Special Report

Coldest Town in Every State

Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Although winter does not officially begin in the United States until Dec. 21, people across the country have already begun to feel the chill of wintery snow, wind, and numbingly low temperatures. Residents of the Northeast have been hit especially hard, with snow storms resulting in numerous school closings and cancelled flights.

Spanning many climate zones, the United States can experience both extreme hot and cold temperatures. And while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a relatively warmer — though wetter — winter overall this year, certain areas of the country will undoubtedly have lower temperatures than others.

Of course, states like Alaska, home to the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States – 80 degrees below zero just north of Fairbanks in 1971 – are generally colder than states like Arizona and Florida. Yet temperatures vary drastically within states, even the warmer ones.

24/7 Wall St. has determined the coldest town in each state by identifying those places with the lowest average annual temperatures, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Many of the coldest towns are found in more rural areas. Urban areas are filled with concrete and asphalt, which absorb thermal and solar energy at much higher rates than natural landscapes and therefore often have higher temperatures than rural areas. Other factors, like the concentration of industry and automobiles, also help explain why temperatures tend to be higher in cities. Here is the hottest city in each state.

One town may also be colder than another due to several geographic features, including elevation, proximity to bodies of water, and distance from the equator. These factors similarly affect the coldest places on the planet where people live, some of which are in North America.

Click here to see the coldest town in every state.
Click here to see our methodology.

john049 / Wikimedia Commons

1. Alabama
> Coldest town: Hamilton
> Avg. low temp.: 45.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 26.2° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 94

See all stories featuring: Alabama

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United States Navy / Wikimedia Commons

2. Alaska
> Coldest town: Deadhorse
> Avg. low temp.: 11.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -23.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 291.9

See all stories featuring: Alaska

Ricraider / Wikimedia Commons

3. Arizona
> Coldest town: Bellemont
> Avg. low temp.: 25.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 11° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 246.7

See all stories featuring: Arizona

Courtesy of Lead Hill Chamber of Commerce via Facebook

4. Arkansas
> Coldest town: Lead Hill
> Avg. low temp.: 43.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 21.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 109.1

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

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Loco Steve / Flickr

5. California
> Coldest town: Boca
> Avg. low temp.: 24.1° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 11° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 269.2

See all stories featuring: California

stockphoto52 / Getty Images

6. Colorado
> Coldest town: Crested Butte
> Avg. low temp.: 17.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -7.6° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 265.7

See all stories featuring: Colorado

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Courtesy of Town of Norfolk, CT Emergency Management via Facebook

7. Connecticut
> Coldest town: Norfolk
> Avg. low temp.: 36.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 12.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 150.6

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons

8. Delaware
> Coldest town: Bear
> Avg. low temp.: 43.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 23.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 106.8

See all stories featuring: Delaware

Eric Lewis / Flickr

9. Florida
> Coldest town: Milton
> Avg. low temp.: 53.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 36° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 37.4

See all stories featuring: Florida

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Stephen Rahn / Flickr

10. Georgia
> Coldest town: Blairsville
> Avg. low temp.: 43.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 24.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 102.7

See all stories featuring: Georgia

Arne-kaiser / Wikimedia Commons

11. Hawaii
> Coldest town: Kula
> Avg. low temp.: 55.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 52.6° F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 0

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

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Frank Kovalchek / Wikimedia Commons

12. Idaho
> Coldest town: Stanley
> Avg. low temp.: 17.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -1.8° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 291.6

See all stories featuring: Idaho

kymma / Flickr

13. Illinois
> Coldest town: Streamwood
> Avg. low temp.: 34.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 10.6° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 161.5

See all stories featuring: Illinois

davidwilson1949 / Flickr

14. Indiana
> Coldest town: Wanatah
> Avg. low temp.: 37.3° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 13.3° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 145.7

See all stories featuring: Indiana

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freddthompson / Flickr

15. Iowa
> Coldest town: Sheldon
> Avg. low temp.: 32.5° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 3.7° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 178.9

See all stories featuring: Iowa

marypmadigan / Flickr

16. Kansas
> Coldest town: Goodland
> Avg. low temp.: 34.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 13.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 173.5

See all stories featuring: Kansas

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Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons

17. Kentucky
> Coldest town: Grayson
> Avg. low temp.: 39.3° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 20.2° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 132.7

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

wellesenterprises / Getty Images

18. Louisiana
> Coldest town: Monroe
> Avg. low temp.: 50.1° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 31.2° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 61.5

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

NOAA / Wikimedia Commons

19. Maine
> Coldest town: Allagash
> Avg. low temp.: 24.5° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -7.6° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 208.1

See all stories featuring: Maine

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SGphotos / Wikimedia Commons

20. Maryland
> Coldest town: Oakland
> Avg. low temp.: 36.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 15.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 151

See all stories featuring: Maryland

Kindra Clineff / Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism

21. Massachusetts
> Coldest town: Ashfield
> Avg. low temp.: 32.1° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 9.4° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 180.4

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

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Lynn Kanieski / US Fish & Wildlife Service

22. Michigan
> Coldest town: Clarksburg
> Avg. low temp.: 25.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -0.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 212.3

See all stories featuring: Michigan

Courtney Celley / USFWS

23. Minnesota
> Coldest town: Embarrass
> Avg. low temp.: 22.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -6.2° F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 227.2

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Thomas R Machnitzki / Wikimedia Commons

24. Mississippi
> Coldest town: Holly Springs
> Avg. low temp.: 46.3° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 26.7° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 87.2

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

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Ronda Del Boccio / Flickr

25. Missouri
> Coldest town: Bunker
> Avg. low temp.: 38.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 15.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 137.2

See all stories featuring: Missouri

kayjj / Getty Images

26. Montana
> Coldest town: Wisdom
> Avg. low temp.: 19.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 1° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 277.2

See all stories featuring: Montana

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National Park Service

27. Nebraska
> Coldest town: Agate
> Avg. low temp.: 29.0° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 7.8° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 202.6

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

Famartin / Wikimedia Commons

28. Nevada
> Coldest town: Mountain City
> Avg. low temp.: 24.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 9.9° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 247.4

See all stories featuring: Nevada

P199 / Wikimedia Commons

29. New Hampshire
> Coldest town: Colebrook
> Avg. low temp.: 28.0° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -0.5° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 196

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

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jason jenkins / Flickr

30. New Jersey
> Coldest town: Sussex
> Avg. low temp.: 37.9° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 15.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 142.6

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

David Herrera / Wikimedia Commons

31. New Mexico
> Coldest town: Eagle Nest
> Avg. low temp.: 22.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 1.7° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 239.2

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

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Marc N. Belanger / Wikimedia Commons

32. New York
> Coldest town: Saranac
> Avg. low temp.: 27.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 1.6° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 201.4

See all stories featuring: New York

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

33. North Carolina
> Coldest town: Jefferson
> Avg. low temp.: 38.0° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 20.4° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 140.3

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

alq666 / Flickr

34. North Dakota
> Coldest town: Belcourt
> Avg. low temp.: 24.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -6.2° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 205.2

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

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Jack Pearce from Boardman, OH, USA / Wikimedia Commons

35. Ohio
> Coldest town: Canfield
> Avg. low temp.: 36.3° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 14.5° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 152.2

See all stories featuring: Ohio

DrunkDriver / Wikimedia Commons

36. Oklahoma
> Coldest town: Boise City
> Avg. low temp.: 40.1° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 19.9° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 133.8

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

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Tracy Robillard / NRCS Oregon

37. Oregon
> Coldest town: Seneca
> Avg. low temp.: 24.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 11.3° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 247.7

See all stories featuring: Oregon

Jon Dawson / Flickr

38. Pennsylvania
> Coldest town: Clarence
> Avg. low temp.: 32.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 12.8° F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 184

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

wgmi2003 / Getty Images

39. Rhode Island
> Coldest town: Kingston
> Avg. low temp.: 39.0° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 18.4° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 135.6

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

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Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons

40. South Carolina
> Coldest town: Salem
> Avg. low temp.: 44.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 25.3° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 99.2

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

Holly Hayes / Flickr

41. South Dakota
> Coldest town: Rochford
> Avg. low temp.: 21.3° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 3.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 256.8

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

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Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons

42. Tennessee
> Coldest town: Mountain City
> Avg. low temp.: 39.8° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 21.6° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 126.4

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

43. Texas
> Coldest town: Dalhart
> Avg. low temp.: 37.5° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.8° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 152.8

See all stories featuring: Texas

r. nial bradshaw / Flickr

44. Utah
> Coldest town: Coalville
> Avg. low temp.: 21.9° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 4.7° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 258.4

See all stories featuring: Utah

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dadofliz / Flickr

45. Vermont
> Coldest town: Sutton
> Avg. low temp.: 26.4° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 204.8

See all stories featuring: Vermont

Famartin / Wikimedia Commons

46. Virginia
> Coldest town: Monterey
> Avg. low temp.: 35.5° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.2° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 157.5

See all stories featuring: Virginia

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rockyraybell / Flickr

47. Washington
> Coldest town: Republic
> Avg. low temp.: 31.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.1° F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 181.4

See all stories featuring: Washington

Loman / Wikimedia Commons

48. West Virginia
> Coldest town: Marlinton
> Avg. low temp.: 33.2° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 13.4° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 177.8

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

Creative Commons / Wikimedia Commons

49. Wisconsin
> Coldest town: Butternut
> Avg. low temp.: 27.6° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 0.8° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 195.4

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

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jacklynsey / Flickr

50. Wyoming
> Coldest town: Bondurant
> Avg. low temp.: 18.7° F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -3.1° F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32° F or below: 264.9

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

Methodology

To identify the coldest town in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average minimum temperature for the years between 1981 and 2010 for U.S. cities with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA collects temperatures observed by local weather stations.

Additional data points, including average low temperatures during the coldest month in each town and the average number of days when the temperature falls to 32°F or below also come from the NOAA. These averages include all years between 1981 and 2010 for which data is available.

Census-designated places and township communities were included in addition to towns for certain states where the required data sets were available.

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