The 10 Coldest Cities in Arizona

Believe it or not, there are places in Arizona that can get quite chilly. We found the 10 coldest cities in Arizona with the mildest climates all year round.

The summers can be especially hot in the desert, so we made sure to also identify Arizona cities with cooler summers so that you can avoid getting burnt to a crisp.

While the desert heat can be unforgiving, there are numerous mountain ranges in Arizona that also feature several mid and large-sized cities that are worth living in. The state offers more than just Phoenix and Tucson for those interested in relocating.

So, let’s find out what the coldest cities in Arizona are so that you can stay cool while still enjoying the natural beauty that Arizona has to offer.

Table of Contents

Coldest Cities in Arizona – How We Evaluated Our Choices

To determine the coldest cities in Arizona, we needed to understand how and why some cities in this desert state are cooler in temperature than others. The two biggest factors that impact a city’s climate in Arizona turned out to be their elevation above sea level and their latitude, which is how far north or south there are within the state.

We found that cities with higher elevation and a location further north produced the mildest climates in Arizona.

Next, we needed to find an objective way to use the weather and climate data in each city. Therefore, we turned to the official climate figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to set as our baseline.

Then, we looked at the average yearly highs and lows of each city to finalize our list of the places with the mildest climates in Arizona. That means that some of these places may experience more extreme temperatures here and there, but overall, their average temperature for the year is quite mild.

10. Sierra Vista

Population: 45,308
Elevation: 4,633 feet
Average Yearly High: 77 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 50 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Sierra Vista starts our list off of the coldest cities in Arizona. It is located right at the base of the Huachuca Mountains just 30 miles from the Mexican border.

It’s relatively high elevation of over 4,000 feet allows Sierra Vista to enjoy cooler temperatures than many other cities in Southern Arizona.

Still, watch out during the summer months as the average highs in June and July are still over 90 degrees. But, that’s better than Phoenix, whose average highs are 105 degrees in the summertime.

9. Payson

Population: 16,351
Elevation: 5,000 feet
Average Yearly High: 73 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 39 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Payson is located about 1.5 hours from Phoenix and is virtually in the middle of Arizona geographically.

Due to its elevation, Payson enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate with comfortable summer months and mild winters. The city also gets about 23 inches of snow per year from November to April.

8. Prescott

Population: 45,827
Elevation: 5,400 feet
Average Yearly High: 70 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 40 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Prescott is situated right in the Bradshaw Mountains in the center of the state. Despite its cool temperatures, it only receives about 10 inches of snow per year.

Prescott also made our most recent list of the best places to live in Arizona, making it an ideal location for those looking to move to one of the mildest climates in Arizona.

7. Snowflake

Population: 6,104
Elevation: 8,356 feet
Average Yearly High: 70 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 36 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

You would hope that a city named Snowflake would offer you cooler temperatures. It’s good to know that Snowflake, Arizona does indeed have one of the mildest climates in Arizona all year round.

The city experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year, with average temperatures reaching 90 degrees only in July.

6. Show Low

Population: 11,732
Elevation: 6,345 feet
Average Yearly High: 67 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 40 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Show Low is located in the remote eastern part of Arizona and offers a climate that is mild to hot in the summer and downright cold in the winter.

Show Low has only reached 100 degrees twice in its history and its average summer highs are never more than 87 degrees, making it one of the top choices for Arizona cities with cooler summers to enjoy.

5. Heber-Overgaard

Population: 2,898
Elevation: 5,400 feet
Average Yearly High: 65 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 33 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

The small city of Heber-Overgaard is located about halfway between Show Low and Payson in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

During the summer months, the average highs never usually go above 83 degrees, while the winter produces average highs of just 45-50 degrees.

Heber-Overgaard also receives about 40 inches of snow per winter.

4. Flagstaff

Population: 76,831
Elevation: 6,910 feet
Average Yearly High: 61 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 32 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Flagstaff’s high altitude makes it one of the coldest cities in Arizona. It is located right next to Mount Elden and close to the San Francisco Peaks, which is the highest mountain range in all of Arizona.

The average highs in the summer only creep over 80 degrees in August while the average lows in the summer are a mild 40 to 50 degrees.

Meanwhile, their winters can produce over 100 inches of snow on average, starting from October all the way to April.

Many people must enjoy Flagstaff’s climate as it is the biggest city on this list. We also featured it in our latest publication of the best cities to live in Arizona.

3. Alpine

Population: 146
Elevation: 8,012 feet
Average Yearly High: 61 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 27 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

The small community of Alpine is located on the eastern edge of Arizona right next to the border with New Mexico.

Average highs are never above 80 degrees in Alpine, while average lows can already be below 40 degrees in the summer, making it one of the mildest Arizona cities with cooler summers to live in.

2. Greer

Population: 58
Elevation: 8,356 feet
Average Yearly High: 58 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 30 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Now we are getting really cold. The city of Greer, Arizona features warm, yet mild summers and chilly winters with 90 inches of snow.

Its high elevation of over 8,000 feet and location near several lakes makes it one of the coldest cities in Arizona both in the summer and the winter.

1. Hawley Lake

Population: 1,086
Elevation: 8,200 feet
Average Yearly High: 57 degrees
Average Yearly Low: 25 degrees
Location: Check on Google Maps

Hawley Lake takes the crown as the coldest city in Arizona. This small city located about 4.5 hours east of Phoenix is not only the coldest place, but also the wettest place in the state.

The average highs in the summer never reach more than 75 degrees usually, while the winters can be downright brutal. Hawley Lake averages about 168 inches of snow per year and features average lows in the single digits.

It also holds the record for the lowest recorded temperature in the history of Arizona, coming in at -40 degrees in January 1971.

If that won’t cool you off from the desert heat, then we don’t know what else will.

Summary – Coldest Cities in Arizona

The coldest cities in Arizona are:

Hawley Lake
Greer
Alpine
Flagstaff
Heber-Overgaard
Show Low
Snowflake
Prescott
Payson
Sierra Vista

They all feature a summer that is relatively mild, especially for Arizona standards, and many offer winters that are filled with snow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cities have the mildest climates in Arizona?

The places with over a population of 10,000 people that have the mildest climates in Arizona are Flagstaff, Show Low, Prescott, and Sierra Vista.

What are some Arizona cities with cooler summers?

For sure, you would want to stay away from Phoenix and all of its suburbs. Instead, focus on places in the north or in the mountains like Flagstaff and Prescott.

Even Tucson could be a viable option. It is still pretty hot during the summer, with average highs reaching over 100 degrees during June and July, but it is still about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the sweltering climate in Phoenix, where average summer temperatures are 105 degrees for 3 straight months.