The Heat Is On: Thumbtack Reveals the Sweatiest U.S. Cities for 2025
Aldo Ceja•Last updated Jul 22, 2025
Last updated Jul 22, 2025
The heat is on, and so is the AC.
As summer temperatures surge across the U.S., households everywhere are on the hunt for ways to cool off. From repairing broken thermostats to installing portable air conditioners, the great American cooldown is officially underway. For the second year in a row, we’re revealing our official list of the Sweatiest Cities in America based on millions of home service requests from across the country.
The top 10 sweatiest cities in America.
This summer has been hot hot hot, with cities across the country sweating it out in record-breaking temps. Atlanta claimed the top spot on our list after hitting scorching temperatures in the 100s during its first major heat wave in late June. Washington, D.C. wasn’t far behind, baking under days of extreme heat as residents worked to cool down their homes. Austin jumped into summer early, breaking May records with its first 100 degree day of the year and further down the list, residents of Baltimore and Raleigh wrapped up June in a full sweat as temps hit triple digits.
As millions of Americans try to keep their cool, we looked into how much homeowners are shelling out to stay comfortable. Here’s the national average cost of home cooling projects right now, based on reports from our pros:
How to stay cool (without losing your cool).
Whether you’re dripping in humidity or sizzling in desert heat, staying cool at home starts with smart upgrades and a few trusty DIY tricks.
- Give your windows some love: Use thermal curtains to help block out sunlight and reflect heat away, keeping your home cooler during the summer.
- Seal up gaps: Check around windows and doors for cracks or leaks. Use weatherstripping or caulk to seal them — it’s a simple, affordable fix that prevents cool air from escaping and hot air from seeping in.
- Use ceiling fans correctly: Set ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise during the summer to push cool air downward and improve circulation.
- Be smart with appliances: Wait to use heat-generating appliances like ovens, dryers, and dishwashers until cooler parts of the day, preferably at night, to avoid adding extra heat to your home.
- Swap out light bulbs: Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. They use less energy and produce far less heat, helping you keep your space cooler and saving on electricity.
Dry vs. humid heat: your cooling game plan.
Not all sweat is created equal. Whether you’re battling swampy air or that desert-dry sizzle, your home needs a cooling plan that fits the climate.
For humid climates:
Humidity can make even moderate temperatures feel unbearable. These tips will help you de-sticky your space:
- Use a dehumidifier: An essential for removing excess moisture from the air, and helping to eliminate that sticky, stifling feeling common in humid climates.
- Keep your AC well-maintained: Regular maintenance helps your system run efficiently and helps zap extra humidity.
- Upgrade your HVAC system: Chris Fletcher, Thumbtack pro and owner of Southern Heating & Air Conditioning in Florida (a notoriously muggy climate), recommends investing in high-efficiency, variable-speed HVAC systems. These systems cut down on humidity and your energy bill, creating a cooler, more comfortable indoor environment even on the most oppressive days.
For dry climates:
That dry, relentless heat is no joke — but you’ve got options. Some of our best tips for combating dry heat include:
- Consider a swamp cooler: Also known as an evaporative cooler, it’s ideal for dry climates. These systems pull hot, dry air through water-saturated pads, adding cooling moisture and lowering temperatures to create a no-sweat zone.
- Add exterior shade: Awnings, shutters, or even well-placed trees can block the sun and help cool things down naturally.
Your cool-down plan starts with Thumbtack.
No matter where in the country you live, the Thumbtack app makes it easy to keep your home cool this summer. We remove any uncertainty by providing clear guidance on what projects to tackle, what they cost, and who to hire. Ready to keep your cool — literally? Download the Thumbtack app today.
Methodology: We examined which of the top 40 metropolitan areas (according to the Nielsen DMA rankings) have the most requests for projects including central air conditioning repair or maintenance, central air conditioning installation or replacement, window, wall, or portable AC repair or maintenance, fan installation, and thermostat installation or repair for May-mid-July 2025. We adjusted for population size by ranking cities based on the number of project requests per capita. The pricing ranges for these projects are based on national pricing estimates from projects on Thumbtack in 2025.
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