The 10 Largest Cities (Relatively) Safe From Climate Change

The effects of global climate change are already wreaking havoc, and all evidence suggests things are going to get worse in the near future. Learning how to deal with/survive extreme weather—floods, hurricanes, tornados, heat— is likely to become increasingly important for everyone, and one viable strategy could involve moving somewhere likely to be safer and more livable as conditions continue to deteriorate. But figuring out there to go in the U.S. is a tricky question.

Geographical location is obviously a big factor in climate change survivability and safety, but so are a city’s infrastructure and its citizen readiness. Which cities are likely to remain resilient and vibrant in the face of climate change is difficult to predict, but it’s a vital question. With all this in mind, here’s a list of 10 cities in the U.S. that may provide a more livable future, at least according to a variety of experts using different criteria in their evaluations.

San Francisco, California

How San Francisco might fare in our globally warmed future provides a lesson in the difficulty of predicting said future. The City by the Bay is the best city for climate change according to insurance marketplace Policy Genius’s criteria; they say SF is “largely immune to the climate-related disasters we measured in our study, with few hurricanes and tornadoes expected.” But according to Moody Analytics’ research, San Francisco is at “most risk of heat, drought and sea-level rise.” So it’s either the best or worst city for global warming, depending on how you look at it.

Buffalo, New York

Jesse Keenan, associate professor of real estate at Tulane University, has looked into which U.S. cities are most likely to see an influx of climate migrants in the coming years. He thinks Buffalo is a likely destination for those fleeing the worst of coming disasters. According to Keenan, cities like Buffalo and Duluth, Minnesota, have stable sources of energy, cooler climates, and access to fresh water. “They also have less vulnerability to forest fires, as compared to somewhere like the Pacific north-west. They also have a legacy of excess infrastructural capacity that allows them to diversify their economy in the future. Land prices are cheap and they have a relatively well-educated and skilled labor force.”

Denver, Colorado

According to Architectural Digest’s list of the most climate-resilient cities, Denver is a the best city in the U.S. to escape the worst of the climate crisis; due largely to its elevation and location, risks posed by sea level rise are minimal, and Denver has been largely spared from extreme weather destruction over the past decade. (Denver also made Policy Genius’s top 10 list of climate-safer cities.)

Knoxville, Tennesee

Knoxville and other cities in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Louisiana are good global warming locations because of their aquifers. The abundant water supply makes future droughts less likely in these places, according to Moody Analytics. On the other hand, the southern states are pretty hot already and are unlikely to get any cooler.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is unlikely to heat up as significantly as other places in the U.S. According to Policy Genius, residents there can expect just 10 days of extreme heat and just over 13 days of high heat and humidity each year by 2050. The city’s location along three rivers might lead to flooding as water levels rise, however.

Seattle, Washington

A seaport city like Seattle might seem a strange haven for climate change, but less than 10% of Seattle’s properties are expected to be in 100-year flood zones by 2050, notes Policy Genius. Rising sea levels are expected to affect only 0.35% of Seattle properties in the same time period. Architectural Digest lists Seattle as the fourth most climate resilient city too.

Raleigh, North Carolina

The second largest city in North Carolina ranks high for its clean energy infrastructure, according to Architectural Digest. It gets good marks in terms of climate change readiness and adaptability as well as clean energy infrastructure. The air quality is good too: This city also boasts 217 days of “good” air quality per year on average, compared to Denver’s 84 days.

Detroit, Michigan

The Motor City may be a great bet for climate refugees. According to Moody Analytics, it’s at lower risk of heat, drought, and sea-level rise than just about any city in the U.S. It also features lower real estate prices and an existing city infrastructure. For these reasons, Detroit is also regarded as a likely haven for climate refugees by Jesse Keenan.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is likely to suffer more wildfires than other places, but there’s less risk of flooding. The city is also making efforts to reduce carbon emissions and focus on renewable energy sources. It’s third on the list of most climate-resilient cities in the U.S. according to Architectural Digest.

Columbus, Ohio

The most likely risk for Columbus, Ohio residents in the future is heat. The risk from other natural disasters—hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires—is expected to remain low, according to Policy Genius, who named Columbus as the third best city for climate change. Architectural Digest agrees, placing Columbus eighth on its list of climate resilient cities.

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