- Where Millionaires Are Buying Homes
In some housing markets across the country it may feel like you need to be a millionaire just to buy a home. This is truer in some cities than in others, like San Francisco where Census Bureau data shows the median home is worth over $1 million and comes with sky-high monthly mortgage costs.. Below… 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…
- The Best Cities for Women in Tech in 2018
Women are consistently paid less than men for the same work, according to data from a variety of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. Additionally, women are often underrepresented in the highest-paying occupations. In particular, women are underrepresented in STEM occupations, which in today’s economy tend to come with 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…
- Where Women Are Buying Homes in the U.S.
In the past SmartAsset has analyzed gender income inequality through the lens of earnings. As of 2016, the Census Bureau estimates that the average full-time working female earns 80% of what the full-time working male earns. When women consistently earn less than men for the same work that has pernicious long-term effects on their ability… read more…
- Where Are Millennials Buying Homes? – 2018 Edition
Millennials, for the most part, are a generation of renters. Only 34.7% of Americans under the age of 35 owned their homes as of 2016, according to a Census Bureau survey. But that’s not always by choice. According to a Pew survey, 72% of renters hope to become homeowners one day. One big hurdle, especially… 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 Most Affordable Beach Towns in 2018
As winter drags on you may catch yourself wondering if summer is ever coming back. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of towns across America where it’s possible to spend a few weeks or, if you’re retired, a few months soaking in some warm weather. But, as that year-round warm… read more…
- Best Cities for Coffee Fanatics – 2018 Edition
Around 64% of Americans drink a daily cup of coffee, while 11% drinks four cups or more. This makes coffee not only one of America’s favorite beverages but also the preferred fuel for getting the day started. For those Americans who are fanatical about their cups of joe, where they live can have a big… read more…
- The Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance
It can be tough to balance work and play. The highest-paying jobs often require the longest hours and the most exciting cities typically come with budget-busting rents. But, while every city has its pros and cons and you likely need to make some compromises, not every city is equal in what it offers its working… read more…
- The Most Fitness-Friendly Places for 2018
Getting in shape is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions in America. Despite this, obesity rates in the U.S. continue to climb. While it’s never easy to hit your fitness goals, some cities make it easier than others. These cities tend to be walkable, have healthy eating options and plenty of places to… read more…
- The Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2017 Edition
Beer is Americans’ favorite alcoholic beverage, according to a Gallup poll of alcohol-consuming Americans. In fact, except for a short-lived period between 2005 and 2006 Americans, on average, have always preferred beer to wine by about 10 percentage points. But for some beer-drinkers, beer is more than just a beverage, it is a way of… 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 Cities With the Lowest Startup Costs – 2017 Edition
Starting new businesses is the key to growing any economy. But starting businesses can get expensive, and unless you are a trendy new startup, getting funding can be difficult. While many people may be dreaming of launching a new startup in Silicon Valley or the Big Apple, those places also come with the largest upfront… read more…
- The Top Boomtowns of 2017
The economy is finally starting to heat up. In fact, the economy is moving so fast the Federal Reserve recently increased the interest rate in an attempt to thwart potential inflation. But this growth has not taken place everywhere. Some places are booming more than others. Below we take a look at the data to… 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…
- The Best Cities for Conferences in 2017
Conferences bring together like-minded individuals for the chance to trade information, network and conduct business. Conferences are also an economic boon to the cities which welcome them, filling local hotels, exhibition halls and restaurants with paying customers. But not all cities are equally well set up to host conferences and receive this economic bounty. Below… read more…
- Cities That Have Recovered Most Since the Recession
The Great Recession lasted from late 2007 to mid 2009. It was the longest recession since World War II and had huge impacts on the U.S. economy. Investors lost big as the S&P 500 Index fell 57%. The housing market crashed and home values fell about 30%. National unemployment rose to a peak of about… read more…
- The Best Places to Work in Manufacturing – 2017 Edition
For long periods in this nation’s history manufacturing was the dominant industry, providing jobs and financial security for wide swaths of the population. Today manufacturing is not the force it once was with service jobs being the go-to occupation for many workers. This movement of manufacturing jobs out of America became a big political issue… 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 Best Places to Be a Teacher – 2017 Edition
Many people decide to become teachers for idealistic reasons. They want the opportunity to teach and mold tomorrow’s generation. However that doesn’t mean teachers cannot make strategic decisions about where to become teachers. Certain places in the country offer teachers higher pay, more affordable housing and greater job security. Below SmartAsset looks at these and… read more…
- The Best Places to Be a Nurse – 2017 Edition
Nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But in some places that growth is higher than in others. Additionally a nurse’s salary stretches further in some places than others. Below, SmartAsset analyzes data on earnings, housing affordability and job growth to find the best… 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…
- How Long It Takes to Afford a Down Payment on the Minimum Wage
There are 2.6 million workers in the United States who are paid at or below the federal minimum wage, according to the BLS. About half of these workers are over the age of 25, including adults who support themselves and their families on the minimum wage. What happens when minimum wage workers want to buy… read more…