The 10 Coldest Cities in the U.S.

Key takeaways

• Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Grand Forks are among the coldest cities in the U.S., with average temperatures below 40°F annually.
• These cities are primarily located in Alaska, the Upper Midwest, and the Rocky Mountains, where cold Arctic air and winter weather are common.
• While winters are warming up, cold temperatures still impact various aspects such as energy costs and housing prices.

Cold weather can provide a cozy change from hot summers and is often welcomed annually. Many people look forward to the serene snowy winters in northern states, where winter wonderlands are typical.

However, the occurrence of cold weather is decreasing. The last 11 years have been the hottest on record, and winter is the fastest-warming season, with acceleration increasing as you move further north. These changes have implications for homebuyers and sellers due to increased risks of flooding, storms, and extreme weather events.

In the aftermath of a record-warm summer, where can you still experience cold temperatures? Redfin has compiled a list of the coldest cities in the U.S., detailing why they are so cold and what factors to consider before making a relocation.

The coldest cities in the U.S.

Fairbanks holds the title of the coldest city in the U.S., with an average annual temperature nearly 10°F lower than Anchorage, the second coldest city. Grand Forks in northern North Dakota is the coldest city in the contiguous United States. International Falls, MN is technically colder, but its size excludes it from our list.

Alaska dominates the list of the coldest cities in the U.S. due to its extreme northern location. While Alaska is the coldest state, it is also the fastest-warming state.

If we consider average winter temperatures, other cities like Fargo, ND, St. Cloud, MN, Willmar, MN, and Watertown, SD would make the top ten. Coastal cities like Anchorage and Juneau would not feature prominently due to the warming effect of large bodies of water.