Most Climate-Resilient Cities (2026)

These metros screen for lower long-term expected annual loss from natural hazards on FEMA's National Risk Index, while keeping the broader relocation picture livable.

Requires FEMA NRI coverage, then weights the per-resident expected-annual-loss composite, the worst single-hazard percentile, community resilience, social vulnerability, affordability, and community signals.

Score this with my priorities Methodology

Ranked cities

  1. #1

    Kalamazoo, MI

    FEMA NRI screens Kalamazoo, MI at composite 93/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $211/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 92/100.

    Intent score 74/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  2. #2

    Muskegon, MI

    FEMA NRI screens Muskegon, MI at composite 100/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $158/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 99/100.

    Intent score 74/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  3. #3

    South Bend, IN

    FEMA NRI screens South Bend, IN at composite 90/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $228/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 84/100.

    Intent score 73/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  4. #4

    Akron, OH

    FEMA NRI screens Akron, OH at composite 97/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $187/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 80/100.

    Intent score 72/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  5. #5

    Grand Rapids, MI

    FEMA NRI screens Grand Rapids, MI at composite 87/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $236/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 95/100.

    Intent score 72/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  6. #6

    Rochester, NY

    FEMA NRI screens Rochester, NY at composite 95/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $199/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 93/100.

    Intent score 72/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  7. #7

    Canton, OH

    FEMA NRI screens Canton, OH at composite 94/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $207/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 83/100.

    Intent score 71/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  8. #8

    Erie, PA

    FEMA NRI screens Erie, PA at composite 99/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $176/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 85/100.

    Intent score 71/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  9. #9

    Cleveland, OH

    FEMA NRI screens Cleveland, OH at composite 92/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $213/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 97/100.

    Intent score 71/100 | 9 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  10. #10

    Youngstown, OH

    FEMA NRI screens Youngstown, OH at composite 94/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $201/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 75/100.

    Intent score 70/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  11. #11

    Albany, NY

    FEMA NRI screens Albany, NY at composite 88/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $235/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 90/100.

    Intent score 68/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  12. #12

    Lynchburg, VA

    FEMA NRI screens Lynchburg, VA at composite 96/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $196/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 61/100.

    Intent score 67/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  13. #13

    Virginia Beach, VA

    FEMA NRI screens Virginia Beach, VA at composite 97/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $188/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 80/100.

    Intent score 67/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  14. #14

    Dayton, OH

    FEMA NRI screens Dayton, OH at composite 88/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $233/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 82/100.

    Intent score 67/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13
  15. #15

    Worcester, MA

    FEMA NRI screens Worcester, MA at composite 96/100 (higher = lower expected annual loss), $189/resident/yr expected loss, and community resilience 86/100.

    Intent score 67/100 | 11 of 11 core sources | Updated 2026-07-13

Rankings are a public-data screen, not a universal best-places claim. Use the quiz to reweight these cities around your own priorities.

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