Thrifty Thinking - 2023's Most Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter

 

Which cities will burn a hole through residents’ wallets during colder months? With heating costs expected to rise for most consumers this winter, HVAC Gnome ranked 2023’s Most Expensive Cities to Heat a Home in Winter. We compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 3 categories: Energy Costs, Cost Inflators, and Lack of Energy Efficiency. More specifically, we looked at average monthly electricity and gas bills, periods of extreme cold, the average size of homes, and residential energy efficiency code adoption, among 10 total metrics. See the 10 most expensive (and 10 most affordable) cities for warming up a home in winter below, followed by key stats from our report.

Most Expensive Cities Rank City 1 Springfield, MO 2 Cleveland, OH 3 Independence, MO 4 Flint, MI 5 6 7 8 9 10 St. Joseph, MO Topeka, KS Kansas City, KS Columbia, MO Dayton, OH Detroit, MI Most Affordable Cities Rank City 1 Los Angeles, CA 2 Santa Clara, CA 3 Sunnyvale, CA 4 Milpitas, CA 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 San Ramon, CA Fremont, CA Pleasanton, CA Irvine, CA Folsom, CA San Jose, CA (TIE) San Mateo, CA (TIE)

Key Insights: Missouri residents can expect to “show me” the cash when they switch the heat on this winter. 5 out of 8 Missouri cities in our ranking — including Springfield, the No. 1 most expensive city — pay among the 100 biggest monthly energy bills (when adjusted).  The most affordable cities are dominated by Central and Southern California and Washington state’s Puget Sound region. These regions’ leading energy efficiency measures help coldproof homes. Cheaper energy prices also help offset higher costs during abnormally cold winters, as is the forecast this year for the Pacific Northwest. (Possible) surprises: Florida and Georgia pay nosebleed prices for energy — mostly in the summer. Arizona isn’t one big desert. High-elevation Flagstaff, which gets about 100 inches of snow annually, placed No. 17 overall. “Wintry” Northern cities like New York and Boston didn’t land at the top of our ranking, thanks to more affordable energy prices, more energy-efficient homes, or both.   Helpful Links: See Where Your City Ranks Full Article Methodology Old HVAC systems can cost more money in the long run compared with the latest energy-efficient models. If you need an upgrade, HVAC Gnome can quickly connect you with a top HVAC specialist in your area who can help.  HVAC Gnome is part of the Home Gnome family of home services sites. More from HVAC Gnome:  11 Ways to Keep Warm and Lower Your Energy Bills This Winter 10 Common Signs It’s Time to Repair Your Furnace 10 Tips to Stay Warm When Your Furnace is Broken 10 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Furnace How Much Does HVAC Installation Cost in 2023? How Much Does Thermostat Replacement Cost in 2023? How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in 2023? 2024’s Best Cities for Car-Free Living