26:["$","$L27",null,{"category":"$28","relatedArticles":[{"id":"cG9zdDo2NzA1Mw==","databaseId":67053,"postId":67053,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Nw==","databaseId":57,"userId":57,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a4ba5699dffd6ba2dae17837c96b683a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Derek Miller is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he studied economics. He is passionate about using data to help people make better financial decisions. Derek is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. He is a data journalist whose expertise is in finding the stories within the numbers. Derek's writing has been featured on Yahoo, AOL and HuffPost. He believes the biggest financial mistake people make is waiting too late to save for retirement and missing out on the wonders of compounding interest. Derek lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Derek","fullName":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","lastName":"Miller, CEPF®","name":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":254,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"dmiller","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$29","date":"2017-08-03T07:00:08","excerpt":"

Paying off a large amount of credit card debt can be challenging. It is especially difficult when you are saddled with high rent costs and bleak employment prospects like some millennials are. How much are these two factors affecting millennials’ ability to stay on top of debt? We looked at these and other metrics to find out […]

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Holding onto a lot of credit card debt? A balance transfer credit card could help you pay it off.

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For the purposes of this study, we defined “millennials” as persons aged 20 – 34 in 2015. In order to find the places where millennials are struggling the most to pay off their credit card debt, we compared 202 metro areas. We compared them across metrics like the average credit score for millennials, average credit card debt for millennials, millennial unemployment rate, median gross rent for a one-bedroom apartment and median gross rent for a one-bedroom apartment as a percent of median individual income.

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Key Findings

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Winning in Wisconsin – According to our data, millennials in Wisconsin are the best-positioned to pay off credit card debt. Three of the bottom five places on our list are in Wisconsin. They are Green Bay-Appleton, Wasau-Rhinelander and La Cross-Eau Claire. These metro areas have low unemployment rates and high average credit scores.
Peach State struggles – Four of the top 20 places where millennials struggle to pay off their credit card debt are in Georgia. Georgia millennials are facing high unemployment rates and high amounts of average credit card debt.

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1. Savannah, Georgia

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The oldest city in Georgia takes the top spot for places where millennials struggle to pay their credit card debt. Millennials in Savannah, on average, have high credit card debt and high unemployment rates. This makes for a difficult situation where millennials may be without a steady income and simultaneously have large credit card bills to pay.

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The real kicker though is median one-bedroom rent as a percent of median individual income. Our data shows it would cost 34% of the average resident’s income to pay for the average one-bedroom apartment. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, this makes the average Savannah resident housing cost-burdened. It also means Savannah millennials may have less cash to put toward paying down their credit card debt, after paying rent.

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2. Columbus, Georgia

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Columbus, Georgia millennials have one of the highest unemployment rates in our study. For millennials without a job, paying off credit card debt may be difficult.

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Another obstacle facing Columbus millennials is the low average credit score. A low credit score typically means a higher APR on your credit card, which means higher interest payments on long-standing credit card debt. Our data shows that Columbus millennials have an average credit score of 603, which is considered fair.

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3. Corpus Christi, Texas

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When you have a lot of credit card debt and a low credit score, odds are your credit card bills include high interest costs. This is the situation facing Corpus Christi millennials. They have the ninth-lowest average credit score (593), which suggests they don’t have access to the best low APR credit cards. They also have the 15th-highest average credit card debt ($3,844).

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Credit card payments aren’t the only factor putting a dent in Corpus Christi millennials’ budgets. Rent eats up a large chunk of the average resident’s budget. According to Census Bureau data, rent on the average one-bedroom apartment in the area is equal to 33% of the median income.

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4. West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce, Florida

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Millennials in the West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce area have relatively high credit scores – at least when compared to the rest of the top 10. Millennials there have an average credit score of 621. That’s the second-highest credit score in our top 10.

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The main issue for millennials is the area’s high rents combined with large amount of credit card debt, on average. The average one-bedroom apartment in this area goes for $937 per month, which is the equivalent of just under 40% of the average resident’s annual income. If you are paying 40% of your income on rent, it may mean you cannot tackle high credit card debt aggressively enough.

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5. Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Millennials in Miami-Fort Lauderdale struggle to pay their credit card debt for many of the same reasons their neighbors in West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce do. That is, high rents and high average credit card debt. Apart from those two factors, millennials in Miami-Fort Lauderdale also struggle with employment. According to U.S. Census Bureau data just over 9% of millennials in the area are unemployed. Without a steady income and faced with sky high rents, millennials here may find it challenging to pay off debt.

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6. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Virginia

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With $4,303 in average credit card debt, Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News millennials have the second-most credit card debt in the study. Only Fairbanks, Alaska millennials have more debt ($4,925, on average).

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Unfortunately, Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News millennials also have a fairly low average credit score, meaning they’re likely paying a high APR. As we explained previously, this can lead to a vicious cycle of racking up mounting debt due to high interest charges.

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7. New Orleans, Louisiana

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The Big Easy takes seventh for where millennials are struggling to pay their credit card debt. For starters rent in the area can be expensive. Our data shows that the average New Orleans resident would need to pay just over 30% of income to afford the average one-bedroom apartment in the area. On top of facing high housing costs, New Orleans millennials also tend to have a lot of credit card debt. The average millennial in New Orleans has over $3,600 in credit card debt.

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8. Las Vegas, Nevada

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The average millennial in Sin City has just under $3,700 in credit card debt. That’s the 22nd-highest rate in our study. Like millennials in other cities, Las Vegas millennials have mediocre credit scores. This can lead to a higher average APR, which in turn makes each monthly credit card bill more expensive and harder to pay.

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9. Tallahassee-Thomasville, Florida

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Tallahassee-Thomasville millennials have done a good job keeping their credit card debt relatively low. On average millennials here have just over $3,200 in credit card debt. That’s the second-lowest rate in the top 10.

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The reasons millennials may struggle to pay off credit card debt is the local economic conditions in Tallahassee-Thomasville. Millennials face a 10.23% unemployment rate. Housing costs are also a drag on residents’ budgets. Our data shows that the average resident renting the average one-bedroom apartment would need to spend about 36% of income on rent. After paying for food and other necessities, that doesn’t leave a ton left over for paying credit card bills.

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10. Riverside-San Bernardino, California

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Living in southern California can be expensive. So, it’s somewhat surprising to see that Riverside-San Bernardino millennials have piled up the least amount of credit card debt in our top 10. However, outside of total credit card debt there’s not a ton for Riverside-San Bernardino millennials to smile about. On average millennials in the area have a credit score of just over 590. This means they are probably stuck paying high interest rates on their credit card debt. At the same time millennials here also have an unemployment rate over 12%.

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Adding to the high unemployment and high interest rate woes, millennials in Riverside face budget-crippling housing costs. We estimate that the average one-bedroom apartment would consume over 37% of the average resident’s income.

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Data and Methodology

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In order to determine where millennials are struggling to pay credit card debt, we looked at data on 202 metro areas. Specifically, we looked at data on the following five factors:

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Average credit score for millennials. Data comes from Experian’s 2016 State of Credit Report.
Average credit card debt for millennials. Data comes from Experian’s 2016 State of Credit Report.
Millennial unemployment rate. This is the unemployment rate for persons aged 20 – 34. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey.
Median gross rent for a one-bedroom home. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey.
Median gross rent for a one-bedroom home as a percent of median individual income. Data on median rents comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey and data on median individual incomes comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey.

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First we ranked each city across each factor, giving equal weighting to all factors. Then we found the average ranking for each city. We based our final score on each city’s average ranking. The city with the highest average ranking received a 100. The city with the lowest average ranking received a 0.

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Tip for Paying off Credit Card Debt

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If you have a large amount of credit card debt and are struggling to pay it off, you may want to consider using a balance transfer credit card. A balance transfer card allows you to transfer your existing credit card debt to another card. The reason this can be a good idea is that many cards will offer 0% APR over a set period of time, say 15 months. During this time you can work on tackling your credit card debt, without racking up additional interest.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/antonioguillem

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\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxOTIyNzc=","databaseId":192277,"altText":"Are Credit Card Rewards Taxable?","date":"2023-03-21T02:11:56","fileSize":40770,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2023-03-21T02:11:56","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/01/rsz_istock-185075795-1.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2023-3-21","readable":"March 21, 2023"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/are-credit-card-rewards-taxable","metaDesc":"You may have wondered: Are credit card rewards taxable? In some cases, they are. If you earned miles, cash back or points when you signed up for a new...","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":4,"title":"Are Credit Card Rewards Taxable? - SmartAsset","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"are-credit-card-rewards-taxable","status":"publish","title":"Are Credit Card Rewards Taxable?","uri":"/credit-cards/are-credit-card-rewards-taxable","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo2Mg==","databaseId":62,"userId":62,"avatar":"$32","description":"Lauren Perez writes on a variety of personal finance topics for SmartAsset, with a special expertise in savings, banking and credit cards. She is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Lauren has a degree in English from the University of Rochester where she focused on Language, Media and Communications. She is originally from Los Angeles. While prone to the occasional shopping spree, Lauren has been aware of the importance of money management and savings since she was young. Lauren loves being able to make credit card and retirement account recommendations to friends and family based on the hours of research she completes at SmartAsset.","additionalMeta":"$33","email":null,"firstName":"Lauren","fullName":"Lauren Perez, CEPF®","lastName":"Perez, CEPF®","name":"Lauren Perez, CEPF®","postCount":"$34","slug":"lauren-perez-cepf","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":null,"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":"$37","databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":89,"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

Credit card companies will do almost anything to get you to sign up for their cards. Some offer travel miles and others use sign-up bonuses to entice customers. No doubt those incentives sound great and they may have tricked you into applying for a credit card or two. There are plenty of benefits to earning rewards. But there’s one downside that you’ll have to consider: Your credit card rewards may be taxable.

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Which Credit Card Rewards Are Taxable?

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The only rewards that have to be reported to the IRS are those that are considered income. Taxable credit card rewards include any bonuses or gifts you receive just for signing up for a card, including bonus travel rewards (especially if they can be reported as a monetary amount). But since assessing the value of airline miles can be tricky, credit card issuers often have to use discretion when deciding how to report taxable rewards to the federal government.

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Generally, credit card issuers are required to report awards and prizes to the IRS when the value of those rewards is higher than $600. That means that if you received a $650 or $800 sign-up bonus, your credit card company will send you a 1099 form.

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Which Credit Card Rewards Aren’t Taxable?

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The points or miles you earn from making purchases with your rewards credit card are usually tax-free. According to the IRS, those rewards are considered discounts rather than income. Sign-up bonuses aren’t taxable either if you have to spend a certain amount of money in order to qualify for the reward.

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If you’re not sure whether your credit card rewards are taxable, it’s best to review your credit card terms and conditions. If your paperwork doesn’t say that you need to report your rewards to the IRS and you don’t receive a 1099-MISC form, you probably won’t have to worry about mentioning your credit card rewards when you file taxes.

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What To Do If You Get a 1099-MISC Form

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If you receive a 1099 Form in the mail, it’s best to avoid chucking it into the trash. The IRS will get a copy of the form as well. So if you fail to report your taxable credit card rewards, you could get hit with a penalty.

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When you’re ready to complete your income tax return, you’ll include your taxable rewards as you add up the total amount of income you’ve received for the year. If you need help preparing your tax return, you can meet with a tax accountant.

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Earning Rewards for Business Purchases

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Rewards from business credit cards are treated differently than rewards earned while using personal credit cards. Your rebates must be subtracted from the cost of the items you’ve purchased and reported. If you’re trying to get a tax break for your business expenses, your rebate reduces the amount of money you can deduct on your tax return.

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If you’re reimbursed for business-related items you’ve purchased with your personal credit card, the money you receive from your boss won’t count as income. But the credit card rewards you earned through the transaction may need to be reported.

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Related Article: Can You Invest With Credit Card Rewards?

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Bottom Line

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Not all credit card rewards are taxable. That’s why it’s important to know which ones are subject to taxation before filing your tax return. It’s best to thoroughly read over your credit card agreements to find out whether they indicate that your rewards may be taxed. And when in doubt, you can ask a tax professional for assistance.

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Update: Have more financial questions? SmartAsset can help. So many people reached out to us looking for tax and long-term financial planning help, we started our own matching service to help you find a financial advisor. The SmartAdvisor matching tool can help you find a person to work with to meet your needs. First you’ll answer a series of questions about your situation and goals. Then the program will narrow down your options from thousands of advisors to up to three registered investment advisors who suit your needs. You can then read their profiles to learn more about them, interview them on the phone or in person and choose who to work with in the future. This allows you to find a good fit while the program does much of the hard work for you.

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/jhorrocks, ©iStock.com/courtneyk, ©iStock.com/DGLimages

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Some of us have too many credit cards. Depending on your lifestyle, it might make sense to have three or four cards in your wallet. And as long as you’re keeping up with your monthly bills, there’s nothing wrong with having multiple credit cards. But what if you don’t think you have enough cards? What if you want to apply for a new one? Let’s dive into the credit card application process and look at when it does (and doesn’t) make sense to apply for a credit card. A financial advisor can help you pick an appropriate credit card.

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How to Apply for a Credit Card

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If it’s been awhile since you applied for a credit card, here’s a refresher on how the process works. You can apply for a credit card by mailing in a paper application, speaking to a representative over the phone or completing an online application. Be prepared to provide various details about yourself and your financial background, such as your annual household income and the amount of money in your bank and investment accounts.

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How long it takes to get a credit card depends on your application method and the type of credit card you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a credit card online, for example, you may be instantly approved. But if you’re applying for a credit card through the mail, the approval process could take weeks.

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Before you apply for a credit card, it’s always a good idea to do some research. That way, you can find the most appropriate card for your financial situation. As you’re shopping around for cards, don’t forget to compare perks, fees, interest rates and general terms and conditions. Reading online reviews could also be worthwhile if you want to know what others think about a particular card.

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When Applying for a Credit Card Makes Sense

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Applying for a second (or fourth) credit card may be worth considering if you want to raise your credit score. After all, opening another credit card account will automatically lower your credit utilization ratio. That factor (along with the total amount of debt you owe) accounts for 30% of your FICO® score. And as long as you make on-time payments across all of your accounts, getting another credit card could improve your credit.

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Find the credit card that’s right for you.

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Filling out another credit card application could also make sense if you have a high credit score and a good track record with your current card issuers. An additional credit card could give you access to benefits, including better rewards, lower interest rates and a higher credit limit. And if you know you can handle having another credit card, you might as well go for it.

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Opening another account could improve your credit mix, too. Only 10% of your FICO® score depends on the types of credit accounts you have. But if you’re determined to raise your credit score as much as possible, it doesn’t hurt to have a variety of accounts.

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When Applying for a Credit Card Is a Bad Idea

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With each hard inquiry, your credit score will take a bit of a hit. So if you have bad credit, applying for another credit card may only make matters worse. Plus, your chances of getting approved for another card will be low if your credit’s in rough shape.

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Getting a new credit card could also be a bad idea if you have poor financial habits. If you always max out your cards or you regularly make late payments, you’re not a good candidate for another card. The same goes for anyone who can’t afford to cover the cost of extra interest and credit card fees.

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You’ll need to think about how often you would use a new credit card as well. Your credit card issuer may eventually close your account if you stop using your card. That will cause your credit score to drop.

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How Long You Should Wait Before Applying Again

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Applying for multiple credit cards in a short time span can ding your credit score. It can also raise a red flag if it seems like you’re desperate for access to additional credit. Having too many credit inquiries on your credit report (i.e. six or more inquiries) also suggests that you’re a risky borrower who’s more likely to default.

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If you’ve recently applied for a credit card, it may be a good idea to wait six months before trying to open another account. But how long you should wait to apply depends on your credit score. If you have good credit, you can probably get away with submitting another credit card application within three months or less. If you have bad credit, however, your best bet is to focus on building credit. Raising your credit score enough to qualify for the card you want could take as many as 12 months.

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Tips on Borrowing

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"],"experts":null,"link":"/credit-cards/when-should-you-apply-for-a-credit-card","published":{"datetime":"2017-3-22","readable":"March 22, 2017"},"shareInfo":{"title":"When Should You Apply for a Credit Card?","origin":"/credit-cards/when-should-you-apply-for-a-credit-card"},"isNewsArticle":false},{"id":"cG9zdDo2NTg1Ng==","databaseId":65856,"postId":65856,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Nw==","databaseId":57,"userId":57,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a4ba5699dffd6ba2dae17837c96b683a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Derek Miller is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he studied economics. He is passionate about using data to help people make better financial decisions. Derek is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. He is a data journalist whose expertise is in finding the stories within the numbers. Derek's writing has been featured on Yahoo, AOL and HuffPost. He believes the biggest financial mistake people make is waiting too late to save for retirement and missing out on the wonders of compounding interest. Derek lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Derek","fullName":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","lastName":"Miller, CEPF®","name":"Derek Miller, CEPF®","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":254,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"dmiller","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$42","date":"2017-06-08T13:00:17","excerpt":"

Most golfers have a course in mind when they think of their favorite place to hit the links. But what about certain cities? With plenty of warm sunny days, affordable housing and a wide range of golf courses, some cities are better suited for regular trips to the course. SmartAsset looked at these and other […]

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Compare the best rewards credit cards here.

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In order to find the best cities for golfers to live in, we looked at data on factors relating to both golfing and livability. We looked at the density of golf courses and clubhouses, the number of rainy days and days with extreme temperatures, as well as unemployment rates, housing costs and income after housing costs. The idea was to find a city that someone could reasonably expect to have a job and decent disposable income, also with available golf courses and favorable playing weather. Read our data and methodology below to see where we got our data and how we put it together.

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Key Findings

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1. Portland, Oregon

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Portland, Oregon tops our list for the best cities for golfers to live in. Surprised? With 4.48 golf courses per 100,000 residents, Portland leads the way in access to golf courses. While access to golfing is important, Portland also has high scores in a number of other categories as well. PDX scores in the top 25 for property crime, days with extreme temperatures and income after housing. The one concern is that it rains pretty often in Portland. In fact, only one city in our list sees more rainy days than Portland, but at least that means the course will be green!

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2. Gilbert, Arizona

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Gilbert beats out the other three Arizona cities on this list to snag the second spot. The difference between the four cities is not large. They share the same access to golfing (150 golf courses) and similar weather patterns (an average of less than 16 rainy days a year). The biggest difference between them – and why Gilbert comes out on top – is income after housing and property crime rate. Gilbert’s median household income after housing is $68,729 and its property crime rate is 1,320 per 100,000. It ranks in the top 10 for both of those metrics.

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3. Chandler, Arizona

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Chandler is home to some of the highest-earning residents in the country and has plenty of access to great golf courses. According to Census Bureau data, there are 150 golf courses and country clubs in the Chandler area. So if you’re a golfer who values variety and loves to switch it up, this city may be a good fit for you. Chandler also has the 17th-lowest property crime rate in our study, a score which beats neighbors, Mesa and Scottsdale.

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4. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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For golfers who want to stay on the East Coast, Winston-Salem is your best bet. Winston-Salem has 3.25 golf courses and country club per 100,000 residents, the 14th-most in our study. Of the courses in the area, Olde Homeplace Golf Club may be the best. It has a 93% recommendation rate on GolfAdvisor.com. While this city is great for golfing, it may be even better for livability. It has some of the lowest housing costs in the study. Our data shows that the median housing cost in Winston-Salem is only $788 per month, seventh-lowest of any city we looked at.

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5. Fort Wayne, Indiana

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It may be surprising to see Fort Wayne atop a list of the best places for golfers to live in, as it is not quite as famous as say, Arizona, for golfing. But Fort Wayne does have the third-highest density of golf courses in the country, with 3.8 per 100,000 residents. That means less time waiting to tee off and more opportunity to golf at your preferred tee time.

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Fort Wayne is also the cheapest city to live in our top 10. The median home costs $734 per month. The city would be a great candidate for golfers looking to raise a family: In the past we have found Fort Wayne ranks very highly for best cities to raise a family.

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Golfing here may be more seasonal hobby however, due to cold winters (although winters in Fort Wayne are nothing compared to, say, Anchorage). Data from NOAA shows that there are almost 80 days per year where the daily high is lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

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6. Mesa, Arizona

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What do retirees like to do? Golf. Where are retirees moving? According to our research, Mesa, Arizona. Regardless if you are retiree age or not, Mesa is a great place for golfers to live. The city has the third-most golf courses per 100,000 residents in the study and it almost never rains. But if you are thinking about making golf a full-time hobby, make sure to rent a golf cart. Mesa has an average of 170 days per year where the daily high is above 90 degrees.

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7. Scottsdale, Arizona

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With 150 total golf courses and country clubs in the area or 3.6 golf courses per 100,000 residents, Scottsdale offers a great amount of variety and access to golf courses to golfers who live in the area. One reason why Scottsdale ranks so high is that it’s relatively affordable. The median household in Scottsdale has just over $60,000 left over after housing. With all that leftover cash maybe one day you’ll be able to save up enough for a trip to play at Pebble Beach!

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8. Lincoln, Nebraska

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Lincoln, Nebraska has a similar profile to Fort Wayne. Both cities score high on livability and access to golf courses. Census data shows while that there are only 11 golf courses in the area, after taking population into consideration, Lincoln actually ranks well in this factor. There are 3.59 golf courses and country clubs per 100,000 residents, which is only 0.01 less than the Arizona cities ranked above. Mahoney Golf Course, located right in the city, is a good option for golfers who don’t want to travel too far to get 18 holes in. The course record is 62 for men and 68 for women. With enough practice, maybe you’ll be able to top it.

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Golfing is great but you don’t want to break the bank doing it. That is where Lincoln shines. We have found that you can live comfortably in Lincoln without being a millionaire. The city’s median monthly cost is $877.

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9. Riverside, California

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It may be a surprise to see only Riverside representing California, given the state’s famously great weather. But while cities like San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles all do score well in our weather metrics, they do not score as well in our golf metrics. Riverside bridges those two concerns. Riverside ranks 10th in the study for least number of rainy days and has the second-highest concentration of golf courses.

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10. Boise, Idaho

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Our top 10 ends in Boise, Idaho, a city with plenty of offerings for potential golfers looking to live in the area. Boise comes with 2.53 golf courses and country clubs per 100,000 residents and low cost of living. For example, you would need to spend 50% less on housing in Boise than you would in Riverside. If you’re serious about your golf, that 50% you saved on housing can go toward a lot of extra tee time.

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Data and Methodology

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In order to find the best cities for golfers we looked at data on the 100 largest cities in the U.S. Specifically we looked at data for the following six factors:

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We ranked each city in each of the six factors, giving a double weight to golf and country clubs per 100,000 residents and a half weight to our two weather metrics: average days with rain and average days with extreme temperatures. We then found the average ranking for each city. Our final score was based off this ranking. The city with the highest average ranking received a 100, while the city with the lowest average received a 0.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

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