The Coldest Town in Every State

By John Harrington Published Nov 29, 2:00PM EST

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The Coldest Town in Every State — © Casarsa / Getty Images

With the holidays upon us, winter, with its short days and bitter cold nights, is about to descend on the United States.

Regardless of the region of the country, every state experiences some level of cold in the winter. Even in Hawaii temperatures dip below 40 degrees during the year’s coldest period in the islands’ highest elevations. (Find out if Hawaii is home to any of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet.)

As winter approaches, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s 50 coldest cities, using data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In 45 states, the coldest month of the year is January. December and February are the coldest months in other states. You might recall that February of 2021 was a brutally cold month. During that month, Billings, Montana, and Fargo, North Dakota, persevered through their longest sub-zero stretches since 1983 and 1996, respectively.

The coldest town in all but two states has average low temperature during their coldest month at or below freezing. The states whose towns are the coldest are in the Midwest, the Great Plains, the Mountain states, and New England. Prolonged cold might make you pine for those sweltering days of summer. But you might still want to stay away from the hottest inhabited places on Earth.

It is anybody’s guess as to what this winter will bring. In its annual winter forecast, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecast above-average temperatures in the South and most of the eastern U.S for the second straight winter. Below-average temperatures are predicted for parts of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Click here to see the coldest town in every state

To identify the coldest town in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed average minimum temperature for the years 1991-2020 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 1991-2020 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.

AL50 West Sign - Camp Hill by formulanone

AL50 West Sign - Camp Hill (CC BY-SA 2.0) by formulanone

Alabama: Camp Hill
> Avg. low temp.: 47.2°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 28.5°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 86.0

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Nuiqsut, Alaska, a village on ... by Paxson Woelber

Nuiqsut, Alaska, a village on ... (CC BY 2.0) by Paxson Woelber

Alaska: Nuiqsut
> Avg. low temp.: 6.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -23.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 281.1

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Bellemont Arizona View (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Ricraider

Arizona: Bellemont
> Avg. low temp.: 26.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 11.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 238.9

Arkansas: Lead Hill
> Avg. low temp.: 44.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 22.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 107.5

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California: Bodie
> Avg. low temp.: 20.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 7.5°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 302.7

Durango, Colorado to Silverton by G. Lamar

Durango, Colorado to Silverton (CC BY 2.0) by G. Lamar

Colorado: Silverton
> Avg. low temp.: 16.5°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -5.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 271.7

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Connecticut: Salisbury
> Avg. low temp.: 36.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 14.2°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 156.2

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Delaware: Newark
> Avg. low temp.: 45.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 25.1°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 96.8

Pensacola, FL, Courthouse, Escambia County, 12-16-2010 (2) by Georgia Guercio

Pensacola, FL, Courthouse, Escambia County, 12-16-2010 (2) (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Georgia Guercio

Florida: Molino
> Avg. low temp.: 53.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 36.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 31.1

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Georgia: Bethlehem
> Avg. low temp.: 43.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 25.4°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 104.1

Mauna Loa-Hawaii (CC BY-SA 2.0) by sharloch

Hawaii: Mauna Loa Observatory
> Avg. low temp.: 38.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 34.3°F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 34.2

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Idaho: Stanley
> Avg. low temp.: 16.4°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -3.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 293.5

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Downtown Market Street MG 8152 by PeteBobb

Downtown Market Street MG 8152 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by PeteBobb

Illinois: Mt. Carroll
> Avg. low temp.: 36.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 10.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 154.7

Former Lakeville High School (Public Domain) by Nyttend

Indiana: Lakeville
> Avg. low temp.: 38.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 14.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 140.2

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Northwood IA (CC0 1.0) by Fernkes

Iowa: Northwood
> Avg. low temp.: 33.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 3.8°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 164.5

Brewster Kansas (CC BY 2.0) by Richard Bauer

Kansas: Brewster
> Avg. low temp.: 34.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 13.7°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 175.0

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Kentucky: Grayson
> Avg. low temp.: 40.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 20.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 137.2

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Louisiana: Homer
> Avg. low temp.: 50.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 32.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 56.8

Maine: Allagash
> Avg. low temp.: 24.9°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -6.2°F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 217.6

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Maryland: McHenry
> Avg. low temp.: 36.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 159.9

East Hawley, Massachusetts (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

Massachusetts: Hawley
> Avg. low temp.: 32.4°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 9.2°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 178.6

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Michigan: Clarksburg
> Avg. low temp.: 25.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 0.2°F (February)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 219.0

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Nelimark Homestead Museum (CC BY-SA 4.0) by McGhiever

Minnesota: Embarrass
> Avg. low temp.: 23.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -7.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 223.4

MS172 West Sign (CC BY-SA 2.0) by formulanone

Mississippi: Iuka
> Avg. low temp.: 47.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 27.8°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 95.2

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Sullivan County Missouri courthouse by Charvex

Sullivan County Missouri courthouse (CC0 1.0) by Charvex

Missouri: Pollock
> Avg. low temp.: 38.9°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 12.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 139.4

Yellowstone Avenue (CC BY 2.0) by Thomas Duesing

Montana: West Yellowstone
> Avg. low temp.: 19.5°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 0.2°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 274.4

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Harrison, Nebraska Main from S 3 by Ammodramus

Harrison, Nebraska Main from S 3 (CC0 1.0) by Ammodramus

Nebraska: Harrison
> Avg. low temp.: 28.9°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 7.6°F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 207.8

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2014-08-19 16 03 40 View east along Emrald Avenue south of Wild Horse Reservoir, Nevada-cropped by Famartin

2014-08-19 16 03 40 View east along Emrald Avenue south of Wild Horse Reservoir, Nevada-cropped (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Famartin

Nevada: Wild Horse
> Avg. low temp.: 23.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 4.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 263.3

New Hampshire: Mt. Washington
> Avg. low temp.: 21.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -3.2°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 233.2

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Sussex, New Jersey (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

New Jersey: Sussex
> Avg. low temp.: 38.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.7°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 145.5

New Mexico: Red River
> Avg. low temp.: 23.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 6.8°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 237.1

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Saranac Lake - Harrietstown Hall by Mwanner

Saranac Lake - Harrietstown Hall (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Mwanner

New York: Harriettestown
> Avg. low temp.: 27.6°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 2.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 201.2

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North Carolina: Mt. Mitchell
> Avg. low temp.: 34.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.7°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 135.9

Rolette, North Dakota (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrew Filer

North Dakota: Rolette
> Avg. low temp.: 24.5°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -8.1°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 206.0

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Downtown Fredericktown, Ohio (Public Domain) by Nyttend

Ohio: Fredericktown
> Avg. low temp.: 37.4°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 15.2°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 148.0

KentonOklahomaRoadSignNovember2011 by DrunkDriver

KentonOklahomaRoadSignNovember2011 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by DrunkDriver

Oklahoma: Kenton
> Avg. low temp.: 40.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 19.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 139.8

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Oregon: Seneca
> Avg. low temp.: 24.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 11.1°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 252.3

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Pottercourthousecoudersport (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Lheimel

Pennsylvania: Oswayo
> Avg. low temp.: 32.5°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 10.9°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 175.0

Rhode Island: Kingston
> Avg. low temp.: 39.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 19.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 134.6

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South Carolina: Jocassee Reservoir
> Avg. low temp.: 41.6°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 25.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 114.0

Pennington County Courthouse 2017 by Jeffrey Beall

Pennington County Courthouse 2017 (CC BY 4.0) by Jeffrey Beall

South Dakota: Rochford
> Avg. low temp.: 22.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 2.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 255.4

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Tennessee: Mt. Leconte
> Avg. low temp.: 34.0°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 17.5°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 150.8

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Brick streets of Dalhart, TX IMG 0556 by Billy Hathorn

Brick streets of Dalhart, TX IMG 0556 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Billy Hathorn

Texas: Dalhart
> Avg. low temp.: 38.2°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 18.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 155.1

Autumn colours in SW Utah - spectacular colours along Huntington Creek on Hwy 31, Utah by Murray Foubister

Autumn colours in SW Utah - spectacular colours along Huntington Creek on Hwy 31, Utah (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Murray Foubister

Utah: Electric Lake
> Avg. low temp.: 20.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 2.2°F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 260.2

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Caledonia Superior Court (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Gopats92

Vermont: Sutton
> Avg. low temp.: 26.3°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -1.3°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 208.7

View west along Virginia State Route 84 (Mill Gap Road) between Wade Woods Lane and Virginia State Route 604 in Mill Gap, Highland County, Virginia by Famartin

View west along Virginia State Route 84 (Mill Gap Road) between Wade Woods Lane and Virginia State Route 604 in Mill Gap, Highland County, Virginia (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Famartin

Virginia: Mill Gap
> Avg. low temp.: 35.4°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 157.8

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Colville National Forest, Republic, Washington.jpg by U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region

Colville National Forest, Republic, Washington.jpg (Public Domain Mark 1.0) by U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region

Washington: Republic
> Avg. low temp.: 30.4°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 16.0°F (December)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 187.7

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Randolph County Courthouse and Jail by Generic1139

Randolph County Courthouse and Jail (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Generic1139

West Virginia: Glady
> Avg. low temp.: 35.1°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 15.7°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 167.9

2009-0617-Superior-DouglasCtyCourt by Bobak Ha eri

2009-0617-Superior-DouglasCtyCourt (CC BY 3.0) by Bobak Ha eri

Wisconsin: Foxboro
> Avg. low temp.: 28.8°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: 0.0°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 188.9

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Danielstation (CC0 1.0) by Ok!

Wyoming: Daniel
> Avg. low temp.: 14.7°F
> Avg. low temp. during coldest month: -6.6°F (January)
> Avg. no. of days that reach 32°F or below: 275.3

About the Author John Harrington →

I'm a journalist who started my career as a sportswriter, covering professional, college, and high school sports. I pivoted into business news, working for the biggest newspapers in New Jersey, including The Record, Star-Ledger and Asbury Park Press. I was an editor at the weekly publication Crain’s New York Business and served on several editorial teams at Bloomberg News. I’ve been a part of 24/7 Wall St. since 2017, writing about politics, history, sports, health, the environment, finance, culture, breaking news, and current events. I'm a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.