Photo by Mark Stebnicki on Pexels
NC · 370k metro
Hickory lands near the bottom of the ten and still beats Phoenix badly on heat: 122 fewer scorching days, $1,434 rent.
189
pleasant days a year
11
days a year above 95°F
$1,434
median rent / month
10
Photo by Gage LaVergne on Pexels
LA · 414k metro
Lafayette rounds out the list: 7 extreme heat days, 211 pleasant days, and $1,332 median rent, $407 under Phoenix.
211
pleasant days a year
7
days a year above 95°F
$1,332
median rent / month
We rank by 45% weather, 30% affordability, 15% parks, and 10% things to do. Filters: no more than 50 extreme heat days a year and median rent under $1,739, so every city is both cooler and cheaper than Phoenix.
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