Top places to retire just might surprise you as snowy winters remain a common theme

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What are the best places to live in the US?

U.S. News and World Report ranked 150 metro areas around the country from best to worst. Here are the top and bottom five.

Snowbirds didn't have much say in the best cities to retire, as the winner of the best place to retire is in the Rust Belt. 

U.S. News crunched numbers to calculate the best places to retire from the country's 150 largest metro areas. Get the snow shovels and gloves ready to clear off the shuffleboard courts because cities with four seasons dominate the top 50. In fact, FOX Weather's Snowiest City in America, Syracuse, New York and the third snowiest, Rochester, were in the top 30.

Pennsylvania is home to seven of the top 10 slots. Cities in Ohio, New York and finally, Florida round out the top.

Six of the 50 of the coldest cities in America, according to NOAA, also made the list.

The first city that doesn't dip near freezing for average winter lows is Daytona Beach, Florida, coming in at No. 8. Tampa and Sarasota broke into the top 20.

Anchorage edged out Phoenix, ranking 128 and 129, respectively. The sunniest places in the country, Southern California and Arizona, didn't even make the top 100. Tucson, Arizona, came in at 103. California broke into the list at 115 with San Diego.

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File: A saguaro cactus stands in the Sonoran Desert in October 2022 near Apache Junction, Arizona. 

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What makes a city the best to retire?

It turns out, weather doesn't calculate as a very high determination for the best places to retire, according to U.S. News. The publication surveyed 3,500 people 45 years old and up to weigh the most important factors for a comfortable retirement.

Affordable housing and the cost of living accounted for a quarter of the score. The health care quality and retiree taxes took 16% each for a total of 32%. The job market took 8% of the score. 

Weather, climate and natural disasters only accounted for a fraction of the scores in the Happiness Index and the Desirability Index. 

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File: Seniors play pickle ball, the fastest growing sport in the country, outside in Englewood, Florida. 

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• Happiness totals 22% of the total score, and 50% of that goes to the crime rate. Air quality is 15% of the happiness score, while FEMA's National Risk Index (a city's vulnerability to natural disasters) factors 5% of the Happiness score.
• The Desirability Index covers 13% of the overall score. Analysts ranked the cities in terms of weather temperateness or the number of days in a year that stayed between freezing and 90 degrees, which is 10% of the Desirability score.
• Then, 80% of the 13% went into the desirability survey, where respondents ranked the cities according to where they wanted to live.

So, air quality accounted for 3.3% of the overall score.  The risk of natural disasters accounted for 1.1% of the overall score. Moderate temperatures accounted for 1.3% of the overall score. And a person's choice of where to live accounted for 10.4% of the overall score.

The winners:

1. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

File: Pennsylvania's State Capital in Harrisburg.

(John Greim/LightRocket / Getty Images)

New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are all a couple hours car ride away from Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River. It offers much more affordable housing than the larger cities, though.

• Winter: Averages 9.1 inches of rain equivalent, 22.9 inches of snow, high temperature 41.3 and low 25.3
• Spring: Averages 11.1 inches of rain equivalent, 6.0 inches of snow, 62.9 high temperature and low 42.6
• Summer: Averages 12.5 inches of rain, high temperature 84.6 and low 65.4
• Fall: Averages 11.6 inches of rain equivalent, 1.0 inches of snow, high temperature 65.7 and low 46.7

2. Reading, Pennsylvania

File: Opening night for the Reading Fightin Phils against the Erie Seawolves at First Energy Stadium in Reading in 2021.

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Reading experiences of all four seasons: Snowy winters, crisp autumns, cool springs and warm summers. 

• Winter: Averages 9.1 inches of rain equivalent, 22.7 inches of snow, high temperature 41.3 and low 25.1
• Spring: Averages 10.39 inches of rain equivalent, 5.7 inches of snow, high temperature 62.6 and low 41.7
• Summer: Averages 18.8 inches of rain, high temperature 84.3 and low 63.7
• Fall: Averages 11.7 inches of rain equivalent, 1.3 inches of snow, high temperature 65.4 and low 45.7

3. Lancaster, Pennsylvania

File: Amish boys in a horse-drawn wagon in Lancaster County.

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"Many things depend on the season in Lancaster, as each of the four seasons brings distinct conditions: emperate, blossom-filled springs; hot, barbecue-filled summers; crisp, colorful autumns; and frigid, snowy winters," wrote U.S. News.

On average 27.5 inches of snow falls a year, according to the Millersville University Weather Center.

• Winter: Averages 7.9 inches of rain equivalent, high temperature 42.0 and low 23.9
• Spring: Averages 10.1 inches of rain equivalent, high temperature 62.9 and low 40.3
• Summer: Averages 12.5 inches of rain, high temperature 84.4 and low 62.4
• Fall: Averages 11.5 inches of rain equivalent, high temperature 66.1 and low 44.4

4. Scranton, Pennsylvania

"Scranton may be the sixth-largest city in Pennsylvania, but the close-knit neighborhoods that surround the vibrant downtown give Scranton its small-town appeal," wrote U.S. News. "The metro area owes its name to the Scranton family, who helped establish the region as an iron and steel capital back in the 19th and 20th centuries."

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File: View of downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, the "Electric City" in August 2020. 

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• Winter: Averages 7.46 inches of rain equivalent, 30.3 inches of snow, high temperature 38.3 and low 22,8
• Spring: Averages 9.29 inches of rain equivalent, 10.9 inches of snow, high temperature 60.3 and low 38.3
• Summer: Averages 11.26 inches of rain, high temperature 82.3 and low 60.6
• Fall: Averages 10.7 inches of rain equivalent, 3.9 inches of snow, high temperature 63.1 and low 43.9

5. Allentown, Pennsylvania

"Nestled within the Lehigh Valley, with the Blue Mountain range to the north and South Mountain to the southwest, Allentown offers hikers and skiers access to great trails and snow," wrote U.S. News. "Residents can drive to New York City or Philadelphia in roughly two hours. Allentown's convenient location, commitment to healthy living and celebration of the arts make it a great place for active folks to live."

• Winter: Averages 9.93 inches of rain equivalent, 25.2 inches of snow, high temperature 41.0 and low 23.9
• Spring: Averages 10.95 inches of rain equivalent, 6.8 inches of snow, high temperature 62.6 and low 40.5
• Summer: Averages 14.26 inches of rain, high temperature 84.2 and low 62.5
• Fall: Averages 12.2 inches of rain equivalent, 1.1 inches of snow, high temperature 65.6 and low 44.4

The losers (bottom 5):

150. San Jose, California

San Jose comes in as the 13th best place to live in the country but the worst metro city in which to retire. The area offers about 300 sunny days a year and is close to the ocean and mountains. But the cost of living is one of the highest in the nation.

• Winter: Averages 7.8 inches of rain, high temperature 60.6 and low 42.4
• Spring: Averages 3.2 inches of rain, high temperature 69.6 and low 48.9
• Summer: Averages 0.2 inches of rain, high temperature 80.4 and low 57.4
• Fall: Averages 1.9 inches of rain, high temperature 74.2 and low 53.4

149. Stockton, California

File: Two young men fish from the dock at the Tower Park Resort & Marina in the California Delta near Stockton, California. 

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

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"Stockton experiences all four seasons," wrote U.S. News. "Summer temperatures can reach triple digits, and winters are relatively mild."

• Winter: Averages 7.58 inches of rain, high temperature 59.0 and low 39.6
• Spring: Averages 3.59 inches of rain, high temperature 75.2 and low 48.1
• Summer: Averages 0.1 inches of rain, high temperature 93.4 and low 59.6
• Fall: Averages 2.17 inches of rain, high temperature 79.1 and low 50.3

148. Albuquerque, New Mexico

File: During the Mass Ascencion at the opening of the International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2014.

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"Albuquerque enjoys all four seasons. During a typical year, monsoon rains in June and September bring cooler temperatures," wrote U.S. News. "Albuquerque receives three or four good snowstorms a year, though the snow melts quickly. In all, Albuquerque records around 300 sunny days a year, making it one of the sunniest places in the U.S."

• Winter: Averages 1.32 inches of rain equivalent, 5.7 inches of snow, high temperature 49.9 and low 27.6
• Spring: Averages 1.41 inches of rain equivalent, 1.0 inches of snow, high temperature 71.0 and low 57.5
• Summer: Averages 3.52 inches of rain, high temperature 90.1 and low 64.4
• Fall: Averages 2.59 inches of rain equivalent, 1.1 inches of snow, high temperature 70.1 and low 46.1

147. San Juan, Puerto Rico

"Sea breezes keep the heat at bay," wrote U.S. News. "Hurricanes are always a possibility when living in the Caribbean, as the stormy season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30. The island will sometimes experience hurricanes, large amounts of rain and flooding."

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File: San Juan, Puerto Rico.

(RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP / Getty Images)

• Winter: Averages 11.5 inches of rain, high temperature 83.7 and low 72.5
• Spring: Averages 12.32 inches of rain, high temperature 86.0 and low 74.0
• Summer: Averages 16.97 inches of rain, high temperature 88.0 and low 76.4
• Fall: Averages 19.1 inches of rain, high temperature 88.0 and low 76.4

146. Denver, Colorado

"Although the weather in Denver is generally sunny and dry, it can be subject to quick bursts of rain, snow, hail and lightning thanks to its geographical relation to the foothills of the mountains," wrote U.S. News. "Those unfamiliar with the Mile High City may think that winters are bad, but Denver usually experiences bright blue skies and powdery snow that melts by noon." 

File: Snow covers the landscape surrounding I-75 facing west toward the Rocky Mountains. 

(Tony Savino / Corbis / Getty Images)

• Winter: Averages 1.14 inches of rain equivalent, 20.6 inches of snow, high temperature 44.8 and low 18.9
• Spring: Averages 4.7 inches of rain equivalent, 16.4 inches of snow, high temperature 62.9 and low 35.0
• Summer: Averages 5.66 inches of rain, high temperature 62.9 and low 35.0
• Fall: Averages 2.94 inches of rain equivalent, 13.1 inches of snow, high temperature 65.9 and low 37.7

145. Vallejo and Fairfield, California

"Vallejo rarely gets the San Francisco-like fog or the searing 100-degree heat of north Solano County and Sacramento," wrote U.S. News. "Fairfield is typically five to 10 degrees warmer than Vallejo on any given day." 

The cities have warm, dry summer days and cool nights. Winters are cool and wet, but snow is very rare.

• Winter: Averages 15.1 inches of rain, high temperature 58.3 and low 41.1
• Spring: Averages 5.52 inches of rain, high temperature 71.8 and low 51.3
• Summer: Averages 0.2 inches of rain, high temperature 88.0 and low 57.3
• Fall: Averages 3.74 inches of rain, high temperature 76.9 and low 51.3