Humidity plays a huge role in your home’s comfort, air quality, and even maintenance costs. If you’ve ever lived in a humid city, you know how it can make summers feel unbearable and contribute to mold, mildew, and even structural damage over time.
To help homeowners and movers make informed decisions, we analyzed NOAA data to rank the most and least humid cities in the U.S. The most humid cities—like Lake Charles, LA, and Jackson, MS—experience year-round moisture, leading to higher cooling costs and potential home maintenance challenges. On the flip side, cities like Las Vegas, NV, and Phoenix, AZ, are some of the driest, reducing the risk of mold but increasing issues like cracked wood and static electricity.
In this article, we’ll break down the humidity levels of major U.S. cities and explain how moisture levels can impact your home’s longevity and upkeep.
Main Findings From Our Research
The top five most humid cities in the U.S. are:
- Lake Charles, LA (90% humidity)
- Jackson, MS (90% humidity)
- Meridian, MS (90% humidity)
- Brownsville, TX (90% humidity)
- Port Arthur, TX (90% humidity)
The five least humid cities in the U.S. are:
- Las Vegas, NV (36% humidity)
- Bishop, CA (38% humidity)
- Phoenix, AZ (46% humidity)
- Tucson, AZ (47% humidity)
- El Paso, TX (50% humidity)
Average Humidity By City
We gathered comprehensive data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the humidity of each city in the U.S. We then compiled this information to find the average annual humidity. We could rank each city from there, finding the most humid to the least humid. Below we will present each end of the spectrum, followed by the complete list of all analyzed cities.
Cities With the Highest Humidity
Some of the most humid cities in the U.S. hover around 90% humidity year-round. Lake Charles, LA, Jackson, MS, and Meridian, MS, top the list, along with Brownsville and Port Arthur, TX. While Texas is often associated with dry landscapes, its Gulf Coast cities experience intense humidity due to ocean winds and warm temperatures.
Other highly humid cities include Gainesville, FL (89%), Baton Rouge, LA (89%), and Houston, TX (89%). The common factor? Proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, which constantly pumps moisture into the air. Even inland cities like Jackson, MS, experience high humidity due to swampy terrain.
Surprisingly, St. Paul Island, AK, also ranks among the most humid locations (88%). Despite its cold climate, the island’s constant exposure to ocean moisture and high winds leads to persistently high humidity levels. This highlights an important point—humidity isn’t just about heat; it’s about moisture in the air, regardless of temperature.
Cities With the Lowest Humidity
If you want to avoid sticky air and constant moisture, head west. The driest cities in the U.S. include Las Vegas, NV (36%), Bishop, CA (38%), and Phoenix, AZ (46%). These areas experience minimal rainfall, high temperatures, and dry desert winds, making them some of the least humid places to live.
Texas, a state with some of the most humid cities, also has one of the driest—El Paso (50%). Located in the state’s far western desert region, El Paso’s climate is hot but extremely dry, reducing the risk of mold and moisture-related home damage.
Other cities with low humidity include Denver, CO (50%), Winslow, AZ (52%), and Albuquerque, NM (53%). If you prefer dry conditions, consider high-altitude cities or desert climates, which have lower humidity year-round.
Full Dataset: The Most & Least Humid Cities Ranked
The following table shows the results of our study, presented in the form of a sortable table. You can navigate the pages to see different cities and sort the table by rank, city name, or average annual humidity.
Analyzing Our Study Results
This study revealed some surprising findings. While coastal and southern cities dominate the most humid list, a few unexpected places, like St. Paul Island, AK, also rank high.
For homeowners, humidity affects more than comfort—it impacts maintenance costs, energy bills, and even the lifespan of your home’s materials. High humidity can lead to mold, wood rot, and increased cooling expenses, while low humidity can cause cracked wood, dry skin, and static electricity.
If you're considering a move, understanding how local humidity impacts your home can help you make smarter decisions about climate control, ventilation, and home maintenance.
FAQs About the Most and Least Humid Cities
The most humid regions in the U.S. are the Southeastern Coastal Plain and the Gulf Coast, including states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas. These areas experience consistently high humidity due to their proximity to warm ocean waters and frequent rainfall. However, humidity isn’t exclusive to hot climates—coastal regions in the Pacific Northwest, like Washington, and even parts of Alaska, like St. Paul Island, also experience high humidity due to constant moisture in the air.
It depends on how you define "worse." Texas has more cities in the top 10 most humid locations, but Florida has more consistently humid conditions statewide. Texas' Gulf Coast cities, like Brownsville and Port Arthur, experience extreme humidity, but the state also has drier, desert-like regions in the west. Florida, however, has year-round humidity across almost the entire state, making it feel more oppressive overall.
Homeowner tip: High humidity can lead to mold growth and increased cooling costs. If you live in a humid state, investing in dehumidifiers and proper home ventilation can help control moisture indoors.
The most humid city in the U.S. is Lake Charles, Louisiana, with an average humidity of 90%. Other cities with similarly high humidity include Jackson, MS; Meridian, MS; Brownsville, TX; and Port Arthur, TX. Many of these cities sit along the Gulf Coast, where warm, moist air consistently flows inland.
If you’re considering moving to a humid city, be prepared for higher air conditioning costs, potential mold issues, and increased wear on wooden structures due to moisture absorption.
Yes! Mold thrives in damp, warm environments, making humid cities especially prone to mold infestations. Once indoor humidity levels exceed 60%, mold can start growing on walls, ceilings, and even furniture.
Homeowner tip:
- Use mold-resistant paint in humid rooms to prevent growth.
- Keep indoor humidity below 50% by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner.
- Ensure good ventilation in areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms and basements.
Methodology
To find the most and least humid cities, we analyzed weather data from the NOAA. We analyzed data for 251 cities throughout the United States. We used average annual morning humidity data, using the most recent 2021 and 2022 data. This annual average data accounts for changes in months and seasons.
