Retirement Lists

How we measure climate comfort

Summer heat

What it means

Summer heat shows how hot the warm season can feel. This matters for comfort, activity, cooling costs, and health.

How we calculate it

We read warm season temperature patterns and give more comfort to places where heat is less extreme and more manageable.

Sources and freshness

NASA POWER, Open Meteo, NOAA, and public weather records.

Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.

Limitations

Seasonal patterns do not capture every heat wave, neighborhood microclimate, home cooling condition, or personal heat tolerance.

Winter comfort

What it means

Winter comfort shows whether a place is mild, cold, or somewhere in between during the cooler months.

How we calculate it

We read cool season temperatures and give more comfort to places with milder winter conditions.

Sources and freshness

NASA POWER, Open Meteo, NOAA, and public weather records.

Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.

Limitations

Seasonal patterns do not capture every cold snap, ice event, home heating condition, or personal preference.

Air quality

What it means

Air quality adds context about pollution or smoke that can affect health and outdoor time.

How we calculate it

We compare air quality readings and public pollution records. Cleaner, more consistent air improves the climate signal.

Sources and freshness

AQICN, EPA, OpenAQ, and public air quality records.

Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.

Limitations

Monitor coverage varies, and short smoke or pollution events can differ from longer term conditions and neighborhood level exposure.

Storms and seasonal risk

What it means

Storms and seasonal risk remind you that good weather averages do not remove hurricane, wildfire, flood, or heat wave concerns.

How we calculate it

We add public hazard records to the climate picture so seasonal risk is visible alongside average weather.

Sources and freshness

NOAA, FEMA, ThinkHazard, NASA POWER, and public climate records.

Source periods vary by place. City pages show dated source context for the applicable measure when it is available.

Limitations

Historical exposure does not predict a future event or replace property specific flood, wildfire, storm, and insurance research.