Snowfall isn't an indicator of much. Cold is, and for how long. And how long/short the days are. And daily swings, daily max/min, humidity, etc.

I've lived in places with warmer temps and higher humidity and more wind, and those winters are bitter as hell (Mid Atlantic). And I've lived in places with lower lows but very low humidity, and that's much milder.

Anything east of the Mississippi and north of about Tenessee/KY has bitter winters, farther north even worse. Winter in places like NH can be particularly butter because of the combo.