I find the area along the NC/TN border suits me. It's in the south but is significantly cooler. Winter is similar to the Great Lakes region (they even get lake effect snow out of Lake Michigan). Summer seldom gets above 80 and the humidity is much lower than the surrounding region.
Cold winter is a natural deterrent to human garbage. When the collapse happens the warm parts of the country are going to have more of a problem with feral humans.
Summer in the heat and feral trash:
Depends on whether there is electricity or not.
No electricity, no A/C, no A/C and there will
be a lot of self culling.
Or migration further north.