- Rent vs. Buy: A Comparison of Housing Costs in U.S. Cities – 2024 Study
Many factors can go into home and mortgage prices as well as rental costs in a city, sometimes driving the two on divergent paths. These may include interest rates, housing inventories, family makeups and demographics, zoning and other legal ordinances, among others. As a result, homeowners in some areas could have an advantage, while renters… read more…
- Where the Most New Construction Homes Are Being Added – 2024 Study
The Consumer Price Index clocks inflation between spring 2019 and spring 2024 at 22.9%. But Zillow home sale data demonstrates a particularly swift hike in home prices during this time, with the average home sale increasing by 49.4% in the same window. Housing costs are often the largest budget item for Americans and this could… read more…
- Best Places for New College Graduates – 2024 Study
As we enter commencement season, college graduates will be seeking a variety of jobs and lifestyles. Therefore different areas are going to cater more to some than others. For example, one graduate may highly value living in a younger community with plenty of recreational activities to dabble in, while others are focused on career growth… read more…
- Where Airfare Increased and Decreased the Most – 2024 Study
Prices on individual goods and services can take on their own characteristics based on unique supply and demand challenges throughout different locations nationwide. Air travel in particular faces unique pressures including staffing, equipment maintenance, fuel, passenger demand and more. In turn, the price of domestic flights can affect tourism, visits to family, and business opportunities.… read more…
- Counties at Greatest Risk for Wildfire Damage – 2024 Study
Wildfires have become more prevalent in the U.S. over the last few decades. Like many other climate events, they can have a devastating effect on communities, destroying buildings and homes, closing businesses, damaging agriculture and changing the local ecology. Ultimately, with the increase in wildfires, some insurance companies have pulled their services out of specific… read more…
- Voter Turnout Trends in Last Election Cycle: Will 2024 See Continued Patterns?
As 15 states hold Democratic and Republican primaries on March 5, Super Tuesday, the number of people who vote and the candidates they select will offer key insight into the November 5th presidential election. Residents of California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Colorado, Minnesota, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Utah, Maine and Alaska will determine the… read more…
- Flu Vaccines Are Most Popular in These U.S. Cities – 2024 Study
Across the largest cities in the U.S., the uptake on flu vaccinations has been split. While an average of 50.7% of people aged 65 and over were inoculated, some cities ranged much higher or lower. When a given year’s flu vaccines can be matched to the spreading virus strains, the Centers for Disease Control and… read more…
- Industries With the Most Greenhouse Gas Emissions – 2024 Study
While industries could drive the growth of local economies, high emissions can also have a negative impact on the environment of those markets and put the overall success of those communities at risk. Examining emissions levels may help communities understand the total impact and tradeoffs associated with local industries, as well as help inspire innovations… read more…
- STEM Cities: Where Science and Engineering Is Most Popular – 2023 Study
As the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) continue to grow, more and more undergraduate college students are focusing on these areas of study. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 42% more STEM degrees were conferred in 2020-21 than 10 years earlier. With this in mind, SmartAsset examined Census… read more…
- America’s Most Expensive Housing Markets – 2023 Study
With home prices increasing by 20% or more in some places and decreasing by 15% or more in others just over the last year, the home-price volatility of the last few years is settling asymmetrically. To help Americans evaluate their best options when it comes to housing – whether they’re looking to buy or sell… read more…
- Best Places for New College Grads – 2023 Study
College graduates are under immense pressure to land a job right out of college, especially during economic downturns, when the job market may be less stable. However, it’s not just the job itself graduates have to think about. Figuring out… read more…
- Where People Are Buying Second Homes – 2023 Edition
There’s often more risk involved when purchasing a second home than with a first home. Potential buyers may depend on rental cashflows, be wary of potential natural disasters, and be concerned about maintaining the property from a distance. And in a particularly volatile… read more…
- Most Affordable Travel Destinations This Holiday Season – 2022 Study
Travel is top of mind as Americans navigate into the new year. According to the U.S. Travel Association, nearly one-third of Americans will make taking a vacation one of their highest priorities. And so far, travel spending for September 2022 has hit its highest ceiling since the pandemic. With prices up across the board with… read more…
- Airfare Rises More Than 20% Over the Quarter – November 2022 Study
Rising costs of jet fuel, delays, cancellations and inflation have created headaches for travelers this year. And, as a result, consumers are seeing much higher airfare prices across the country. With holiday travel around the corner, SmartAsset investigated the places where… read more…
- States With the Best Infrastructure – 2022 Edition
Millions of federal dollars are on the way to states as a result of two recent bipartisan infrastructure bills. This has the potential to impact the finances of everyday Americans. Some sources suggest that the average American loses roughly $3,300… read more…
- Airports With the Largest Price Increases – 2022 Study
The price of jet fuel has increased by roughly 110% between the first quarters of 2021 and 2022 and as passengers return to the skies, some of those costs are passed on to consumers. In fact, airline fares spiked by… read more…
- Best States for Women’s Healthcare – 2022 Study
According to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey for June 1 to June 13, 2022, a little over one in seven women report being in poorer health, and more challenges are afoot. Recent legal changes concerning abortion have restricted access to… read more…
- Best Community Colleges in America – 2022 Edition
No sector of higher education has been hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic than community colleges. While enrollment across all higher education institutions fell 5.1% between fall 2019 and fall 2021, public two-year colleges have suffered the steepest drop in enrollment during that time, falling by 13.1%, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse… read more…
- States Leading the Charge on Renewable Energy – 2022 Edition
Renewable energy will play a pivotal role in the world’s attempt to curb the effects of climate change. The landmark Paris Agreement signed by 196 countries seeks to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To do this, global emissions of carbon dioxide must fall 45% by 2030 and be virtually… read more…
- Colleges Where It’s Most Expensive to Be an Out-of-State Student – 2022 Study
The rising cost of a college education has been well documented over the last 30 years. In that time, average tuition and fees for in-state students at four-year universities has more than doubled, according to the College Board. However, in-state tuition still remains significantly more affordable than out-of-state tuition. In 2020-2021, average published tuition and… read more…
- Best States for Higher Education – 2022 Edition
A college degree is an important professional milestone that can boost your finances. According to data from Indeed.com, the average yearly earnings for someone with only a high school diploma is $37,024, while someone with a bachelor’s degree earns an average of $60,996. Keeping that in mind, SmartAsset crunched the numbers to identify and rank… read more…
- Hottest Vacation Home Markets in the U.S. – 2022 Edition
The low interest environment during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a boon for the vacation real estate market. While millions of Americans took advantage of low interest rates and bought their first homes, others capitalized on the cheap money and purchased vacation homes. Figures from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Database show that vacation homes… read more…
- Most In-Demand Jobs for Bachelor’s Degree Holders – 2022 Edition
In 2021, millions of Americans voluntarily left their jobs every month in what is now called the “Great Resignation.” Some were burnt out, while others quit to look for better pay or new careers. A total of 4.4 million people left their jobs in September alone, raising the quit rate to 3%, the highest it’s been… read more…
- Places Where People Are Refinancing Most – 2021 Study
Many homeowners were incentivized to refinance their homes after mortgage rates reached historic lows in 2020. And Freddie Mac data shows that this caused mortgage refinancing activity to hit its second-highest milestone since peaking in 2003. For a comparison, there were about $2.6 trillion in inflation-adjusted refinance originations for the year 2020, compared with $3.9 trillion in 2003. Though refinancing… read more…
- Metros Where People Owe More Than Their Homes Are Worth
The current residential real estate market in the U.S. looks nothing like it did just a few years back. While it was tough for homebuyers to find affordable housing in certain markets—take New York City or Los Angeles, for example—housing was still somewhat accessible in many other markets across the nation. That’s hardly the case… read more…