- Best Places for Women Entrepreneurs – 2020 Edition
While women have certainly made strides in many areas of the business world, when it comes to entrepreneurship, a significant gender gap remains. Around 10.2% of women between ages 18 and 64 are new entrepreneurs, a rate around three-quarters that of men, according to the 2018-2019 Women’s Report from The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Though there’s… read more…
- States Where Residents Most Rely on Credit – 2020 Edition
Perhaps counterintuitively, consumer credit card debt has fallen since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Federal reserve data shows that the total amount of revolving consumer credit, which primarily consists of credit cards charges, fell below one trillion in April 2020 for the first time in close to two years. Data from Experian tells a… read more…
- Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities – 2020 Edition
For Americans seeking a more affordable and less crowded alternative to the bustle of a big city but not interested in very small towns, a mid-sized city might be the best place to put down roots. But not all of them are equally suited to meet the needs of their inhabitants. That’s why SmartAsset crunched… read more…
- Best Places to Live on a $60,000 Salary – 2020 Edition
According to Census data, more than 17% of American households earn between $50,000 and $74,999, making it the income bracket comprising the highest number of people. This large cohort may not be among the most handsomely paid in the U.S., but strategically living in a place with robust employment opportunities and a lower cost of… read more…
- Employment Trends Among Seniors – 2020 Study
Older American workers have been disproportionately impacted by not only the health impacts of COVID-19, but also its corresponding economic shock, which has deeply affected their ability to budget and save for their retirement. In fact, workers 65 and older have seen some of the highest recent unemployment rates. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of… read more…
- Best Places for Outdoor Enthusiasts to Live and Work – 2020 Edition
The COVID-19 pandemic has made many indoor activities difficult or impossible amid government ordinances. Since allocating some savings towards theater tickets and sporting events is now out of the question, a significant number of people are instead turning to the great outdoors for recreation. In fact, 43% of Americans 13 and older said they’d be committed… read more…
- The Fastest-Growing Job in Each State – 2020 Edition
The recent devastating U.S. unemployment rate, which shot up to 14.7% in April amid the coronavirus crisis, has highlighted the importance of achieving job security. In the short term, it means the ability to cover day-to-day expenses; in the long term, it means the ability to address both financial emergencies as well as save up… read more…
- Are Solar Panels Worth It in 2020?
Monthly electric bills vary with the seasons. They are typically lower during milder spring and fall months and higher in the summer and winter, when households are running air conditioners or heaters. Despite these monthly variations, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the average American household spends about $1,400 on electricity… read more…
- Unemployment Changes From the Start of COVID-19 to August – 2020 Study
Nationally, unemployment has slowly fallen since its initial record spike in April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported last month that the national August 2020 unemployment rate was 8.4%. More recently, on Wednesday, September 30, the BLS released metro area unemployment rates for August 2020. The data… read more…
- Fastest-Growing Jobs for Young Professionals in America – 2020 Edition
Entering the workforce as a young person can be difficult. For many people who are fresh out of college, it’s particularly challenging to determine exactly which industries are likely to hire someone so young and with such little professional experience. But securing gainful employment is the first step in building a savings and establishing a… read more…
- States With the Strongest Unions – 2020 Edition
Unions can be a great way for workers to gain power in the workplace and make sure they are treated and compensated fairly. Overall, union participation rates in the U.S. are down: In 2018 the rate was 10.5%, while in 1983 it was 20.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Still, there are… read more…
- Fastest-Growing Jobs for Women in America – 2020 Edition
Between 2015 and 2019, the total American workforce grew by about 8.7 million workers, with 4.4. million women and 4.3 million men securing employment. Though female and male workers joined the workforce at almost equal rates, certain jobs have seen huge increases in female employment specifically, allowing for further opportunities for women to more easily… read more…
- Cities Where Renters Can Afford to Live Alone – 2020 Edition
In 2018, the median monthly rent for a studio was $891 while the median rent for a one-bedroom rental was $911. This means that the average renter living alone in America spends upwards of $10,600 every year on rent, even when living in a studio. While that annual rent is high and unaffordable for many… read more…
- Cities Where Worker Burnout Is Most Likely – 2020 Edition
The days of the strict 40-hour workweek, with weekends and evenings spent relaxing, are a distant memory for many people. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from 2019, more than 10 million Americans work at least 60 hours per week. And for those lucky enough to have a job amid the COVID-19 pandemic,… read more…
- Most Bike-Friendly Cities in America – 2020 Edition
If you’re able to do so, biking can be a great way to get around. Besides the physical benefits, this mode of transportation is great for the environment and generally requires you to have less of your money set aside for commuting costs. Some cities, though, are much better for biking than others in terms… read more…
- Cities With the Most Financial Stress – 2020 Edition
According to a recent poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly nine in 10 Americans say COVID-19 has triggered stress on their personal finances. Money – or lack thereof – creates anxiety-inducing burdens for individuals and families even in normal times. But this is especially true now in the midst of the coronavirus… read more…
- Where Census Self-Response Rates Have Increased the Most – August 2020 Study
Earlier this spring, SmartAsset decided to take a closer look at where people had responded to the 2020 Census the most. Since the publication of our original study in May, the Census Bureau moved up its extended deadline for completing the decennial count, causing some concern that many households could go uncounted. The 2020 Census… read more…
- Most Popular PPP Loan Lenders in the 50 States – 2020 Study
With many small businesses struggling to maintain their financial reserves during COVID-19, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo were the U.S. lenders that originated the highest number of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Between the first week of April and the end of June 2020, the three banks originated more than 789,600 PPP loans of the… read more…
- Best Cities for Runners – 2020 Edition
Given that so many Americans were stuck indoors and without access to gyms during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, those looking to burn some of those quarantine calories and stay healthy may look to running as a premier way to get some exercise. Road races may be less abundant, but those hankering to pound… read more…
- Income Needed to Pay Rent in the Largest U.S. Cities – 2020 Edition
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans have had trouble covering expenses – especially rent – in recent months. According to data from the National Multifamily Housing Council, less than 88% of apartment households made a full or partial July rent payment as of the 13th of the month. Though this marks an… read more…
- Best Places for Career Opportunities in the COVID-19 Recession – 2020 Study
The ongoing coronavirus crisis has impacted nearly all facets of life, and one of the most difficult challenges for Americans to deal with has been the disruption to the job market, a fact that can jeopardize their hard-earned savings. While the national unemployment rate was still a substantial 11.1% in June 2020, this percentage marks… read more…
- America’s Best Hockey Towns – 2020 Edition
They say the good old hockey game is the best game you can name, and for some cities across the U.S., that is clearly true. Since the 2005-2006 National Hockey League (NHL) season – which came directly after a labor dispute cancelled an entire season for the league – revenue has more than doubled, from… read more…
- Where Singles Are Increasingly Choosing to Buy Over Rent – 2020 Edition
According to 2018 Census Bureau data, approximately two of every 10 owner-occupied housing units in the U.S. is a one-person household. That means more than 17 million units fall under this category. These are singles who have chosen to buy a house or apartment instead of renting. Covering initial expenses like closing costs and a… read more…
- Best Community Colleges in America – 2020 Edition
Community college is a great option for any number of high school graduates in America. Whether you require more experience to be accepted to a four-year college, want an associate’s degree in a specific skill or hope to save money on tuition, community college is a viable option for higher education. Not all community colleges are… read more…
- How Consumer Spending Has Changed During COVID-19 – 2020 Study
Many economists have theorized about what the shape of the COVID-19 recession – in other words, the possibilities for recovery – will be. Some individuals are still holding out hope for a “V-shaped” recession where the economy will rebound as quickly as it declined, which would in turn allow many to begin to repair the… read more…