- Best Cities for Budget Dating This Valentine’s Day – 2023 Study
The gas pump and grocery store aren’t the only places where people have felt the effects of inflation recently. The dating scene is no exception, as dating has become increasingly expensive in recent years. In fact, a 2022 Match.com survey… read more…
- Cities Where Residents Have the Worst Commutes – 2023 Edition
While remote work has boomed in the last three years, the majority of working Americans still commute to work. According to the Census, a one-way commute took workers an average of 25.6 minutes in 2021. Using this estimate, workers in 2023 will average almost 222 hours (or a little over nine days) driving to and… read more…
- Most Fitness-Friendly Places for 2023
From casual neighborhood runners to fitness fanatics, many Americans prioritize exercise. This is especially true at the start of the new year, when getting into shape tends to become a popular resolution. The World Health Organization suggests that adults aged 18 to 64 should complete 150 to 300 minutes of moderate cardio each week, which… read more…
- Best States for Homeowners – 2022 Edition
The hot housing market has shown signs of cooling. Nationally, home prices have declined by 1.3% since their peak in June 2022. And some experts have predicted that housing could fall as much as 20%. Regionally, the majority of housing markets are expected to see price drops toward the end of this year. For prospective… read more…
- Best Cities for Beer Drinkers – 2022 Edition
If you’re a die-hard beer lover in the U.S., you’re not alone. In 2019, the U.S. beer industry sold around $120 billion worth of beer through retail businesses. That dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the industry… read more…
- Where Americans Are Happiest – 2022 Study
Research shows that in some cases, money does lead to happiness. In fact, a 2021 University of Pennsylvania study found a correlation between happiness and income growth, even past an annual income of $80,000. This is in contrast to previous… read more…
- Most Sustainable Cities – 2022 Study
A recent report on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demonstrates the importance of local measures when it comes to furthering sustainability efforts. Local sustainability means cleaner, more efficient and resilient communities. For residents, that translates into more opportunities for a… read more…
- Best Places to Celebrate Halloween – 2022 Edition
Though Halloween is the scariest holiday of the year, the impact of rising inflation may make it even more terrifying for Americans across the country. Filling the bowl with copious amounts of candy will cost over 30% more than years… read more…
- Best Cities to Work From Home – 2022 Edition
The share of individuals who work from home has dramatically increased over the past several years. Census Bureau data shows that the estimated percentage of workers in the U.S. who work from home rose from 5.0% to 17.9% between 2016… read more…
- Best Suburbs to Live In Near a Large City – 2022 Study
Large cities can be a great option for anyone looking for a walkable, fast-paced environment with easy access to shops and restaurants. However, the hustle and bustle of a large city isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition for everyone. Large cities are… read more…
- Cities With the Most Financial Stress – 2022 Edition
Stubborn inflation, a sliding stock market and ongoing layoffs in recent months have many Americans on edge. However, financial stress was at a record high even before the market made headlines. Data from an American Psychological Association survey shows that in February… read more…
- Best State Capitals to Live In – 2022 Edition
The number of people moving across state lines is increasing. From 2019 to 2020, a total of roughly 4.2 million individuals moved to a different state while from 2020 to 2021, that figure grew to 4.4 million. As Americans increasingly… read more…
- Most Dog-Friendly Cities in America – 2022 Edition
In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. While that figure includes pets of all kinds, dogs make up the majority of pet ownership in the U.S. with 48 million households caring for… read more…
- Best Cities for Young Professionals – 2022 Edition
If you’re a young professional, chances are that you haven’t hit your peak earning years yet. According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings for people ages 25 to 34 is just $975. Median weekly earnings rise from there, climbing to $1,155 for people 35 to 44 years old,… read more…
- Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities – 2022 Edition
With skyrocketing inflation rippling through the economy, some large cities once thought of as affordable are quickly losing that title among Americans. Additionally, since the start of the pandemic, an estimated five million people have relocated, encouraged by the flexibility of remote work. While small towns have their charm, mid-sized cities offer a balance between… read more…
- States With the Most Irresponsible Drivers – 2022 Edition
Traffic fatalities are rising on American roadways, once again highlighting the importance of safe driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths spiked 10.5% in 2021 when 42,915 people were killed in crashes. That uptick followed a particularly harrowing 2020, which saw 38,824 motor vehicle fatalities. It had been the deadliest year… read more…
- Best Cities for Working Parents – 2022 Edition
Life is tough for working moms and dads, and the pandemic has exacerbated the stress that parents in the workforce face. A new report from The Ohio State University shows that roughly 66% of working parent respondents met the criteria for burnout. Financial concerns are top of mind for many parents, especially as the prices… read more…
- Best Places for Outdoor Enthusiasts to Live and Work – 2022 Edition
Outdoor activities can add up quickly when you consider equipment, gear and apparel. For instance, the average bicycle costs upwards of $300, with some bikes costing thousands of dollars, depending on make and model. Similarly, skiing is a particularly expensive outdoor activity, with most annual ski passes costing nearly $1,000. Other outdoor activities, such as… read more…
- Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance – 2022 Edition
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new stressors into daily life as employees try to balance potentially longer hours, increased demands at home and continued uncertainty regarding work culture looking forward. As a result, a healthy work-life balance has become increasingly difficult to achieve. A 2021 survey from Indeed says that 52% of workers report feeling… read more…
- Best Cities for an Early Retirement – 2022 Study
Fewer Americans plan to work past the age of 62. In a March 2022 survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 49.2% of Americans plan to work past the age of 62, a figure that is 6.2%… read more…
- Best Cities for New College Grads – 2022 Edition
The time that follows college graduation can be an exciting period in the life of a recent graduate. This is when they enter the workforce, take on new responsibilities, and perhaps, move to a new city. A college diploma can also start to pay off almost immediately. In 2021, full-time workers between 22 and 27… read more…
- Most Livable Small Cities in the U.S. – 2022 Edition
Despite the perception that the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a mass migration out of cities, the data simply does not support that narrative. According to Pew Research, fewer people moved out of cities in 2020 compared with the years leading up… read more…
- Best States for the Middle Class – 2022 Edition
Historically, the middle class has been the largest economic group in the U.S. and currently remains so. However, it is an economic group whose numbers have steadily declined year-over-year. More families are renting than buying homes in recent years and the number of families considered cost-burdened (paying more than 30% of their income for housing)… read more…
- Safest Cities in America – 2022 Edition
For the first time in four years, violent crime in the U.S. increased in 2020. A steep rise in murders fueled this overall uptick in violent crime, as homicides surged 22% from a year earlier, according to FBI crime data. Unfortunately, that trend continued in 2022, as major cities recorded an additional 5% increase in… read more…
- Best Places to Retire in the Midwest – 2022 Study
While many people look to sunny skies and year-round golf when picking a place to retire, there are also those who want to maintain a connection to all four seasons in their golden years, or perhaps those who want relatively easy access to all corners of the country. For these folks, a retirement in the… read more…