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Many people love the summers because it reminds them of the fun and relaxing stuff like summer camp, warm sand, salty ocean air, waterparks, ice cream, flip flops, shorts, barbecues and much more. But the perks of summer are enjoyed most by states in the southern tier of the United States. This is why the Southern layer on the map is also recognised as the ‘Sun Belt’ of the country. This belt stretches from southeast all the way to the southwest in California.
Among the states that comprise the Sun Belt, California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Carolina, New Mexico are some of the most adored states by people who love the sunny skies that can give them a perfect tan! People pretty much make their way to these states to soak up all the sun they can get and enjoy a tropical-ish climate here.
However, these states are not just favored summer destinations but also the most populated states in the US. A large number of people prefer to flock over to these states to take advantage of the growing economic opportunities, variety of recreational options, comfortable standard of living and of course, the warm climate!
If you hate shoveling snow out of the driveway and would prefer relocating somewhere sunny instead, read on to learn more about your options. Below is a list of the sunniest cities in the U.S you can consider moving to.
There are the 17 states that are part of the Sun belt - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Utah. Out of these, the highlighted 8 states made it to our top sunniest cities list. Let’s dive into the reasons these states make it.
The most attractive aspect of living in New Mexico is that the state is blessed with 310 days of sunshine. The climate itself encourages residents and the communities here to find thousands of reasons to stay outside. Moreover, the summers have low humidity, creating a comfortable atmosphere for residents to walk, jog, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Few of the highlights of New Mexico are the natural hot springs, breathtaking mountains and the picturesque streets. While looking out for the perfect word to describe the scenic beauty of the land here, the state found its nickname and is now popularly called ‘The Land of Enchantment’.
Two of the biggest metropolitan regions of the state are Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The top reasons people choose to relocate to these two metro areas is the cost of housing. Although you may move to these cities for the sunlight, there’s a high chance you fall in love with the region in fall. The city of Santa Fe is loved by tourists and residents alike for the fact that it has a rich culture, history, fiestas and great road conditions with scanty traffic.
Median price of homes for sale in Santa Fe: $416,113Median rent per month in Santa Fe: $1475
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The weather in South Carolina leans towards all the traits of a tropical climate. The state is filled with ample beaches such as Kiawah island, Hilton Head, Sullivan’s, Myrtle and much more. Southern hospitality, impressive educational systems, top-notch restaurants, warm friendly communities are some of the most appreciated aspects of the lifestyle in South Carolina.
The second most sunny city that makes our list is the city of Charleston. This is the largest city of the state and most loved for the aesthetics of the buildings and streets. In this city you’ll never find yourself running out of the things to do, it is pretty much bustling with events all year round. Charleston has some of the most remarkable historic buildings and ideal weather conditions throughout the year. You can take full advantage of the coastline and the pleasant weather to go kayaking, fishing, hiking, cycling and much more. However, you must also be aware that on some days you could have a sunny day with rain, these are common weather conditions of living in a subtropical region. Most people don’t mind this at all because it’s easy to get used to the fluctuating weather when the majority of the time it’s sunny.
Median price of homes for sale in Charleston: $343,243Median rent per month in Charleston: $1,547
See also: Moving to Charleston, SC
In the state of California the winters are extremely mild and manageable when compared with other states. While the summers tend to be warm and pleasant with clear skies. If you decide to move here you’ll get to explore a variety of beaches, freshwater lakes, deserts and mountains too. Living in California means you’ll have some of the classic cities in your neighborhood such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara and some of the best universities too. The state is also home to the Pacific coast highway which is one of the most scenic roads in the whole world.
In California the city Sacramento is the capital and the fastest growing hub of the state. If you wish to live and work in a state that enjoys warm weather, cheap food and a friendly atmosphere, Sacramento is your best bet. In comparison to the other big cities of the state, the cost of living in Sacramento is fairly affordable. The town is centrally located and you could be a drive away from some of the most beautiful spots of the state. The Bay area, Golden Gate Bridge, Lake Tahoe and the gorgeous Napa wineries are just hours away from the city of Sacramento. With 269 days of sunshine, you can enjoy cycling, hiking, boating, jogging and much more here.
Median price of homes for sale in Sacramento: $370,271Median rent per month in Sacramento: $1438
See also: Top California Moving Companies
Georgia is located in the southern easthern part of the U.S. It is currently the 08th most populated state. Interestingly, 20 of the companies from the Fortune 500 list have their headquarters set up in this state. In Georgia, be sure to experience a sub-tropical climate as it never really gets too cold. The state roughly gets around 36 days of freezing weather and on most of the other days you can enjoy a good amount of sunshine.
Georgia’s coast and barrier islands are some of the more active spots of the state. We’d highly recommend visiting Jekyll, Sea, St. Simons and Tybee Island to have a good old time in the sun. A laid back vibe, beach towns and a growing economy is what awaits anyone who decides to relocate to Georgia. Among all the cities, a larger number of people choose to move to the capital city which is Atlanta. Presently, Atlanta has grown to be the 36th most populous city known for its light winters, abundance of city parks, walkable green spaces like Piedmont Park and Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Median price of homes for sale in Atlanta: $296,590Median rent per month in Atlanta: $1467
See also: Moving to Georgia - Relocation Tips
Florida has been nicknamed the ‘Sunshine State’ and is packed with all the things you’d probably do on a vacation. It also happens to be one of the best places to retire. The lack of income tax in the state lets you save more so that you can ultimately live a more comfortable and affordable lifestyle. Most retirees see their funds survive longer in this state since there’s no state tax on both pension and social security. Other than saving on taxes the state has a wide variety of theme parks and stunning white sand beaches. Which is why you’d spot most of the people in shorts and beach clothes.
Florida managed to become the top places to retire because of the variety of recreational activities available throughout the year. Precisely the weather also plays a role here since it motivates residents to be up and about. Among all the cities in Florida, the city of Tampa in particular enjoys a good deal of sunshine. It’s the third largest city in the state and has some of the most historic neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Seminole Heights and Ybor city. Tourism does play a vital role in the city of Tampa, however the healthcare, retail, insurance and real estate industry are also big contributors to the economy of the city.
Median price of homes for sale in Tampa: $268,424Median rent per month in Tampa: $1359
See also: Tampa FL Relocation Guide
In Arizona, Summer is the dominant season all year round. Tourists love visiting the state for it’s warm desert-like climate and the Grand Canyon National Park. However, if you choose to move here, be ready to embrace all the 320 days of sunshine that the state gets annually. Keep in mind that the scorching heat in Arizona is not for everyone. Today, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma are the top 3 cities in this state that are growing in numbers everyday.
Phoenix is now the fifth most populous city in the U.S and the cultural center as well as capital of the state. Widely known to be ‘Valley of the Sun’ the extreme summers are always a hot topic. Since Arizona is a desert most of the landscape is barren but you can still enjoy a beautiful glimpse of a clear sky of stars at night. The cost of living is reasonable but like we said it can be difficult to deal with the heat at certain temperatures so this could be a dealbreaker for many. The best feature of this city is the drastically low rent prices, sparse traffic, good connections to big cities and great affordable restaurant options. If you’re planning on visiting the place before moving in you won’t have much trouble on the road as the layout of the roads here are efficient and easy to figure out even if you’re a newcomer to the city.
Median price of homes for sale in Phoenix: $283,594Median rent per month in Phoenix: $1141
See also: Moving to Phoenix, AZ
Texas is among the giant states of the U.S, it is the second largest state and people love the warm weather here but at the same time the summers can tend to get brutal. Texas is gaining more and more residents since most of the metropolitan cities are financially growing stronger everyday. The state has good transportation services like city buses, commuter trains and a metro rail system. But do keep in mind that the state is huge and depending on the area you choose to settle in the character of the region would differ. Houston, Austin, Dallas and El Paso are some of the biggest cities of this state.
Among them El Paso tops the sunny cities in Texas with an average of 235 sunny days. If you choose to move here you would end up becoming a lover of the Mexican cuisine, the warm desert sun and fall in love with the cityscape. El Paso also has a lower crime rate than other cities of the same size which is what makes it a great location to move with family. The cost of living and value for homes is also comparatively low. Also, most houses in the neighborhood would have pools to dive in when the heat gets a bit too much.
Median price of homes for sale in El Paso: $143,505Median rent per month in El Paso: $1125
The pros of Nevada is the bright sunny weather that you can enjoy all year round. The state also shares its borders with California and the terrain here is mostly desert. If you like being outdoors there is a lot to do in the state. The first thing that probably comes to mind is Las Vegas, the city which gets 300 days of sunshine is also known for gambling and its nightlife.
Just the state of Florida, you can end up having more savings in this state because there is no state income tax. If you’re looking for a residential spot away from the glam of Las Vegas, you can consider calling Reno for your new home. Popularly known as the ‘Biggest Little City in the World’, it is the second most populated city of the state. Reno offers residents a variety of recreational options however the city is still slightly on the touristy side because it makes a great base for those visiting Las Vegas, so it’s probably not everyone’s cup of tea.
Median price of homes for sale in Reno: $409,375Median rent per month in Reno: $1268
Conclusion
Some states are surely more blessed with days of sunshine than others. The weather is one of the hot topics when it comes to relocating houses across state borders. There’s no denying that the more insights you have, the more informed decision you will make. After all, what’s the point of living in a city which features weather that’s totally not your jam? However, taking the weather into consideration is a small part of the much larger decision of choosing your hometown. In addition to the climate, you’d also need to get an understanding of the culture of the area, affordability of the lifestyle, safety of the neighborhood and the work opportunities that await you and much more.
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