Where in the U.S. can a cold snap burn a hole through homeowners’ wallets?
With extreme winter weather freezing cities across the U.S., Home Gnome ranked 2025’s Most Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter.
We compared nearly 500 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 3 categories. More specifically, we looked at average electricity and gas bills (adjusted to average monthly income), average home sizes, and weather conditions, among 11 total metrics.
Check out our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.
In This Article
- Quick Stats
- The Leaderboard
- The Most Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter
- The Least Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter
- Professional Take
- Behind the Ranking
- Winterproof Your Home
Quick Stats
- Cities in Midwestern states like Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan score in the more expensive half of our ranking with high gas and electricity bills and old homes that are more challenging to make energy-efficient.
- 3 cities — Duluth, Minnesota (No. 54), and North Dakota cities Bismarck (No. 28) and Fargo (No. 29) — tie with the highest number of extremely cold days in winter, an average of 30 frigid days below 32 degrees. Bismarck also has the highest number of heating degree days, followed by Duluth and Fargo.
- Staying warm can come at a cost in Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, which finish in the more expensive half of our ranking. Gas bills are least affordable in Jackson, Mississippi (No. 20), followed closely by 11 Georgia cities like Savannah (No. 67) and Atlanta (No. 131). Mississippi has no statewide residential energy code and Alabama and Georgia are following outdated standards from 2009.
The Leaderboard
See how each city fared in our ranking:
The Most Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter
Local tips: Need a hand with this month’s gas bill? Apply for local assistance through your utility service such as Cleveland Public Power’s Assistance Programs or with one of Ohio’s Energy Assistance Programs.
Photo Credit: lucky-photo / Adobe Stock / License
Local tips: Need a hand with this month’s gas bill? Apply for one of Ohio’s Energy Assistance Programs.
Photo Credit: John / Adobe Stock / License
Local tips: Missouri has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program available for households needing a little extra help with their home utility costs.
Independence’s Community Services League offers assistance for qualified residents seeking to weatherproof their home.
Photo Credit: Adam Moss / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Local tips: Missouri has a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program available for households needing a little extra help with their home utility costs.
Photo Credit: Tim Kiser / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
Local tips: Locals can find help budgeting their energy bills with the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP).|
Photo Credit: Jeff Whiting / Adobe Stock / License
- Electricity bills are least affordable in Flint, Michigan (No. 5), when adjusted to the city’s average monthly household income.
- 9 cities such as St. Louis (No. 6), Buffalo, New York (No. 59), and Providence, Rhode Island (No. 15), are full of aging abodes, with homes being 83 years old on average.
- 1 Colorado city — Pueblo (No. 21) — finishes among the 25 most expensive cities to heat a home, with the 2nd-most expensive average electricity bill when adjusted for average monthly income.
Read more below.
The Least Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter
- California stands out with all 117 cities scoring in the more affordable half of our ranking. The Golden State has temperate winters and the most stringent residential energy codes. Note that electricity bills can be expensive for residents in some cities like Hemet (No. 395), San Bernardino (No. 386), and El Monte (No. 377).
- Los Angeles (No. 499) takes last place as the least expensive city to heat a home in winter. LA claims the most Energy Star-certified homes according to the Green Building Information Gateway — followed by Denver (No. 224) and New York (No. 135).
- Cincinnati (No. 69) leads the way with the highest number of LEED-certified homes, 762, followed by Washington (No. 387) and Austin suburb Round Rock, Texas (No. 383).
Read more below.
Professional Take
A survey found that over 34% of respondents cut back on their spending to afford their energy bills between August 2023 and August 2024.
We turned to a panel of experts for tips on how to maximize energy efficiency and lower your gas and electricity bills. Explore their insights below.
- What are 3 creative ways to reduce heating costs in winter?
- What is the best temperature to keep your thermostat at during winter to avoid high heating bills?
- What are the 3 best strategies for keeping warm when the power goes out?
- What are 2 cheaper alternative heating sources or solutions?
- What are 3 pros and three cons of using gas to heat your home?
- What are 3 pros and three cons of using electricity to heat your home?
- Which HVAC maintenance tasks should be handled before winter comes?
- Can having an updated HVAC system help minimize energy bills? How so?
What are three creative ways to reduce heating costs in winter?
1. Insulate windows by using heavier window treatments (e.g. draperies) that can be shut once the sun goes down and opened in the morning to let warmth from the sun inside.
2. Invest in a programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when at work or school.
3. Research plans through your energy provider that offer savings based on main usage times. For example, DTE offers a plan that provides savings if major appliances such as a washer and dryer are used on the weekends rather than weekdays.
What is the best temperature at which to keep the thermostat during winter to avoid high heating bills?
According to the Department of Energy, one can save 10% on energy by lowering the thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day. Consider setting the thermostat at 68 degrees when home and lowering it a few more degrees when you are away. An automatic thermostat will do this for you.
What are the three best strategies for keeping warm when the power goes out?
1. Consider purchasing battery-powered and/or rechargeable blankets, hand warmers, and warming vests to have on hand for emergencies.
2. Layer clothing and add extra blankets while sleeping.
3. Block drafts from windows and doors by using blankets and towels.
4. BONUS: Use as few rooms as possible and keep doors closed when not in use.
What are two cheaper alternative heating sources or solutions?
1. Consider lowering the overall temperature. It depends on existing infrastructure and available utilities but localized heating systems are often the most efficient and experience less energy loss.
2. Consider upgrades to problem areas rather than upgrading entire centralized systems.
Is gas or electric heat cheaper? Why?
Typically, natural gas is more cost-effective than electricity. Those heating methods use energy more efficiently than what’s available currently for electric heating technology.
Can having an updated HVAC system help minimize energy bills? How so?
Absolutely. Whether it be gas, electric, or possibly steam, all energy sources have corresponding systems that are more energy efficient.
- Steam is probably your most efficient energy source if available in your area but requires a large up-front investment.
- Gas systems transfer energy very efficiently, especially in a centralized system.
- Electric is going to be most suited towards localized systems like heat pumps which have gotten much more efficient to operate for heating recently.
Behind the Ranking
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Most Expensive Cities to Heat in the Winter. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 3 categories:
| Energy Costs | Cost Inflators | Lack of Energy Efficiency |
The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. We eliminated 1 city — Honolulu, Hawaii — resulting in a final sample size of 499 cities. Hawaii was excluded from this study due to its mild climate — around 47% of Aloha State households have no heating system.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Most Expensive” (No. 1) and the lowest “Least Expensive” (No. 499).
Note:
- The “Least Expensive” among individual factors may not be No. 499 due to ties.
- The “Residential Code Efficiency Score” is a score we calculated based on the equivalent version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — for residential structures — adopted by each state and the District of Columbia, as determined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Points were awarded as follows:
- No statewide code: 0
- Before 2009 IECC: 1
- 2009 IECC: 2
- 2015 IECC: 3
- 2018 IECC (with specific amendments): 3.5
- 2018 IECC: 4
- 2021 IECC: 5
- 2022 Building Efficiency Standards: 5.5
- We did not factor in the adoption of residential energy efficiency standards (known as ASHRAE 90.1 and 90.2), as the IECC is already based on these standards.
- Average electricity price data was collected at the local level and adjusted by average monthly household income, while average natural gas price data was collected at the state level and adjusted by both average monthly household income and cost of living.
Sources: Electricity Local, Federal Housing Finance Agency, GBIG, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Redfin, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Energy Information Administration
Winterproof Your Home
Power demand is straining energy infrastructure, especially in the wake of natural disasters. In the past few years, the U.S. has invested over $7.6 billion in boosting energy grid resilience to withstand extreme weather like the recent polar vortex and Winter Storm Enzo.
Homeowners can make upgrades of their own to expand energy resilience and save on their home heating expenditures. Discover tips for energy-efficient home improvements below.
- Save about 8% on your energy bill with a smart thermostat.
- Maximize energy efficiency by cleaning your air ducts and filters.
- Check your thermostat battery for an accurate temperature reading.
- Upgrade to an energy-efficient heat pump.
- Re-caulk your windows about every 5 years.
- Invest in weatherproof windows. Reports show that low-emissivity storm windows can lower energy bills by 30-50%.
Need help affording your energy bills? Many national and local programs are available to help cover utility bills, and some even offer weatherization assistance for energy-efficient home improvements. Households that are struggling to make ends meet may be eligible for programs like:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Local initiatives may be called Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (REAP).
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
- Budget billing from your local power company can help spread last year’s average energy costs over a set monthly rate.
- Improve energy efficiency with help from a Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) — available for both homeowners and renters.
- Research possible Home Energy Rebates and tax credits for home upgrades like solar panels.
- Contact your local energy provider for more information about local programs and services for managing your monthly payments.
About Home Gnome: Home Gnome is where you’ll find all sorts of DIY and professional help for projects around your house, rental, or apartment.
Media Resources
Quotes from Home Gnome Editor in Chief, Jeff Herman
- 8 states such as Kansas, Colorado, and Alaska, lack statewide residential energy codes.
- Texas suburbs — Frisco (No. 334), Allen, (No. 297), and Plano (No. 253) — have the most residential space to heat, but land in the more affordable half of our ranking thanks to inexpensive electricity bills and a short winter season.
- Alaska isn’t cheap, but Anchorage (No. 358) lands near the bottom with more affordable gas and electric bills when adjusted to income, small homes (1,379 square feet on average), and less drastic heating degree days due to the more consistent cold temperatures. Remote residents will find that utilities can be much more expensive outside of urban Alaska.
Main Photo Credit: weyo / Adobe Stock / License
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