Finding an affordable city to buy a home in is already a challenge these days, so adding other factors, like weather, into the mix is likely to make things even more difficult.

To see if mild weather and affordable housing can still be a matched in major cities, the website Property Shark ranked U.S. cities with populations greater than 150K based on housing expenses and how comfortable their climates were.

They found that North Carolina is the top choice for mild year-round weather and affordable housing, with 3 NC cities making it into the top 5.

Key takeaways:

• Charlotte and Raleigh ranked #1 and #2 in our top as the best options for homeowners looking for affordability and mild weather.
• The two North Carolina cities register fewer uncomfortably hot days per year than most cities in the top, as well as moderate numbers of days with freezing temperatures.
• With a median income of almost $63K and a median home sale price of $298K, Charlotte residents need to budget around 29% of their earnings for monthly housing payments.
• Raleigh is a more economical option compared to Charlotte, as homebuyers here are looking at an affordability index of 21% – the median income here is $67K against a $230K median home sale price.
• Ranking #5 in the top 20, Greensboro is one of the best options for gentle summers out of the batch, with an affordability index of 23%.