Moving from Chicago to Austin
A climate comparison of two homes: Illinois to Texas. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 90 days longer, 201 days becomes 291 days.
Chicago, IL to Austin, TX
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 201 days | 291 days | 90 days longer |
| Months below freezing | 3 months | 0 months | 3 fewer |
| Coldest month | -3C in January | 11C in January | 15C warmer |
| Last spring frost | April 11 | February 20 | 50 days earlier |
| Warmest month | 25C in July | 30C in August | 6C hotter |
Moving from Chicago to Austin reshapes the home year. Winters get 15C warmer. Summers get 6C hotter. Your growing season is 90 days longer. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: a longer frost-free season opens more crop choices and succession sowings. Raised beds warm earlier in spring.
- Snow and ice: fewer freezing months reduce roof and driveway risk, but one surprise storm still happens. Keep basic winter tools for the odd freeze.
Season by season
Spring starts earlier
Your last spring frost moves from April 11 to February 20, 50 days earlier. Start planting and outdoor prep sooner.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 25C in July to 30C in August. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from -3C in January to 11C in January; freezing months go from 3 months to 0 months. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from Chicago to Austin, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Chicago to Austin?
Your growing season runs 90 days longer, 201 days becomes 291 days. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Chicago Midway Ap 72534 near Chicago and Austin-Camp Mabry 72254 near Austin. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Chicago Midway Ap 72534 (near Chicago, IL) and Austin-Camp Mabry 72254 (near Austin, TX). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.