Special Report

The Best and Worst US Cities to Live as Global Warming Worsens

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: January 20, 2024 11:32 am

When most of us think of owning a home, we tend to look at areas by location and what we may like. While homeownership is one of the best ways to secure a comfortable financial future, where you choose to live can also have an impact, both positive and negative. With the effect of climate change knocking on front doors across the globe, opting for homes in certain areas can mean exposing yourself to future adverse impacts of blistering heat waves, heavy storms, wildfires, and flooding — not to mention the rising insurance premiums that come with all of that. (Find out how 2023 compares to the hottest summers over the last 50 years.)

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a ranking by online insurance marketplace Policygenius, which examined how the country’s 50 most-populated metropolitan statistical areas will fare by 2050 to gauge where in the United States people are more or less likely to endure climate change impacts. These rankings are based on several climate change-related indicators that impact an area’s livability such as heat, air quality, and rising sea levels. Policygenius’ full methodology can be found here.

San Francisco, despite the constant threat of earthquakes, earned the highest overall score as the best city to confront the effects of climate change, with minimal exposure to extreme heat and humidity; a low percentage of properties built on flood plains; and geographically shielded from the effects of seasonal wildfires. Policygenius emphasizes that this ranking is one of the largest metros and San Francisco has a much higher risk than many smaller cities.

Houston is at the other end, the city least prepared to confront the challenges of climate change, according to Policygenius, owing to its exposure to hurricanes that are expected to become stronger and more frequent in the coming decades. Approximately 16% of Houston homes are built on 100-year flood plains, meaning they have a higher chance of being flooded, even by smaller storms. Other cities with low overall scores are Los Angeles, Tucson, Arizona; New Orleans, and Florida’s top four most-populated metro areas. (Globally, these are the 25 worst cities to live as global warming gets worse.)

Three cities scored the lowest in four indicators: Los Angeles for air quality, Tucson for heat and humidity, and Miami for flooding and sea level rise; climate-related disasters. This may not be a surprise. A recent report from the American Lung Association gave Los Angeles (and 10 other counties) failing grades in all three of its air quality measures, while Tucson keeps beating heat records. Similarly, Miami could see hurricanes becoming more frequent and more intense, and it is already seeing the effects of sea level rise. 

Here are the best and worst U.S. cities to live as global warming worsens.

See below for our detailed methodology.

1. San Francisco, CA

Source: Toa55 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 95.7/100
• Air quality: 90/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 82.5/100
• Natural disasters: 91.3/100
• Population: 4,623,264

2. Seattle, WA

Stormy white edge of the world... (CC BY 2.0) by Wonderlane

• Extreme heat and humidity: 90.5/100
• Air quality: 85/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 36.5/100
• Natural disasters: 67.3/100
• Population: 4,011,553

3. Minneapolis, MN

Source: JenniferPhotographyImaging / E+ via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 66.3/100
• Air quality: 52/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 64.7/100
• Natural disasters: 52/100
• Population: 3,690,512

4. Baltimore, MD

Source: EyeJoy / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 66/100
• Air quality: 69/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 60.5/100
• Natural disasters: 62/100
• Population: 2,838,327

5. Milwaukee, WI

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 71/100
• Air quality: 34/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 78.7/100
• Natural disasters: 70.7/100
• Population: 1,566,487

6. San Jose, CA

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 100/100
• Air quality: 42/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 40/100
• Natural disasters: 57.3/100
• Population: 1,952,185

7. Columbus, OH

Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 63/100
• Air quality: 58/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 71.3/100
• Natural disasters: 70/100
• Population: 2,151,017

8. Portland, OR

Source: jbentley09 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 78/100
• Air quality: 94/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 28.3/100
• Natural disasters: 72/100
• Population: 2,510,696

9. Buffalo, NY

Source: GeorgePeters / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 85.7/100
• Air quality: 75/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 34/100
• Natural disasters: 58.7/100
• Population: 1,162,336

10. Cleveland, OH

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 68.7/100
• Air quality: 22/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 75.3/100
• Natural disasters: 66.7/100
• Population: 2,075,662

11. Raleigh, NC

Source: Sara D. Davis / Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 58/100
• Air quality: 78/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 68/100
• Natural disasters: 36.7/100
• Population: 1,448,411

12. Denver, CO

Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 55.3/100
• Air quality: 17/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 96/100
• Natural disasters: 68/100
• Population: 2,972,567

13. Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Ice Flood aftermath... (CC BY 2.0) by daveynin

• Extreme heat and humidity: 74.8/100
• Air quality: 26/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 35.3/100
• Natural disasters: 64/100
• Population: 2,353,538

14. Providence, RI

Yellow house, red door (CC BY 2.0) by moarplease

• Extreme heat and humidity: 89.7/100
• Air quality: 69/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 41.3/100
• Natural disasters: 52/100
• Population: 1,675,774

15. Austin, TX

Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 52/100
• Air quality: 58/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 79/100
• Natural disasters: 31.3/100
• Population: 2,352,426

16. Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Chiefs help with J... (CC BY 2.0) by Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Extreme heat and humidity: 47.3/100
• Air quality: 44/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 78/100
• Natural disasters: 61.3/100
• Population: 2,199,544

17. Washington, DC

Source: Bill Chizek / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 38/100
• Air quality: 46/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 52/100
• Natural disasters: 88/100
• Population: 6,358,652

18. Bridgeport, CT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 71/100
• Air quality: 75/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 16.5/100
• Natural disasters: 52/100
• Population: 959,768

19. Richmond, VA

Source: traveler1116 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 48.3/100
• Air quality: 92/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 58/100
• Natural disasters: 61.3/100
• Population: 1,317,525

20. San Diego, CA

Source: Frank Armstrong / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 90/100
• Air quality: 13/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 64.5/100
• Natural disasters: 34/100
• Population: 3,286,069

21. Detroit, MI

Source: daquellamanera / Flickr

• Extreme heat and humidity: 70/100
• Air quality: 39/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 60/100
• Natural disasters: 65.3/100
• Population: 4,365,205

22. Boston, MA

Source: Harry Andresen / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 75.3/100
• Air quality: 81/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 11/100
• Natural disasters: 67.3/100
• Population: 4,899,932

23. Charlotte, NC

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 59/100
• Air quality: 52/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 54.7/100
• Natural disasters: 46.7/100
• Population: 2,701,046

24. St. Louis, MO

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 33/100
• Air quality: N/A
• Flooding and sea level rise: 57.3/100
• Natural disasters: 77.3/100
• Population: 2,806,615

25. Atlanta, GA

Source: Gavin Averill / Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 58.8/100
• Air quality: 48/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 53.3/100
• Natural disasters: 44/100
• Population: 6,144,970

26. Dallas, TX

Dallas, TX: Hurricane Rita cha... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Eugene Lazutkin

• Extreme heat and humidity: 50.8/100
• Air quality: 72/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 96/100
• Natural disasters: 34.7/100
• Population: 7,759,615

27. Sacramento, CA

Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 28/100
• Air quality: 66/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 57.5/100
• Natural disasters: 62.7/100
• Population: 2,411,428

28. Cincinnati, OH

Source: tankbmb / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 51.3/100
• Air quality: 30/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 38.3/100
• Natural disasters: 68.7/100
• Population: 2,261,665

29. Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

• Extreme heat and humidity: 50.5/100
• Air quality: 96/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 10/100
• Natural disasters: 39.3/100
• Population: 1,806,423

30. Indianapolis, IN

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 62/100
• Air quality: 17/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 70.3/100
• Natural disasters: 62.7/100
• Population: 2,129,479

31. Phoenix, AZ

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 52.5/100
• Air quality: 4/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 94/100
• Natural disasters: 31.3/100
• Population: 4,946,145

32. Salt Lake City, UT

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 32/100
• Air quality: 22/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 41/100
• Natural disasters: 62.7/100
• Population: 1,263,061

33. Oklahoma City, OK

Supercell storm produces a wal... (CC BY 2.0) by State Farm

• Extreme heat and humidity: 51.8/100
• Air quality: 28/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 81.3/100
• Natural disasters: 29.3/100
• Population: 1,441,647

34. Louisville, KY

Source: Pictures-and-Pixels / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 31/100
• Air quality: 36/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 39.7/100
• Natural disasters: 66.7/100
• Population: 1,284,826

35. San Antonio, TX

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 51.8/100
• Air quality: 32/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 84.3/100
• Natural disasters: 34.7/100
• Population: 2,601,788

36. Nashville, TN

Source: Robin Zeigler / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 34.3/100
• Air quality: 52/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 42/100
• Natural disasters: 48.7/100
• Population: 2,013,506

37. Chicago, IL

Source: tacojim / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 48.8/100
• Air quality: 13/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 27.3/100
• Natural disasters: 55.3/100
• Population: 9,510,390

38. New York, NY

Source: HaraldEWeiss / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 63.3/100
• Air quality: 88/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 22.5/100
• Natural disasters: 65.3/100
• Population: 19,768,458

39. Philadelphia, PA

Source: Olga Kaya / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 51.7/100
• Air quality: 39/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 39.8/100
• Natural disasters: 55.3/100
• Population: 6,228,601

40. Riverside, CA

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 53.2/100
• Air quality: 6/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 48.7/100
• Natural disasters: 29.3/100
• Population: 4,653,105

41. Memphis, TN

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 22/100
• Air quality: 62/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 46.3/100
• Natural disasters: 36.7/100
• Population: 1,336,438

42. Las Vegas, NV

Source: trekandshoot / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 19.3/100
• Air quality: 8/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 89/100
• Natural disasters: 58/100
• Population: 2,292,476

43. New Orleans, LA

Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 24/100
• Air quality: 98/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 8/100
• Natural disasters: 31.3/100
• Population: 1,261,726

44. Tucson, AZ

Source: csfotoimages / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 8/100
• Air quality: 10/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 94.7/100
• Natural disasters: 42/100
• Population: 1,052,030

45. Orlando, FL

Source: DESKCUBE / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 20/100
• Air quality: 85/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 51/100
• Natural disasters: 12/100
• Population: 2,691,925

46. Los Angeles, CA

Source: E4C / E+ via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 54/100
• Air quality: 2/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 40/100
• Natural disasters: 38/100
• Population: 12,997,353

47. Jacksonville, FL

Florida National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

• Extreme heat and humidity: 20/100
• Air quality: 64/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 10.5/100
• Natural disasters: 20.7/100
• Population: 1,637,666

48. Tampa, FL

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 27.3/100
• Air quality: 58/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 11/100
• Natural disasters: 10.7/100
• Population: 3,219,514

49. Miami, FL

Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 37.3/100
• Air quality: 81/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 5.5/100
• Natural disasters: 3.3/100
• Population: 6,091,747

50. Houston, TX

Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• Extreme heat and humidity: 14.7/100
• Air quality: 22/100
• Flooding and sea level rise: 20/100
• Natural disasters: 21.3/100
• Population: 7,206,841

Methodology

24/7 Wall St. reviewed online insurance marketplace Policygenius ranking of America’s 50 largest cities by population to find the best and worst American cities to live in as climate change gets worse. To determine which of those U.S. metro areas are the best and worst to live in 2050, Policygenius analyzed data from several sources and scored cities across six key factors: Heat and humidity; flooding and sea level rise; climate-related disasters; air quality; social vulnerability; and community resilience. 

Each city was then assigned a categorical score based on its average ranking across the different indicators for each category with higher scores meaning a better outlook and a lower score a worse outlook. The full methodology can be found here. We added the metro area population from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2021 one-year estimates.