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7 Best States for Retirees Who Want to Escape Extreme Weather
As temperatures rise in the Sun Belt, these cooler states offer retirees refuge from heat, storms and other worsening climate risks
Vehicles sit in floodwater on a Houston street on July 8, 2024, hours after Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas coast.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Rising heat and storms in Sun Belt states are prompting some retirees to consider cooler, lower-risk alternatives.
- Northern regions from New England to the Pacific Northwest offer milder summers, though risks like flooding still exist.
- Beyond climate, retirees should weigh health care access, housing costs and local amenities before relocating.
For the second summer in a row, a heat dome smothered much of the central and eastern U.S., in July driving temperatures into the triple digits and putting more than 180 million Americans under a “major” or “extreme” heat risk.
The rising frequency of punishing heat waves and major storms is pushing some retirees to rethink their plans. Susan McIntosh has been there. A couple of summers ago, as she was closing on the sale of her Houston condo, Hurricane Beryl was bearing down on the city.
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“My heart was in my mouth. [I was] praying it wouldn’t sustain any damage,” says McIntosh, 75.
The former Rice University anthropology professor was in the process of a long-planned exit from the increasingly storm-prone Texas metropolis. “After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, as I approached retirement, it became a much more prominent aspect of my thinking,” she says.
The 2024 hurricane “really reaffirmed my decision to not go into retirement with the possibility of facing a major cleanup,” she adds. “All of those things had been building in my mind. I have cleaned up from major hurricane events, and that was not the kind of retirement I wanted to risk having.”
Seeking shelter from the storms meshed with another of McIntosh’s criteria for a retirement move: being closer to her daughter, who lives in Maine, which has one of the lowest natural-disaster risk profiles in the country, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The winters are colder than in Texas, of course, but “I was glad to come back to seasons,” says McIntosh, who is originally from upstate New York. She settled in a 55-and-older development, near her daughter’s home in Portland, that features solar energy, heat pumps and energy-efficient windows.
“I want to have the lowest possible carbon footprint in the way that I live,” she says.
Why climate risk hits retirees hardest
McIntosh’s choice could be a sign of things to come. Extreme weather events and ever-hotter summers haven’t stopped retirees from flocking to Florida and Arizona to spend their golden years in the sun. (Or to Houston, which was one of the top urban destinations for retiree moves in 2025, according to a February 2026 study by moving-services marketplace Hire A Helper.)
But as temperatures keep climbing in traditional Sun Belt retirement meccas and storms grow more intense, climate experts counsel older Americans to consider alternatives.
“This summer's heat is not an anomaly,” says Benjamin Strauss, CEO and chief scientist at Climate Central, an organization that researches and shares information about climate change effects. “Soon it will be typical — and within a couple decades, likely cooler than average, with the course that we're on.”
For retirees, it’s not just a matter of sweaty discomfort:
- People 65 and older are among the most vulnerable to extreme heat, heat-related illness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Those in very hot locales face higher utility bills that can eat into fixed incomes, as well as soaring homeowners insurance costs due to the extreme weather events associated with climate change.
- Being stuck inside air-conditioned homes can prevent older people from being active and mobile, notes Jesse Keenan, a professor of real estate and urban planning at Tulane University whose research focuses on adaptation to climate change.
“Over time, I think these factors are really going to add up and motivate people to look elsewhere,” Keenan says.
What else retirees should weigh: Storms, floods and health care access
Where should retirees who want to avoid the heat consider going? “Many of the states in the north tend to have more moderate temperatures,” says Vivek Shandas, a geography professor at Portland State University in Oregon who specializes in the implications of climate change. He recommends that older adults concerned about the warming trend look at the belt of states stretching from New England through the upper Midwest to the Pacific Northwest.
But triple-digit heat isn’t the only climate consideration for retirees weighing a move.
“Flooding events in Vermont show that even areas perceived to be safe from disaster can be hit, and hit hard,” says Benjamin Keys, an economist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School who has studied climate impacts. “There’s no escaping the weather, but some areas will likely benefit from milder winters and relatively rare disaster events.”
Also, it’s important for a place with cooler weather to have the things older adults need. “As people explore other places, one major consideration should be access to health care,” Keenan says. “You can’t just move out in the middle of nowhere. You need proximity to the health system and specialists.” Housing prices are another factor to consider, as well as quality-of-life issues like cultural and recreational opportunities.
Here are seven of the best states to retire in if you want to escape extreme weather, offering cooler climates, lower disaster risk and amenities important to older adults.
Maine: Cool summers and low natural-disaster risk
Augusta, Maine, skyline over the Kennebec River.
Getty Images
Maine has been affected by climate change — average temperatures have risen almost 3.5 degrees since the early 20th century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — but summers remain relatively cool, with the mercury topping 90 degrees only a few days a year. Winters tend to be cold and snowy, but that doesn’t seem to deter older folks (proportionally, Maine has the country’s highest 65-plus population), and it could be a bonus if you’re into winter sports such as cross-country skiing.
Why else to retire there: A landscape dense with mountains, lakes and forests, plus more coastline than California, provides ample opportunities for outdoor activity. Though above the national average, Maine’s cost of living and housing prices are moderate by New England standards.
City to consider: Augusta, the state capital, offers scenic views of sailboats on the Kennebec River and trails for biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There’s also the Viles Arboretum, a massive botanical garden and nature preserve that’s great for bird- and wildlife-watching.
Michigan: Great Lakes climate and affordable housing
Michigan is bounded by four of the five Great Lakes (Huron, Erie and Michigan border the Lower Peninsula; Superior, Huron and Michigan nearly encircle the Upper). All that water absorbs heat in the summer and releases it in the winter, helping to moderate Michigan’s climate and making it moister and more temperate than that of other Midwestern states.
Why else to retire there: Housing is affordable, with a median sale price of about $294,000 in May 2026, compared with $399,000 nationally, according to Redfin. An assortment of small and midsize cities offers rich and varied cultural landscapes, and there’s all that lakeshore to play on. And people age 67 and older can deduct up to 100 percent of qualifying retirement and pension income from their state taxes.
City to consider: Midland, a midsize city near Lake Huron, topped U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 list of the best cities to retire in, based on criteria such as affordability, health care quality and residents’ happiness. Housing is low-cost even by Michigan standards, with a median home value of about $267,000. Local amenities include the 328-bed MyMichigan Medical Center and Dow Gardens, a 110-acre oasis of flower displays, pine forest and the nation’s longest canopy walk.
Minnesota: Mild summers and top-ranked health care
Split Rock Lighthouse along the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images
Minnesota experiences few natural disasters and enjoys a stable water supply from Lake Superior, a crucial resource on a warming planet. Winters can be very cold, with average temperatures in the teens, but summers are mild (average highs in the low 80s in Minneapolis and lower up north).
Why else to retire there: Minnesota’s low medical costs, highly rated public hospitals and plentiful convenient care clinics (the country’s highest concentration per capita) placed it third in personal-finance site WalletHub’s 2026 list of the best states for health care. State income tax rates are high, and Minnesota is one of only eight states that tax Social Security benefits, but the median home sale price is about 9 percent below the national average, and the crime rate is 28 percent lower. And for comfort food connoisseurs, it's the home of the tater tot hotdish.
City to consider: How about “climate-proof Duluth”? Keenan coined the nickname in 2019, citing the Lake Superior port city’s mild summer climate, abundant fresh water, distance from rising seas and room for growth. Other attractions include expansive water views (especially along the eight-mile Lakewalk), lots of parks and trails for hiking and biking, two top-rated hospitals and urban amenities like a thriving craft beer scene.
New York: A northeast climate refuge with bargain housing
Western New York, a region actively marketed as a climate refuge, is welcoming climate migrants as it tries to recapture some of the luster of its industrial heyday, with historic infrastructure being repurposed as housing. True, this rust-belt region is famous for lake-effect snowstorms, but it has pleasant summers and is far removed from the threats of drought, rising sea levels and other major climate impacts.
Why else to retire there: Bargain properties abound in upstate New York’s small and midsize cities. Median home prices in May 2026 were around $100,000 in Elmira and less than $200,000 in Utica and Rochester, Redfin reports. You can put the money you save into exploring the region’s many museums, wine trails and outdoor playgrounds (Lake Erie, the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes). Downstate is New York City, and Toronto is just a little bit north.
City to consider: Amid a $3 billion downtown revitalization, Buffalo is actively promoting itself as a climate refuge where the weather has gone “from punchline to lifeline,” as the regional economic development agency quips. The city’s grand historic architecture, including several Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, survived its long, late-20th-century decline, as has a park system laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York City’s Central Park.
Oregon: Mild Pacific climate in a top relocation destination
If you don’t mind rain — portions of the Coast Range average more than 100 inches of precipitation a year, according to NOAA — western Oregon could make for an attractive climate refuge, with mild temperatures (thanks to the moderating effect of the Pacific) and an abundance of natural beauty.
Why else to retire there: Although Oregon isn’t cheap, its appeal is surging. About 65 percent of moves involving the state were inbound in 2025, the highest proportion nationwide, according to a United Van Lines study. It’s a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. And with no state sales tax, residents get some relief from the state's high income tax rates.
City to consider: Nestled in the Willamette Valley between the Pacific and the Cascade Mountains and home to the University of Oregon, Eugene is close to ski resorts and wineries and popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts. It’s among the 20 most affordable urban retirement destinations in the country, according to an August 2025 analysis by GoBankingRates.
Pennsylvania: Few 90-degree days and strong health systems
Pennsylvania’s climate is moderated in the east by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and Lake Erie is a cooling influence in the northwestern part of the state, according to NOAA. Most years, the state sees fewer than 20 days with high temperatures of 90 degrees or more.
Why else to retire here: Access to top-notch health care from university-based hospitals and health systems, plenty of Colonial and Civil War history to explore, and a diverse landscape with mountains, rivers, verdant farmland and the buzzing urban centers of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
City to consider: U.S. News ranks Altoona No. 1 in Pennsylvania and No. 8 nationwide among its best places to retire. Residents are drawn by affordable housing (the median sale price is about $142,000, per Redfin), low retiree taxes and a sizable number of locals who say they enjoy where they live. The city’s location on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Mountains offers plenty of outdoor opportunities.
Wyoming: Cool climate and no state income tax
Beartooth Highway in northwest Wyoming.
Alamy
Far from the oceans and with a mean elevation of 6,700 feet (making it the second-highest state in the country, after Colorado), Wyoming maintains a relatively cool, semi-arid climate. The range of altitude, from a low point of 3,100 feet above sea level to a peak of 13,800 feet, does make for some wide temperature variation, but across most of the state, summer highs are a mild 75 to 89 degrees. Winter temperatures typically plunge well below freezing, though.
Why else to retire there: This is a destination suited for people who like a lot of wide-open spaces and outdoor recreation such as fishing and hiking. Affordability is another plus, with WalletHub ranking Wyoming as the best state for retirement in 2026. Housing is cheap, property taxes are low and there’s no state income tax.
City to consider: Situated near Yellowstone National Park, Cody offers spectacular natural scenery, outdoor activities and Old West attractions befitting its frontier history (it was founded by William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill). Consumer finance site SmartAsset ranks it as the state’s top retirement destination, citing a low tax burden and higher per capita rates of medical facilities and recreation centers than most Wyoming towns.
Aaron Kassraie and Andy Markowitz contributed to this article.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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