Climate change is reshaping life in the United States right now. In 2025, the U.S. Climate Extremes Index was 58 % above the long‑term average, indicating more heat and drought than in many years before, according to NOAA data.
It was also one of the four hottest years in the contiguous U.S. record, and 23 billion-dollar weather catastrophes rocked coastal populations. Americans are feeling these impacts in the streets, schools, forests, and farms. As temperatures rise and more severe storms approach, more people are considering where they can call home.
The use of cities that integrate freshwater sources with local regulations to guard against extreme weather conditions is being explored by many. Climate resilience studies indicate that Vermont, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of the Great Lakes region tend to perform better.
Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, is a city of hope amid an increasingly challenging climate. The 2025 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report indicates that the U.S. Climate Extremes Index was 58 percent above average, suggesting a likely increase in extreme weather…