Been researching affordable places to move to and honestly stumbled on something interesting - there are actually quite a few warm places to live in the US where housing doesn't completely drain your bank account. Like, way cheaper than what I expected.

I looked at median home values and year-round weather for cities over 150k people. The South really dominates this list if you want warm places to live without paying California prices. Jackson, Mississippi is wild - median home value around $70k with summers hitting 73-92°F. Birmingham and Shreveport are similar vibes, both under $130k with comfortable weather. If you want something slightly bigger or less extreme winters, Memphis and Columbus Georgia are solid middle grounds.

The thing that got me is how consistent the weather is in most of these spots. Summer temps usually 70-75°F baseline going up to high 80s/low 90s, winters mostly in the 30s-50s range. Nothing too brutal. Places like Mobile, Baton Rouge, and Little Rock give you that warm climate feel year-round without the price tag you'd pay in Florida hotspots.

Philadelphia made the cut too if you want something more northern - 102 clear days a year and median homes around the $200k range, which is pretty reasonable for a bigger city.

Note: This data's from a few years back so current prices might've shifted, but the pattern holds - smaller Southern cities still offer the best combo of affordability and warm weather if that's what you're looking for.