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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
This Florida City Was Just Named the Most Livable in the State for Its Safety and Cost of Living
Florida had the second-highest population growth of any state in 2023, with 365,205 people moving to the Sunshine State that year, according to Consumer Reports. It added that a whopping 1,200 people moved to Florida every single day between July 2021 and July 2022. And really, it's easy to see why the state is so attractive: it's sunny, warm, and a state with no income tax. Although the entire state can make for a great new home, some places offer an easier way of life than others. And a new list from GOBankingRates is sharing exactly where those locations are. In late June, the website revealed its list of the 10 most livable destinations in Florida, describing them as places with 'low crime rates, easy access to health care, clean air, green spaces, good schools and other desirable traits.' And it named Wilton Manors the No. 1 most livable destination in the state. According to the team, the annual cost of living in the community just north of Fort Lauderdale is just a touch over $76,000, with a monthly cost of living at $6,337. Here, the median value of a single-family home is $720,629, while the median household income is $79,390. But most importantly, it also has a livability score of 91. According to AreaVibes, the community scored an A+ almost across the board, including for its amenities, commute, crime, employment, housing, health and safety, and user ratings. Its only areas of improvement are schools, which still scored an impressive B+, and, surprisingly, a D- in the cost of living. Still, all this added up to a winning score for the community. Other top spots to make the list include Doctor Phillips, Florida, at the No. 2 spot, a city just outside of Orlando, which nabbed a livability score of 89, and Seminole, located outside of Tampa, which came in third place with its own score of 89 but had a slightly lower median household income. To find these places, GOBankingRates analyzed data via creating a seed list of spots with a livability index of at least 80. Then, it factored in each location's total population, the population aged 65 and over, total number of households, and the household median income, sourced via the U.S. Census American Community Survey. It also factored in the cost of living via Sperling's BestPlaces, which included the grocery, health care, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses, along with the average single-family home value. It sorted the cities to highlight the places with the highest livability paired with the most affordable cost of living. See the full list and what you can expect in each community at
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's How Much You Need To Make To Afford a Home in the Most Livable Cities on the East Coast
Could you afford a home in one of the most livable cities in the eastern U.S.? GOBankingRates has done some of your homework for you, compiling a list of coveted eastern U.S. locales and the minimum salary needed for homeownership. The analysis blends data from AreaVibes, Sperling's BestPlaces, the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow and the Federal Reserve. Also See: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania dominate GOBankingRates' list, accounting for eight of the 10 locales. Each listed city has a livability score of at least 89, sourced from AreaVibes. Here's the full list, along with median household income and some additional information about each location. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Livability score: 89 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $59,079 Median household income: $117,330 The borough of Conshohocken is a Philadelphia suburb with a population of about 9,300. Average monthly living expenses are around $4,900, with average mortgage payments coming in at $2,750. A single-family home in Conshohocken is worth $466,000. Check Out: Discover More: Belmont, Massachusetts Livability score: 89 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $142,501 Median household income: $178,188 Belmont is an affluent western suburb of Boston with some of the highest living expenses in AreaVibes' most livable cities. The value of an average single-family home in Belmont tops $1.6 million. Average monthly mortgages come in at $9,300, and the total cost of living is nearly $12,000 a month. Find Out: Norwood, Massachusetts Livability score: 89 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $79,552 Median household income: $97,110 Norwood is located about 22 miles southwest of Boston. It's less expensive than Belmont but still not cheap, with single-family homes valued at $732,000 on average. Total monthly living expenses top $6,600. Malverne, New York Livability score: 89 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $86,011 Median household income: $146,585 Malverne is a village located on Long Island with around 8,500 residents. The average monthly cost of living comes in at around $7,300. Melrose, Massachusetts Livability score: 90 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $90,563 Median household income: $126,854 You'll find Melrose and its 30,000-ish residents just a few miles north of Boston. The average value of a single-family home in Melrose is just over $900,000. The average monthly mortgage is about $2,100. See More: Winchester, Massachusetts Livability score: 91 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $143,026 Median household income: $218,176 Another Boston suburb, Winchester is located about eight miles to the north. Its household median income is among the highest among AreaVibes' most livable cities. Homes here will cost you as well, with single-family houses valued at $1.64 million on average. Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Livability score: 92 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $46,558 Median household income: $110,938 The borough of Camp Hill is located just southwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital. Its 8,200 residents have average monthly living costs of around $3,900. An average single-family home here is worth around $308,000. Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Livability score: 92 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $91,142 Median household income: $87,218 Bryn Mawr (which means 'large hill' in Welsh) sits just west of Philadelphia and has about 5,800 residents. An average single-family home in Bryn Mawr is worth about $926,000. The average monthly mortgage cost is just under $5,500. Explore More: Lexington, Massachusetts Livability score: 92 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $141,375 Median household income: $219,402 You'll find historic Lexington just northwest of Boston. Lexington is an expensive place to live, with high average costs for single-family homes ($1.6M), monthly mortgages ($9,500) and totally monthly living expenses (nearly $12,000). Pompton Lakes, New Jersey Livability score: 92 Salary needed (annual cost of living): $64,248 Median household income: $119,038 Pompton Lakes is located about 25 miles north of Newark and 20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. A borough, Pompton Lakes has a population of 11,000. A single-family home here is worth about $521,000 on average. Editor's note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed. Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States with the highest livability scores, as sourced from AreaVibes. The 30 most livable cities in each state were identified. To qualify for this study, each city had to have all data points available and a total population of at least 5,000. All relevant data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling's BestPlaces, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index and Federal Reserve Economic Data. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 14, 2025. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance (And 2 Reasons They Should) This article originally appeared on Here's How Much You Need To Make To Afford a Home in the Most Livable Cities on the East Coast Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
15 Cities With the Best Job Markets in 2025 — and How Much It Costs To Live There
Although the U.S. regularly reports nationwide job statistics, the truth is that job markets, much like housing markets, are very regional in nature. Whether or not there are jobs being created in downtown Manhattan might have little-to-no bearing on the hiring status in Phoenix, for example. It's also important to consider the job market in a particular city in relation to the cost of living there. Whereas a job with a $100,000 salary could give you a high standard of living in Biloxi, Mississippi, it might not get you to first base on the Upper East Side of New York City. All of these factors should be considered when evaluating job markets in various cities. Trending Now: Try This: With all of that in mind, here's a look at the 15 cities with the best job markets in 2025, according to SmartAsset. Factors considered in the evaluation were unemployment, income, income growth, housing affordability, health insurance benefits, commute time and remote work. The cost-of-living for these cities relative to the national average is included, courtesy of BestPlaces. Unemployment rate: 3.16% Median earnings for workers: $51,382 3-year income growth: 44.2% Percent working remotely: 26.9% Average cost of living: 27% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 3.8% Median earnings for workers: $73,138 3-year income growth: 49.5% Percent working remotely: 15.8% Average cost of living: 4.8% lower than the national average For You: Unemployment rate: 4.17% Median earnings for workers: $46,443 3-year income growth: 36% Percent working remotely: 26.9% Average cost of living: 58.1% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 4.29% Median earnings for workers: $76,228 3-year income growth: 32.4% Percent working remotely: 24.6% Average cost of living: 58.1% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 2.27% Median earnings for workers: $101,038 3-year income growth: 21.5% Percent working remotely: 27.8% Average cost of living: 6% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 4.24% Median earnings for workers: $90,384 3-year income growth: 41% Percent working remotely: 16.5% Average cost of living: 131% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 3.5% Median earnings for workers: $47,203 3-year income growth: 23.1% Percent working remotely: 28% Average cost of living: 5.8% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 2.36% Median earnings for workers: $56,858 3-year income growth: 29.9% Percent working remotely: 9.26% Average cost of living: 9.3% lower than the national average Unemployment rate: 1.69% Median earnings for workers: $70,711 3-year income growth: 37.7% Percent working remotely: 19.4% Average cost of living: 21.3% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 3.5% Median earnings for workers: $111,905 3-year income growth: 31.1% Percent working remotely: 15.3% Average cost of living: 131% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 3.95% Median earnings for workers: $36,585 3-year income growth: 34.97% Percent working remotely: 26.54% Average cost of living: 29.1% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 2.51% Median earnings for workers: $68,390 3-year income growth: 39.65% Percent working remotely: 7.58% Average cost of living: 23% lower than the national average Unemployment rate: 2.97% Median earnings for workers: $57,183 3-year income growth: 28.4% Percent working remotely: 26.5% Average cost of living: 13% higher than the national average Unemployment rate: 4.69% Median earnings for workers: $59,986 3-year income growth: 34.5% Percent working remotely: 13.3% Average cost of living: 15.9% lower than the national average Unemployment rate: 3.13% Median earnings for workers: $50,304 3-year income growth: 38.4% Percent working remotely: 17.8% Average cost of living: 4.7% higher than the national average Job prospects in the above 15 cities look pretty good right now, according to SmartAsset. Just be aware that if you're looking to relocate for a job, you'll have to factor in the cost of living in your new city to make a fair comparison. Simply moving from Bellevue to Nashville could result in a huge jump in your quality of life if you earn the same salary, for example. But if you're planning to transfer from Cary to Santa Clara, you'd better look for a job that pays twice what you're earning now if you want to keep a comparable lifestyle. More From GOBankingRates Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on 15 Cities With the Best Job Markets in 2025 — and How Much It Costs To Live There
CNBC
30-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
How much you need to retire comfortably in the 15 U.S. cities with the most adults 65 and older
Some of the fastest-growing communities in the U.S. aren't built around schools or playgrounds — they're designed for retirees. Often age-restricted to 55 or older, these developments feature amenities like pickleball courts, community centers and golf-cart-friendly streets. Most are located in warm, low-tax states, making them especially attractive to retirees looking to maximize their savings. As baby boomers continue to leave the workforce, these areas have become popular destinations — with many regularly appearing in rankings of the best places to retire. As a result, they tend to have the highest shares of residents age 65 and older in the country. One notable example is The Villages in Florida, a sprawling, self-described "active adult community" of roughly 140,000 residents, primarily age 55 and up. It was the fastest-growing U.S. metro area in 2023, according to the Census Bureau. Other communities, including Sun City West in Arizona and Lady Lake in Florida, are seeing similar growth as they cater to a steadily expanding retiree population. But just because a community is built for retirement doesn't mean it's affordable. In some places, retiring "rich" could require more than $3 million in savings. GoBankingRates identified the U.S. places with the highest shares of residents age 65 and older using the latest available Census Bureau data, then calculated the total savings required to cover 25 years of spending at double the average annual expenses for local seniors to estimate how much you'd need to retire comfortably. Locations include both cities and unincorporated Census Designated Places with at least 15,000 residents. Estimated living expenses reflect average annual spending on housing, food, transportation, health care and other essentials by households age 65 and older, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data adjusted to the city level using analytics firm Sperling's BestPlaces cost-of-living index. Here are 15 places where older adults make up a large share of the population and what it would take to retire "rich" in each one.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Top US Housing Markets for International Homebuyers — Should You Buy There, Too?
The U.S. housing market has always held an appeal for international homebuyers. International buyers spend millions of dollars purchasing residential properties in states across the country, but some cities have a bigger draw than others. Trending Now: Read Next: Recent data from shows that foreign buyers are more likely to buy homes in coastal regions and warm climates. Here are the top five U.S. housing markets for international homebuyers. With near year-round warm weather and a thriving nightlife, it is no wonder that Miami, Florida, topped the list for international homebuyers. According to Miami took 8.7% of the international traffic share. The median home listing price in the area was $635,000, while the median sold home price in May 2025 was $580,000. Both domestic and foreign buyers should be wary of the cost of living in Miami, which is 19% higher than the national average and 15% higher than the state average, as indicated by Best Places. Without substantial income, buying property in Miami could end up being more costly than it is worth. For You: The second highest share of international traffic went to New York, New York. Foreign homebuyers flocked to the Big Apple in the first quarter of 2025. The city took 4.9% of the international traffic share. The median home listing price in May 2025, according to was $868,000. The real estate listing website notes that the city is currently considered a 'buyer's market' because the supply of homes in the area exceeds demand. While buyers will benefit from homes that sell for less than asking, the cost of living in the area is well above the average in the U.S. International home buyers were also drawn to the sunny coast of Southern California. The bright lights of Los Angeles attracted 4.6% of the international traffic share. The median listing home price in Los Angeles was $1.2 million in May 2025, significantly higher than the average mid-tier home in the state. The City of Angels' median home listing price was nearly $1.25 million in May 2025, per Realtor. Potential international and domestic Los Angeles home buyers should also be aware of the high cost of living, which is 61% higher than the average in the U.S., as reported by Best Places. Another top-ranking area for international buyers is Orlando, Florida. Disney World's hometown captured 2.9% of the international traffic share, attracting foreign buyers from a multitude of countries. Attracted by the warm climate, low cost of living and absence of state income tax, international buyers have consistently sought properties in the Sunshine State. The median listing home price in the area was $394,700, which was on par with the median sold home price. Considered a neutral housing market by both buyers and sellers can take advantage of low home prices that sell in around 60 days. Rounding out the top five housing markets for international buyers is Dallas, Texas. Located in the heart of the Lone Star State, 'Big D' is known for its great BBQ, southern charm and vibrant music scene. Dallas took 2.8% of the international traffic share, likely due to its affordable housing prices and low cost of living. The median listing home price was $449,500, and the cost of living is only 0.2% higher than the national average, according to Best Places. More From GOBankingRates 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money This article originally appeared on 5 Top US Housing Markets for International Homebuyers — Should You Buy There, Too?
