Many people dread cold weather. It’s why so many of us get seasonal depression during the chilly, dark wintertime. It’s also why so many Americans are flocking to the warmer climates of the South and the Sunbelt.
But not everyone hates the cold.
A new moveBuddha data analysis uncovered 10 U.S. Cities where, despite freezing winter temperatures, the population is growing fast.
We call these ten cities America’s “Booming Winter Wonderlands.”
Key Takeaways:
- Kalispell, Montana, is America’s #1 fastest-growing cold-weather city. Kalispell’s population grew by an astounding 15.7% between 2020 and 2022 despite an average December temperature of 24.1°F.
- 2 in the top 5 are in South Dakota. At #3, Rapid City grew 5.5%, while #4 Sioux Falls grew 4.9% and welcomed nearly 10K new residents.
- Montana led the pack with the most fast-growing cold-weather towns in the top 10, including #1 Kalispell, #2 Helena, #6 Missoula, and #9 Billings.
- With a 16°F December average, the coldest in the top 10 and #6 in America, #5 Fargo, North Dakota, isn’t scaring residents away. The population grew at a robust rate of 4.4% between 2020 and 2022.
- Alaska is home to America’s top 4 coldest towns: Utqiaġvik, Fairbanks, Nome, and Bethel. The average December temperatures range from -6°F to 12°F.
Americans’ love of affordable warm-weather states has been an ongoing trend in migration patterns for a while now.
It’s one reason why more expensive Northeastern states are losing population, and Southern and Sunbelt states like Florida, South Carolina, and Texas are gaining.
So, moveBuddha decided to examine if any cold-weather locales have appeal for American movers. We examined the population growth rates of the top 50 coldest U.S. cities according to long-term climate data between 1991 and 2022, and we found the places where frigid winter temperatures aren’t driving away residents.
Cold-weather growth from Montana to the Dakotas
Montana’s population has surged a staggering 15.7% between 2020 and 2022, according to census data. So it's no surprise that Montana dominated the top 10 list of fastest-growing cold-weather cities, featuring four cities. #1 Kalispell, #2 Helena, #6 Missoula, and #9 Billings.
Many of the cold-weather boomtowns offer affordability, small-town charm, and a plethora of outdoor recreational activities. Students may be settling in places like #10 Madison, WI (Home to University of Wisconsin-Madison) #8 Pocatello, ID (home to Idaho State University), or #5 Fargo, ND (home to ND State University). Both #3 Rapid City and #4 Sioux Falls in South Dakota also offer residents and businesses a friendly tax environment.
Admittedly, the average temperature in these 10 cities is a frosty 24°F, but as the expression goes — there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices.
The top 10 fastest-growing cold-weather cities are:
| Top ranking cities | Population % change |
Avg December Temp
|
| 1. Kalispell, Montana | 15.70% | 24.1 |
| 2. Helena, Montana | 5.60% | 24.3 |
| 3. Rapid City, South Dakota | 5.50% | 25.8 |
| 4. Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 4.90% | 22.6 |
| 5. Fargo, North Dakota | 4.40% | 15.9 |
| 6. Missoula, Montana | 3.80% | 25.4 |
| 7. Sheridan, Wyoming | 2.60% | 24.5 |
| 8. Pocatello, Idaho | 2.50% | 25.5 |
| 9. Billings, Montana | 2.40% | 27.7 |
| 10. Madison, Wisconsin | 1.20% | 25.3 |
Too cold for growth in these cities
We have to admit that, on average, the top 50 coldest cities we studied aren’t growing very fast.
Of the cities analyzed, 30 saw a population decrease from 2020 to 2022.
On top of that, the average population change of the 10 slowest-growing cold-weather cities was -2%. With the average temperature across the 10 well below freezing, a sharp cold 18°F.
The slowest-growing cold-weather cities are:
| Slowest-growing cities | Population % change |
Avg December Temp
|
| North Platte, Nebraska | -2.90% | 27.4 |
| Dickinson, North Dakota | -2.70% | 20.4 |
| St. Paul, Minnesota | -2.68% | 22 |
| Utqiaġvik, Alaska | -2.66% | -6.3 |
| La Crosse, Wisconsin | -2.50% | 24.9 |
| Anchorage, Alaska | -1.40% | 19.5 |
| Des Moines, Iowa | -1.40% | 27.7 |
| Nome, Alaska | -1.30% | 9.1 |
| Minot, North Dakota | -1.30% | 18.4 |
| Dubuque, Iowa | -1.30% | 24.6 |
Baby, the cold ain’t so bad
Americans love to complain about the cold. The winter blues are real, and one survey from a few years ago revealed that 39% of Americans feel “bored” during the winter, and 24% feel “miserable.” Most people would describe the cold, dark wintertime as more of a wasteland than a wonderland.
It’s the reason why so many Americans are flocking to states and cities with milder climates. Nevertheless, moveBuddha’s data analysis reveals there are U.S. cities where, despite frigid winters, people still like living there.
Whether it’s one of the fast-growing cities of Montana or South Dakota, not every cold-weather city is stagnant or shrinking.
Methodology
To determine the fastest-growing cold-weather cities in America:
- We started with a list of 214 U.S. cities with data from the National Centers for Environmental Information Climate at a Glance database.
- Using the average December temperature for each city between 1991 to 2020, we narrowed this list down to the 50 coldest U.S. cities, with average December temperatures ranging from 28.4°F to -6.3°F. The average temperature of all 50 cities in December was 21.7°F.
- We then ranked these 50 coldest cities by the highest population percentage growth rates between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts data.
- The #1 ranked city has the highest population growth.
- Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, was excluded from the list of 50 cities because there was insufficient data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The post Booming Winter Wonderlands: The Top 10 Fastest-Growing Cold-Weather U.S. Cities appeared first on moveBuddha.
