- Federal Furloughs by State: 2025 Government Shutdown Report
With Congress unable to agree upon funding legislation for 2026, the federal government shut down October 1st. Federal agencies deferred to funding contingency plans, typically resulting in furloughs for significant chunks of their workforces. These furloughed employees are not receiving paychecks during this time, though backpay is likely once a deal is struck. But the… read more…
- U.S. Population Trends by State: Winners and Losers – 2025 Study
Across all 50 states, the population increased by an average of 1.55% over one year. But some states saw a much larger boom in the number of residents, while others lagged behind. And within each state, population growth – or decline – varied from county to county. Birth rates, immigration, and households moving within the… read more…
- Cities Where Housing is Most and Least Affordable for Residents – 2025 Study
With this in mind, SmartAsset weighted median housing costs for renters and homeowners and compared it to the median household income in each of 50 of America’s largest cities to determine where housing is most and least affordable for residents. To gauge housing affordability at an individual level, many financial advisors use the rule of… read more…
- U.S. Cities With the Highest Income Growth – 2025 Study
Nationwide, the median household income reached $83,730 in 2024, growing just 1.3% year over year. This means many households did not keep pace with the roughly 3% inflation rate during the same time period, but that was not true everywhere. Especially in large cities where residents often pay a premium for convenience, infrastructure and amenities,… read more…
- How Much Are OBBBA Provisions Worth to American Households? 2025 Study
Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) offer Americans additional tax deductions and credits that will take effect for tax year 2025, with many lasting through 2028 and beyond. Many people should expect some tax savings, as the provisions incentivize a wide net of statuses and activities, including young families, seniors, tipped workers,… read more…
- America’s Safest Cities – 2025 Study
City safety – or lack thereof – can lead to great disparity in quality of life and return on dollars invested by residents, businesses and government alike. In August, the Trump administration issued an Executive Order declaring a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. The federal government subsequently leveraged the local police force and deployed over… read more…
- Best Community Colleges – 2025 Study
Community college can be the pathway to creating more lifelong income, with associate’s degree holders earning 14% more – or $6,496 more per year – than those with a high school education. But while tuition and fees tend to be less expensive for community colleges than four-year degrees, it still costs a median $5,040 per… read more…
- Credit Card Chaos: Where Americans Face the Most Trouble With Their Cards – 2025 Study
The United States depends heavily on credit cards, with the Federal Reserve reporting that credit cards account for 32% of transactions nationwide. Benefits like rewards programs, budgeting tools, credit-building, fraud protection, interest-free promotions and more make them valuable tools for everyday purchases and big-ticket items across most lifestyles. But when credit card holders encounter issues… read more…
- America’s Safest Suburbs – 2025 Study
While costs are often a major factor for families deciding where to settle, safety is another important factor for quality of life. Many households are willing to pay a premium to be in a neighborhood they feel physically safe in, as valuable qualitative benefits may be at stake in establishing a sense of safety –… read more…
- How Much Do You Need to Earn to Be in the Top 1% in Your State? 2025 Study
Nearly 1.5 million households across the United States now rank among the top 1% of earners, according to the latest tax return data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). On average, it takes $731,492 in annual income to be a part of this group. But that threshold looks different depending on where you live. Economic… read more…
- America’s Most Expensive Housing Markets – 2025 Study
As of May 2025, the median home sale price in the U.S. hit $368,751. But in some metro areas, it’s standard for single-family homes to sell for over $1 million. In these high-cost areas, price swings may carry major consequences, such as putting existing homeowners at risk of losing equity or potentially pricing out hopeful… read more…
- Where Millennials Are Buying Homes – 2025 Study
Millennials – all squarely within their primary working years – are buying homes more or less quickly depending on the metro area. In some places, 1 in every 25 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 purchased a home with a conventional mortgage just in 2024 alone. In other major metros, less than 1… read more…
- Most Livable Small Cities – 2025 Study
The density, noise and expense of large cities may not always be optimal for each American household. Still, trading in the convenience of a large city often means a multi-person household may be split on what factors go into making a location a best-fit. In some cases, but not others, families may be willing to… read more…
- Best Job Markets – 2025 Study
The demand for different career paths and qualifications varies widely from place to place, often depending on local economic features, including geography, infrastructure, politics, culture and resources. Similarly, what makes one job market more appealing than others can depend on a job-hunter’s financial and familial circumstances. Not only does the presence of jobs and a… read more…
- Best Places for New Families – 2025 Study
People with young children or those planning to start a family often have newfound priorities when it comes to picking a neighborhood to live in. Many families choose to trade the conveniences of the big city for more space and affordability as they grow. Other amenities – including childcare costs, access to parks, the presence… read more…
- Where Retirees Are Moving – 2025 Study
Nearly one million people aged 60 and over in the U.S. crossed state lines to make a new home in 2023, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. With a lower risk tolerance for market fluctuations, retirees may seek other ways to maximize their income and make the most out of life,… read more…
- Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2025 Study
Common costs associated with raising a child – such as childcare, additional food, medical costs, housing and more – can add up to tens of thousands of dollars per year. This makes raising a child a relatively expensive line-item anywhere, but in some metro areas these costs can be double those in others, sometimes reaching… read more…
- Here’s the Salary It Takes to Live Comfortably in Each U.S. State – 2025 Study
As cost of living increases seem to permanently make their way to important budget items, individuals and families increasingly need more income to support a comfortable lifestyle over the long-term. This means being able to afford hobbies, vacations, retirement savings, education funds, and the occasional emergency – in addition to necessities like housing, groceries, transportation… read more…
- Best Housing Markets for First-Time Homebuyers – 2025 Study
Affordability is just one component of buying a new home. Hopeful first-time homebuyers would be prudent to consider the competitive landscape, lifestyle, social and future growth potential of their home. Taking on such a large investment, particularly when the costs of homeownership may outpace the costs of renting in some places, requires planning ahead in… read more…
- Social Security and Retirement Income Are Highest in These Cities – 2025 Study
According to the Social Security Administration, the average annual retirement benefit nationwide is just shy of $24,000. Meanwhile, supplemental income from designated retirement accounts, such as a pension, 401(k), 403(b), or Roth or traditional IRA, averages just over an additional $30,000 annually for retirees across U.S. cities. A combined average of about $54,000 puts many… read more…
- Where Homeownership Is Most and Least Prevalent in the U.S. – 2025 Study
While current rent prices and recent home transaction data can offer insights into the trajectory of a community’s housing market, these snapshots don’t necessarily capture the financial realities of residents who already exist in the market. A household’s experience can vary widely depending on when they entered the housing market, how their ongoing costs compare… read more…
- Renting vs. Buying: How Housing Costs Compare Across America – 2025 Study
The cost of housing isn’t just limited to the price tag of your monthly rent or the cost of financing the purchase price of your home. On the rental side, the cost of utilities can add a consistent, considerable amount to your costs. For homeowners, mortgage costs are padded not only by utilities but homeowners’… read more…
- Where Home Values Increased and Decreased Most – 2025 Study
Sharp changes in home values can have many ripple effects throughout the local economy. In the short term, both potential homesellers and homebuyers may be impacted by changes in local competitive forces and affordability. Over time, these changes can affect the city’s tax base, current homeowners’ refinancing options, demand in the local job markets, and… read more…
- Where Americans Earn the Most From Investments – 2025 Study
Net capital gains, the profits from selling assets like stocks, real estate, or businesses, are a key measure of investment success and regional wealth. These gains are realized only upon sale and are taxable at preferential rates when held for a year or longer: 0%, 15% or 20%. Other investment incomes, such as ordinary dividends… read more…
- Where Rent Increased Most – 2025 Study
Most experts agree that the United States is millions of housing units short of meeting the needs of Americans at an affordable price. This can put a lot of pressure on prices, but supply and demand dynamics may not look the same in each city – or each snapshot in time, for that matter. Regardless,… read more…