You’ve probably heard the saying – it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity when people refer to miserable weather. Well, it’s true. According to the CDC (Centers For Disease Control), high humidity (the level of water vapor in the air), can cause a variety of miserable conditions.
- Mold and Mildew – high humidity levels can cause mold and mildew to grow quickly, which can cause allergies, respiratory issues, and trigger existing conditions, like asthma.
- General Discomfort – If the humidity level is combined with high temperatures, it can cause the body to be unable to regulate its temperature. This is why we often can’t stop sweating, feel clammy, and lethargic when it’s humid out.
- Dehydration – it’s very easy to become dehydrated during high humidity days, which can cause dizziness, nausea, and even fainting.
- Aggravate Joint and Muscular Conditions – people with arthritis and other physical conditions often find relief living in the least humid cities in the US.
This is why many people with medical and physical conditions often choose to live in places with low humidity. According to the American National Standards Institute, the ideal humidity level is between 30% to 60%.
Read on for our list of the best least humid cities in the US.
Methodology (How We Based Our Findings)
While it would be easy to find many low humidity cities in states like Arizona and Nevada alone, life is all about choices. So we carefully curated a list to include the least humid cities from across the country. Our research included:
- Government websites – We looked at statistics and verified information from sites like the CDC and National Weather Service.
- Real Estate Blogs – Information was gathered from several real estate sites, like Zillow, to conclude what cities people preferred for their weather. We also looked at the cheapest places to live with low humidity.
- Medical Journals – Journal articles written by medical experts were consulted to gather information about medical conditions that could be helped by living in cities with the least humidity.
- News Sites – We read articles and watched videos from meteorologists that work at a variety of television stations.
- Personal Stories – We scoured the web and read multiple testimonials about people who were generally happy with their decisions to move to low humidity cities.
Places to Live with Low Humidity in the US
Here are the top 20 cities in the US with the lowest humidity levels according to our research.
20. Hartford, Connecticut
According to Current Results Hartford is one of the cities on the Northeastern side of the country that has the lowest humidity. While there are places in the desert southwest that can top this, it’s one of the drier places on the Eastern Seaboard.
The average humidity level in Hartford is 66% which is significantly lower that the state average of 75%.If you’re looking for one of cheapest places to live with low humidity in Connecticut, Hartford’s cost of living is 9% lower than the state’s average.
19. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is a little drier on average than Hartford. It gets less rainfall than most other larger cities in the historical Eastern states. While Maryland has an overall humidity level of 77%, according to Current Results,
Baltimore is much lower at 65%. If you want to stay in the East, but you need to avoid humidity, Maryland is one of the better options.
18. Dallas, Texas
Dallas is just a little less humid than Baltimore in an average year. The city is known for its dusty cattle trails, and it’s one of the less humid cities in the state of Texas.
According to Weather and Climate, this metropolis has an average humidity level of 65.4%, compared to a statewide level of 79.8%.
If you’re a Texan and you want to get away from the high levels of humidity in the Gulf region, we recommend moving to Dallas where you’ll find a little relief.
17. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is one of the least humid places to live in the South. The average humidity of the climate is a little drier than Dallas, Texas. Oklahoma City is more prone to windstorms and the drying effects of nature than humid conditions.
If you’re looking for one of the cheapest places to live with low humidity, Oklahoma City has that covered. The cost of living is 16% cheaper than the national average. The cost of housing is a whopping 30% below the average in the United States, based on information from Greater Oklahoma City.
16. Washington, DC
If you prefer to live in the nation’s capital, you’ll be happy to know that the average humidity in the city is lower than that of Oklahoma City. It’s also one of the lowest on the East Coast with an average of 64.3%, based on information from Weather and Climate.
Although it’s not far from the Atlantic Seaboard, Washington DC is one of the best places to live in the region for anyone who doesn’t like humidity. We put it as the 16th best on our list.
15. New York, New York
Surprisingly, the Big Apple is one of the largest cities in the United States with a reasonably low average humidity. It gets a lot of snow in the winter, but the temperatures get extremely cold. The frigid conditions keep the air drier in the wintertime. We’re not saying the city that never sleeps doesn’t get some humid summer days, but the overall percentage of 63, is pretty good for the East Coast.
14. Yakima, Washington
Yakima is one of the best places to live with low humidity. The city is the eighth largest in Washington State. Yakima’s residents enjoy four distinct seasons. It’s located in the South Central region of Washington in the Yakima Valley.
The weather is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Yakima’s location puts it in a rain shadow with an average of 300 days of sunshine annually. The average relative humidity is 50%. According to AZ Central that brings us the next two best places with the lowest humidity.
13. Denver, Colorado
Denver holds its own when it comes to offering a reasonably dry climate. Although the landscape is dotted with pine forests, the year-round climate is mild. Denver has sunshine almost every day of the year. It’s situated at a high – altitude and the humidity is low at just 50%.
According to Weather and Climate, the humidity during July hovers around 46%, making summers in Denver quite comfortable.
12. Prescott, Arizona
Market Watch Cited Prescott as another great city to live in if you need to escape the humidity. According to Weather U.S. the humidity fluctuates from 23% to 58% depending on the time of year.
It’s located in the northern part of Arizona. It doesn’t get as hot as Phoenix. Prescott has milder summers without excessive heat.
11. Albuquerque, New Mexico
According to Clever Albuquerque has quite a few things going for it if you’re looking for a place to live with low humidity.
The median home value is $201,800 making it an affordable place to live with great public schools, a stable job market, and a low unemployment rate. The people from Albuquerque like the sense of community that the locals share in common.
10. Phoenix, Arizona
Clever also cites the dry climate of Phoenix that puts it on our list of the best places with low humidity as a good choice. According to Current Results the average humidity level is a comfortable 37%.
Phoenix also has a lot going for it such as affordable and plentiful housing, a strong job market excellent schools, and plenty of available outdoor activities for families. The one drawback to living in Phoenix is the scorching hot temperatures in the summer months.
You can be sure that there isn’t a lot of humidity in the air when it’s almost too hot to breathe in the full-sun.
9. Gilbert, Arizona
According to City Data, Gilbert, Arizona is a city where the humidity has a low average. At just over 36 percent humidity, it’s in an area with a dry climate.
Gilbert is a larger city with a population of just under 230,000 residents. It’s an excellent place for retirees, but it’s also a good place to raise a family if you prefer a city with an urban vibe.
8. Avondale, Arizona
If you’re looking for a smaller town with low humidity, you might want to consider Avondale. The town is about a quarter of the size of Gilbert. The population is 78,822 residents. It has an urban vibe, but there are outlying areas with a definitively rural feel.
Avondale has an average humidity of 36.3%. According to Weather Atlas the humidity level is at its lowest in June, where it dips to a mere 17%. If you’re prone to allergies or other respiratory problems, the climate is nice and dry, but you’ll want to use moisturizer for your skin.
7. Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Arizona with a larger population. It’s best for people who enjoy a dry climate and who don’t mind the heat of the summer months. You can tell it’s one of the more desired cities in the state of Arizona because of the population of 234,632 residents who call it home.
There are a lot of retirees in Glendale, but it’s also a place where couples like to raise their children because of the excellent rated schools. The humidity averages just 36.3 percent.
6. St. George, Utah
We go back to the state of Utah for our choice of the sixth-best place to live in the United States if you prefer low humidity. St. George features a dry climate that averages less moisture than some parts of Arizona or New Mexico.If you’re looking for a smaller city, the population is just 76,817 residents.
There are areas of St. George where you can get an urban feeling with plenty of shopping, dining, and outdoor activities if you’re a city dweller at heart. There are also some great rural areas if you prefer a slower and more quiet pace.
5. Spring Valley, Nevada
Spring Valley is a moderate-sized city with a population of 178,395 residents. If you think St. George has a dry climate, Spring Valley has it beat. The humidity averages an incredibly dry 30.4%, making it one of the least humid cities in the US. It’s ideal for anyone who enjoys more sunshine than clouds during the year.
Spring Valley offers a variety of neighborhoods to choose from. Some of them have a definite urban feel with plenty of amenities such as shopping, dining, and recreation. There are also neighborhoods with a sparse rural vibe if you like country living.
4. Enterprise, Nevada
Enterprise ties with Spring Valley with its average of 30.4% humidity. The town is a little over half the size of Spring Valley with a population of 108,481 residents.
There aren’t a lot of rural housing opportunities in Enterprise as most of the homes in the area are located within neighborhoods with an urban vibe. The population has been rising steadily in the city since the year 2000.
It’s a desirable place to live, and it’s been drawing in more people in their mid-30s. The median resident age is 34.8. It’s a great place to settle down and raise a family. The median household income in Enterprise is just over $79,000 per year.
3. Sunrise Manor, Nevada
Sunrise Manor is a larger city with a population of 189,372. The humidity is extremely low in this city, which is ranked as being 100% urban with no rural outlying areas. Sunrise Manor is just 3 miles outside of Las Vegas.
This puts residents close to the hustle and bustle of the larger metropolitan area. There are plenty of amenities for residents of Sunrise Manor, but it’s tucked away from the major city in its world. Sunrise Manor has a high population of people in their low to middle 30s.
It’s not so much a retirement area, but rather one that people choose to raise their families because of the highly-rated public schools in the area.
2. Palm Springs, California
According to Champion Traveler, Palm Springs with its desert climate has a humidity of 30.2 percent when it’s at its muggiest. During the really dry periods that reading drops significantly. Palm Springs is a popular vacation destination spot, and it’s also home to many celebrity personalities.
Palm Springs tends to have a higher cost of living. There are quite a few upscale communities in this desert region, but you can also find a few more affordable neighborhoods. If you love to golf, then you might think you’ve gone to heaven in Palm Springs.
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is also referred to as the gambling capital of the world. The city is known for its high-rolling casinos and spectacular entertainment venues. The city also has one of the lowest humidity averages in the United States.
The desert climate of Las Vegas averages just 30.1 percent. It may fluctuate a few points here and there, but it’s a dry and arid region. Las Vegas is best for people who prefer to live in a large and active city.
The population is 603,488 residents, according to City Data. The median household income is just under $57,000 per year. The cost of living is slightly lower than the state average.
The city is calmer during the daylight hours, but the town lights up in grand style towards the evening. It’s one of the most desired vacation destinations in the world today.
You can also read:
ncG1vNJzZmiln6OyurXNnGWcp51kr6a%2F02anpZmTmsBuuM6wZKGtnZ6xqsDYZqxmq18%3D