re: Worst region of the US to live in?

Having lived in both Minneapolis and Chicago, that is not true. Minneapolis is significantly colder than Chicago. The only time the lake really makes it feel colder is the spring when the water temps are significantly below the air temps, but you need winds out of the east or northeast, which is far less common than wind out of the west.

Though given the colder temps, Minneapolis feels sunnier than Chicago in the winter.