The upper floors of houses are usually slightly warmer than the downstairs because hot air rises. Applying heat to air (or any gas) causes the gas to expand. This causes the density of the gas to decrease. Warm air is less dense than cold air, so warm air floats in cold air. If rising warm air cannot escape from the house (through attic ventilation, for example) it will accumulate on the upper floor of a house.
Modern HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems are designed to reduce the buildup of heat in upper floors. This is usually accomplished through a combination of proper duct work and attic ventilation. In the absence of a modern system, upstairs windows may need to be opened.
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