- The Best Places to Raise a Family in North Carolina
North Carolina is the ninth-most populous state in the country. Millions of parents in the Tar Heel state have to decide where to raise families. Should they go to Charlotte, a bustling city with the third-largest banking sector in the country? Or head west to live near the Great Smoky Mountains? Below we look at factors like… 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 Places to Trick-or-Treat in 2017
Just under 10% of Americans chose Halloween as their favorite holiday, according to a 2015 Harris Poll. The chance to dress up and eat candy is always a treat, especially for the younger generation. But not all places have the same trick-or-treating experience. Some places are better for maxing out how much candy you can… read more…
- The Best Cities to Buy a Home Big Enough to Raise a Family
Finding the right place to buy a family home can be difficult. Families with more than one child need enough space to live comfortably. But larger homes can be tough to find, especially large homes which are affordable. Below SmartAsset looks at these and other factors to find the best cities to buy a home… read more…
- The Hardest-Working Cities in America – 2017 Edition
Americans love to tout their hard-working natures. In fact, among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average American ranks around 13th for most hours worked per year. Of course, people work hard for multiple reasons like securing a stable retirement or buying a home. But within America there are large… read more…
- The Best Minor League Baseball Towns of 2017
It’s widely accepted that baseball is America’s pastime, but for many people baseball starts and ends with the major leagues. However, there are over 150 teams plying their trade in the minor leagues. In 2016 over 37 million spectators attended a minor league baseball game. But not all minor league towns are the same, some offer… read more…
- What Is a Deed of Trust?
If you’re in the process of buying a home, you may have heard the term “deed of trust.” Depending on what state you live in, this may have come up more frequently than it would in other places. But what… 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…
- Is It Possible to Buy a Home for 2.5x Your Salary in America’s Biggest Cities?
How much home you can afford depends on your income. Many experts recommend that homebuyers should generally purchase homes worth 2.5 times their annual income. Yet, in many of the largest cities across the country the average homes have values which exceed seven times the average household’s income. Below we rank the largest cities according… read more…
- What a Roommate Saves You in 50 U.S. Cities – 2017 Edition
High rents are forcing more and more people to live with roommates. The Census estimates that 5.8 million Americans currently have a roommate. The benefits from living with another person vary from city to city. In some cities, it may not be worth the hassle. In other places however, especially where homes are unaffordable, living with… 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…
- Occupations With the Largest and Smallest Pay Gap
Data from the Census Bureau shows that the average full-time working woman earns about 80% of what the average full-time working man does. But this pay gap is different across every profession. Below SmartAsset looks at the occupations with the largest pay gap and the occupations with the smallest pay gap in America. Taking a… read more…
- The Best State Capitals to Live In – 2017 Edition
Capital cities can be the best places to live in their states. They tend to have low unemployment rates, are the focal point for political activity for the state and are sometimes even affordable. But which state capital is the best? Below SmartAsset crunches the numbers on the relevant livability metrics to find the best capital… 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…
- Pros and Cons of Making Biweekly Mortgage Payments
When you have a mortgage, at some point you may decide to try and pay it off early. One option to consider is a biweekly (every two week) payment plan. With biweekly mortgage payments, you make 26 half-payments a year, which… 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…
- The Top 10 Cities for Career Opportunities in 2017
Deciding where to move for work can be a daunting challenge. Is moving to a less affordable area in order to take a higher income going to end up doing more damage to your budget than its worth? And what about the long term? Where is the best place to foster a great lifelong career?… read more…
- The Best Places to Raise a Family in Colorado
Colorado is an attractive state to raise a family. The unemployment rate is low and the state offers access to some of the best natural attractions in the country. Home prices are also on the rise in Colorado, so if you’re… read more…
- Where Are Millennials Moving?
Young adults today are less likely to move than they were in previous generations. Data from the Census Bureau shows that the mobility rate for young adults is at the lowest rate it has been at in 50 years. But what about the millennials who do move? They offer an economic boon to the cities and… read more…
- The States With the Worst Drivers – 2017 Edition
Most people think they’re good drivers. But the law of averages and statistics on motor vehicle deaths suggest this isn’t the case. Some states have gained a reputation for having particularly bad drivers. We looked into the data to determine which states deserve this reputation and which don’t. Below we rank the 10 states with the worst… read more…
- The Best Places to Raise a Family in Florida
Florida is a wonderful place to raise a family. The weather is almost always great and the cost of living is also relatively low, meaning parents won’t have to break the bank to live there. Plus, Florida has no state income tax. That means keeping more of every paycheck you earn. But what are the best places… read more…
- The Best American Cities to Work in Tech in 2017
You probably picture San Jose or San Francisco when you picture tech cities. But with the cost of living in the Bay Area sky rocketing, the generous benefits tech workers receive may no longer feel like a lot. The good news is that tech jobs are booming in places across the country where costs of… read more…
- The Best Places for Children in 2017
When it comes to raising children location is important. Parents want their children to have the opportunity to attend the best schools and also to enjoy their childhoods and make friends. But many places with the best schools and the best economic opportunities tend to be the least affordable. SmartAsset considered these and other metrics to… read more…
- How Much Home You Can Buy With $100,000 in America’s Largest Cities
New York City is famous for its closet-sized apartments. San Francisco residents have become accustomed to living in tight quarters. But New York and San Francisco are extreme examples of expensive housing markets in America. To see just how extreme they are, we analyzed value per square foot data to see how much home $100,000 could… read more…