- The Happiest Places in America – 2018 Edition
The U.S. ranked as the 18th-happiest country in the world in 2018, according to the World Happiness Report, released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the U.N. That’s down four spots from the 2017 ranking. But while the U.S. may not be the happiest country in the world, there are some parts of the… read more…
- Cities Where Renters Can Afford to Live Alone
Many renters don’t enjoy living with roommates, but in order to live alone you need to find an affordable home. This can be challenging, especially with rents on the rise across the country. However, there are some cities where living alone is within reach for a large number of workers. Below we look at these… read more…
- The Best Cities for New College Grads in 2018
These days having a college education is not enough to ensure a financially secure future. According to data from the Census Bureau, over 30% of Americans over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree. That means college graduates looking to get a professional edge need to move to the right… read more…
- Cities Where Women Are the Most Successful
In 1948, only 32% of women were in the official labor force, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. As of February 2018, that number had almost doubled to 57%. Today in some American cities, women are earning large salaries, running their own businesses and handling their mortgages with ease. With this in… read more…
- New York Neighborhoods With the Fastest-Growing Home Values
New York real estate has an estimated market value around $1.26 trillion as of 2018, according to the New York Department of Finance. Some New York neighborhoods are more popular than others, putting upward pressure on home values and mortgage costs. Below we look into the phenomenon to find the New York City neighborhoods with the fastest-growing home… read more…
- Best Cities for Runners – 2018 Edition
Nearly 17 million people competed in 30,400 U.S. road races in 2016, according to data from Running USA. But for Americans who are truly passionate about getting their daily steps in, not all cities are equal. Some cities are better for runners who prefer to run outdoors. While others are better for those who value… read more…
- The Best Cities to Sell a House – 2018 Edition
Americans sold 612,000 homes in 2017 and 44,000 in January 2018, according to data from the Census Bureau. For most home sellers, selling your home at a profit is likely one of your goals. Location is a big factor in this, as some housing markets favor sellers while others are more favorable to buyers. Below SmartAsset… read more…
- The Hottest Secondary Home Markets in the U.S.
People buy second homes for a variety of reasons. Some people buy a beach home as a place to get away during the winter months, others buy a place next to their favorite mountain to enjoy the slopes. Homebuyers may choose to buy second homes as investments, taking advantage of rising home values. For some… read more…
- The Best Cities to Raise a Family in 2018
The cost of raising a family continues to rise. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that raising a child born in 2015 costs $233,610, from birth to age 17. After accounting for inflation, that’s $31,000 more than it cost in 1960. The USDA does offer some reprieve in that same analysis, however. The… read more…
- Hours of Work Needed to Pay Rent in the 25 Largest Cities
Does it feel like most of your paycheck goes to covering rent? You’re probably not alone. Data from the Census Bureau shows that over 46% of American renters are housing cost-burdened. But the scale of the problem changes depending on where you look. In California over 52% of renters are housing cost-burdened while in North… read more…
- The Most Livable Small Cities in the U.S.
Big cities can be challenging places to live. But if you are trying to leave a big city it can be difficult to find a smaller city worthy of moving to. Big cities tend to get the most attention when it comes to cost of living, quality of life and availability of economic opportunity. But… read more…
- The Best Cities for Diversity in STEM – 2017 Edition
STEM jobs are some of the most desired in the country. These jobs tend to offer the best pay and the best benefits. However, as inequality remains a problem in American society, more people are starting to focus on who are employed in these fields. This issue recently came to the fore when Google let… read more…
- The Safest Cities in America in 2017
Housing costs may be the most important factor people consider when choosing where to live. But safety is often a close second. When deciding where to raise a family, for example, many parents place a premium on safety. Living in a safe environment means more than just a place with little crime. Breathing in polluted… read more…
- Top 10 Cities With the Largest Rent Increases – 2017 Edition
Almost half of renters (46%) spend more than 30% of their income on rent, according to Census Bureau data. This means they are classified as housing cost-burdened based on guidelines from the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs. Rents across the nation continue to rise, especially in the biggest cities in the country. Below we… read more…
- The Most Livable Cities in the U.S. – 2017 Edition
What makes a city a great place to live? You’ll probably get a different answer from every person you ask. But there are some factors that the majority of people would agree makes a city livable. For example you probably want your city to be affordable, to have access to jobs and to be safe.… read more…
- The Best Places for Green Jobs
As the effects from climate change become more and more apparent, many Americans are wondering what they can do. For some that means recycling more or using less water. For others, it might mean attaching a solar panel to their… read more…
- The Best Small Cities to Raise a Family
Raising a family in a small city can be an enriching experience. Small cities come without much of the hustle and bustle of larger cities or the sky-high costs of living. Plus, many small cities still offer access to employment opportunities and can offer residents a sense of community. Below we rank the best small… read more…
- The Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S.
The best places to live are often the most expensive. This is especially true in some of the biggest cities in the country. But there are still some fantastic places in the United States boast more affordable homes, low unemployment rates and come without the hustle and bustle of big cities. Below we rank the most livable… read more…
- The Best Cities for Young Professionals
As any young professional knows, where you start your career is important. You want to be in a place that offers high pay and good opportunities. Unfortunately, some of the places that come to mind when thinking about careers, tend to be the places with the highest costs of living, like New York or San… read more…
- The Least-Stressed Cities in America – 2017 Edition
Stress can be hard to avoid. In fact trying to avoid stress can itself be stressful. Almost everyone is worried about how much sleep they are getting or how many workouts they are missing. For many Americans, wondering if they can afford their home is a stressful experience. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.… read more…
- The Most Transient Cities in America
Americans don’t move as much as they used to. According to Census Bureau data, Americans in 1948 moved almost twice as often as Americans in 2016. In fact, the current rates at which Americans move around the country is at the lowest point in recorded history. Recent research from Yale University has shown declining mobility hurts… read more…
- Gender Housing Gap: Where Women Are More Housing Cost-Burdened
The average woman earns 80% of what the average man earns, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The real-world implications of the pay gap sometimes get lost in the discussion around the issue. Of course, being paid less is bad, but when it comes to things like housing, for example, women may be worse off… read more…
- The Least Affordable Housing Markets in America
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommends spending no more than 30% of your income on housing. But in some cities across the country, people are forking more than half their income over to rent, or buying homes worth 10 times their annual salary. According to HUD’s guidelines, these people are housing cost-burdened.… read more…
- The Income Needed to Pay Rent in the Largest U.S. Cities – 2017 Edition
Living in a big city can be fun. But almost everything in a big city tends to be more expensive, from meals out to groceries to morning coffee. And housing is often the most expensive part of living in a city. Below we look at data on rents in 15 major U.S. cities and estimate… read more…
- The Most Undervalued Cities in America – 2017 Edition
Many American cities are facing a housing supply crunch. Housing costs, especially in urban centers, are on the rise, and in cities like New York and Los Angeles large swaths of the population find themselves severely housing cost-burdened. People often want to live in places which offer the best value but when it comes to… read more…