- Most Bike-Friendly Cities in America – 2021 Edition
Biking is an eco-friendly, cheap, fun and healthy way to commute in the city. But not all cities are equally accessible for riders – some cities have designated bike lanes, while others simply lack the infrastructure. Nor are all cities the most affordable for the more savings-savvy cyclist. Keeping this in mind, SmartAsset identified and… read more…
- Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers – 2021 Edition
Historically, first-time homebuyers have made up about 40% of all homebuyers in the U.S. However, over the past decade, the share of first-time homebuyers has fallen below that norm, hovering around in the mid-thirties according to data from the National Association of Realtors. In fact, it dipped still further over the past year – falling… read more…
- Price-to-Rent Ratio in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities – 2021 Edition
Depending on your circumstances, renting or buying a home can be a smart financial decision. Homeownership can help you build equity and lower taxes, while renting offers greater flexibility and convenient services. Keeping this in mind, SmartAsset ranked the 50 largest U.S. cities according to price-to-rent ratio. To calculate the price-to-rent ratios for the 50… read more…
- Top States for Higher Education – 2021 Edition
Over the past decade, the cost of a college education in the U.S. has increased significantly. Accounting for inflation, data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) shows that prices for undergraduate four-year public and private institutions rose respectively by 22.84% and 21.20% between school years 2008-2009 and 2018-2019. Notably, however, public universities remain… read more…
- Best Cities for Runners – 2021 Edition
The COVID-19 pandemic has made road races less frequent and temporarily closed down many indoor workout facilities. Now, as restrictions ease amid the increased percentage of vaccinated Americans, many may be poised to reclaim their exercise routines. In light of these dynamics, SmartAsset has identified and ranked the best cities for runners. To find the… read more…
- Hardest Places to Buy a Home in America – 2021 Edition
Buying a home has become increasingly difficult during COVID-19. Though low mortgage rates mean that many purchasers will spend less in interest over the course of their mortgage, home prices have risen and housing inventory has dropped. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, the median existing-home price rose by 17.2% from March… read more…
- Best Cities for Young Professionals – 2021 Edition
Remote work has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering many young professionals greater flexibility to live farther away from their jobs. But it is unclear whether this employment trend will become permanent. A PricewaterhouseCoopers survey shows that more than two-thirds of executives think that employees should be in the office at least three days a… read more…
- Where Seniors Are Most and Least Financially Secure – 2021 Edition
A 2019 report from the Federal Reserve on the economic well-being of U.S. households says that only 37% of Americans think that their savings are on track for retirement. The rising costs of living, medical expenses and long-term care can make it difficult to save enough for annual retirement expenses. With this context in mind, SmartAsset compared… read more…
- Cities Where Single Homeownership Rates Are Rising – 2021 Edition
While saving up for a down payment and closing costs can be difficult, the U.S. Census Bureau says that individuals in some cities are increasingly buying over renting. According to a recent report, almost three out of 10 owner-occupied homes are one-person households, which means that 36.2 million homes in 2020 were owned by single homeowners. SmartAsset crunched the… read more…