SmartReads

Inflation erodes purchasing power by pushing up the cost of everyday goods and services. In many U.S. cities, median household income has outpaced inflation by a wide margin, offsetting the impact of rising costs. In others, however, residents are falling far enough behind to intensify the squeeze on household budgets. SmartAsset ranked 94 major population… read more…

Wage equality helps define how workers share in economic growth. When top earners pull far ahead of median workers, rising high-end pay concentrates gains among a relatively small group. According to the Economic Policy Institute, earnings inequality has “redistributed wages away from most workers” and stifled “broader-based wage growth.” However, wider wage gaps may also… read more…

Choosing where to live can involve balancing opportunity and security. Big cities offer diverse job markets, extensive amenities and greater access to public services. But they also sometimes come with more acute safety concerns. While no major population center is entirely free from danger, some are more successful than others at creating environments where people… read more…

Some occupations offer substantial earning potential for workers who perform at an exceptional level and prioritize career advancement. In these fields, top earners may make several times more than the median worker, creating wide differences in compensation within the same occupation. For ambitious workers willing to build experience, sustain high performance and remain geographically mobile,… read more…