Sperling's Comfort Index scores locations based on how many days annually stay within a temperature range of 70–80 degrees—with penalties for days of excessive humidity. (Photo: Shutterstock)

For many, winter can be tough -- particularly when zigging on the ice suddenly turns to zagging. But take heart. Kiplinger has put together a list of places for retirement where the cold won't penetrate your bones. Related: 10 places to retire where the heat won't know you out |

Keep climate change in mind

Even if you truly hate the cold, consider the record heat waves plaguing the entire northern hemisphere recently. States in the West, including California, were besieged by wildfires, as was Greece. Sweden's far north was as warm as 86 degrees, while northern Siberia hit 90 degrees, a whopping 40 degrees above normal. Related: 6 companies with the very best retirement plans Climate change is wreaking havoc from one end of the planet to the other. As if that weren't enough to deal with, there are additional geographic and geologic factors. For example, Hawaii is suffering from an extended volcanic eruption that can't help the more wary but think of Krakatoa and Pompeii. So when choosing a retirement haven, pick one that might actually be there a few decades from now. |

Some cities will handle climate change better

Not long ago The New York Times looked at cities where it might be possible to avoid the worst effects of climate change. So did Business Insider, and with so many people taking future safety seriously it might be time to revise those retirement requirements you've amassed so thoughtfully. Related: 15 cities where you can live the longest on $1 million According to Benjamin Strauss, who focuses on climate impacts at Climate Central, an independent nonprofit research collaboration of scientists and journalists, cited in the Times report, some cities will be better able to withstand "drought, wildfire, extreme heat, extreme precipitation, extreme weather and hurricanes"—the effects of climate change predicted over the next 25 years. But all will be hotter—good news to the cold-hating among us, but perhaps not the best news for the elderly, on whom extreme heat takes a greater toll. |

Head for the hills (preferably near water)

High-elevation coastal cities will be safer than some landlocked locations, and places around the Great Lakes should have fewer problems with drought—while those south of 40 degrees latitude are more likely to suffer from systemic drought issues. Related: 10 states with the best pension funding The Business Insider report cites Vivek Shandas, an urban-planning professor at Portland State University, who recommends the Pacific Northwest in general since cities there tend to have newer infrastructure — something Shandas says in the report is "more resilient to major shocks," something that's essential "when coping with heat and rising water." Interestingly, both reports recommend San Francisco and Chicago, but the only two cities on our list below that were also cited as possible choices are Phoenix and Austin. |

Combining and weighing the data

But now, about this list: Using data from the Council for Community and Economic Research, Sperling's Best Places, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index and the Kiplinger's Retiree Tax Map, Kiplinger weighed the cost of living, household incomes, poverty rates, the number of health care facilities, community and physical well-being, population data, taxes on retirees and weather details. Sperling's Comfort Index scores locations based on how many days annually stay within a temperature range of 70–80 degrees—with penalties for days of excessive humidity. The U.S. average for comfort is 54 out of 100, with higher scores meaning more comfortable climates all year. In addition, Kiplinger eliminated locations in which the average January temperature is below freezing. The end result, it points out, should be winners for those who hate the cold. The 10 places below—"one great retirement destination in each state"—are the result, in alphabetical order by state: *Kiplinger's tax ratings for top 10 warmest cities: |

• Phoenix, AZ: Mixed
• Carlsbad, CA: Mixed
• Cape Coral, FL: Most Tax Friendly
• Savannah, GA: Most Tax Friendly
• Hilo, HI: Tax Friendly
• Lafayette, LA: Tax Friendly
• Jackson, MS: Most Tax Friendly
• Portland, OR: Not Tax Friendly
• Charleston, SC: Tax Friendly
• Austin, TX: Tax Friendly

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