Latest news with #ChipLupo
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How family-friendly is your city? This North Texas city ranks No. 3 for raising a family
A Texas city is among the most family-friendly in the country. But it's not Austin, or Dallas, or San Antonio. The average American moves nearly 12 times in a lifetime, according to U.S. Census data. This happens for a variety of reasons, both positive (such as getting a new job) and negative (like facing foreclosure on a home). In times of financial and/or occupational uncertainty, families are more likely to seek relocation to somewhere with a relatively low cost of living. To determine where families may be inclined to move, WalletHub published a survey comparing over 180 U.S. cities across 45 key factors, from the cost of housing to the quality of local school and healthcare systems to opportunities for fun and recreation. "Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "On top of all of these factors, people also often want to raise their children close to their extended family. Therefore, current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive of their family." Can you guess which Texas city made the top three for family friendliness? Here's how your city compares. Austin summer on a budget: Free concert series, museums, more wallet-friendly activities A North Texas city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area was named the third-most family-friendly city in the country, according to WalletHub. Plano stood out among cities for its safety, having the tenth-lowest violent crime rate and the 29th-lowest property crime rate. It also had a low traffic fatality rate. In the education sphere, Plano has the ninth-largest share of schools (over 55%) with a rating of at least 7 out of 10. It also claimed the fifth-highest high school graduation rate. Total score: 68.55 Family fun rank: 75 Health and safety rank: 5 Education and childcare rank: 19 Affordability rank: 6 Socioeconomics rank: 2 Source: WalletHub Besides Plano, three other cities in the Lone Star State ranked in the top 10 in various categories. Austin ranked eighth in affordability, while Irving ranked 10th in socioeconomics. Dallas ranked ninth in family fun. Houston tied with New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco in offering the most attractions among all cities in the study. H-Town also had the fifth-most playgrounds per capita. Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and Cincinnati all tied for having the most playgrounds. Out of all the cities analyzed, Laredo had the largest share of families with young kids, topped only by Gilbert, Arizona. Not all Texas cities were considered family-friendly across the board. Brownsville tied with Rochester, New York for having the third-largest share of families who live below the poverty line. Detroit and Cleveland had the first- and second-largest share, respectively. Although Houston offers numerous playgrounds and attractions, it ranked near the bottom (169) in the health and safety category. Overall rank City Family fun rank Health & safety rank Education & child care rank Affordability rank Socioeconomics rank 3 Plano 75 5 19 6 2 16 Austin 83 92 27 8 40 75 Grand Prairie 47 59 165 98 43 77 Amarillo 81 129 85 74 48 90 Fort Worth 59 106 157 69 69 92 Laredo 69 82 23 151 116 101 Arlington 72 99 149 99 59 103 Irving 172 76 146 86 10 105 Garland 144 78 135 127 29 110 El Paso 20 94 104 155 124 118 Brownsville 89 134 31 154 126 121 Lubbock 111 154 65 96 115 136 Dallas 9 140 108 132 107 144 Houston 33 169 121 131 135 147 Corpus Christi 160 130 130 119 84 152 San Antonio 80 163 128 126 131 As evident in Houston's rankings, having a high rank in family fun often did not coincide with high rankings in other categories and vice versa. The overall top three cities to raise a family in did not make the top 50 for family fun. South Burlington, Vermont ranked the best in education and child care but landed near the bottom in terms of family fun. The inverse was also true. Las Vegas, for example, topped the family fun ranking but came in 151st for education and child care. Los Angeles, ranked No. 2 in family fun, is also 172nd in affordability. City, state Total score Family fun rank Health & safety rank Education & child care rank Affordability rank Socioeconomics rank Fremont, CA 73.53 86 4 2 9 1 Overland Park, KS 71.66 102 18 10 1 3 Plano, TX 68.55 75 5 19 6 2 Irvine, CA 68.50 31 3 3 52 11 South Burlington, VT 65.07 163 108 1 10 17 Seattle, WA 64.93 71 93 11 7 14 Boise, ID 64.86 18 26 30 28 18 Gilbert, AZ 64.69 70 16 50 14 4 Bismarck, ND 64.57 117 32 64 4 9 San Diego, CA 64.39 5 21 12 82 30 City, state Total score Family fun rank Health & safety rank Education & child care rank Affordability rank Socioeconomics rank Memphis, TN 34.07 153 181 168 158 169 Detroit, MI 34.10 49 173 180 156 182 Cleveland, OH 34.89 100 172 173 163 181 Gulfport, MS 37.67 113 158 179 165 159 Newark, NJ 38.07 170 88 53 180 177 Birmingham, AL 38.23 124 170 167 148 174 Baltimore, MD 39.06 157 148 166 118 178 San Bernardino, CA 39.26 22 168 172 178 136 Jackson, MS 39.57 76 180 127 161 167 Hialeah, FL 39.78 176 40 59 182 149 This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: This Texas city ranks as the 3rd most family-friendly city in the US
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Optimism for the future is fading as consumer confidence crumbles: 9 facts from new report
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Consumer confidence is sliding, and fast. According to a latest report on the Economic Index, confidence dropped 27% between May 2024 and May 2025. That's the sharpest year-over-year decline since the end of 2020. People are more stressed about money, less sure they'll keep their jobs and much less likely to make big purchases. 'This 27% decrease in consumer sentiment over the past year is a worrying sign that our economic recovery may be stalling,' said Chip Lupo, a analyst on the report. 'People who have low financial confidence are likely to spend less money, make fewer large purchases, and pay down less debt than people with high confidence. As a result, when consumer sentiment experiences a significant decrease, that is negative for the economy.' Here's are nine takeaways from the report. The report indicates that people are holding on to their money. The chances someone will buy a car in the next six months dropped by more than 32%, according to the report. Buying a home? That's down nearly 30%. Even making any large purchases is down by almost 22%. That affects industries from real estate and auto sales to tourism and retail. Stress about money increased in the last year, the only index category to go up, said the report. It's a small rise, just under 2 %; but it still matters. The more people worry about money, the less likely they are to take risks or make purchases, said the report. For businesses that rely on visitors, like those in Hawaiʻi, that can mean less traffic and lower sales. Confidence in job security took a 16% hit this year, according to the report. That's the steepest drop since the pandemic-era uncertainty of people feel less secure in their work, they tend to spend less and save more. That slows down the economy even further, said the report. How will finances look six months from now? The report found that people are far less hopeful. That optimism dropped almost 14% since last May. It's the biggest drop in future financial outlooks in nearly five years. Even though optimism ticked up slightly from April to May, it's still nearly 10% lower than last year, the report said. Don't let short-term changes cloud your judgment. The long-term trend is clear. Financial confidence is shrinking, and people are becoming more cautious. Only about 2.7 out of 5 consumers feel employment opportunities are 'abundant', the report revealed That number is nearly 10% lower than it was in May 2024. This affects how people feel about relocating for work, investing in new skills or education or even switching industries, said the report. Debt reduction confidence fell by more than 3%. That might not sound like much; but in an economy where credit cards, student loans and mortgages are already weighing heavily, it's not a good sign. Confidence in credit scores fell 10%, according to the report. That may reflect how hard it is to pay bills, keep up with interest, or qualify for better rates. Without strong credit, access to new housing, cars or loans becomes even more limited. This isn't just about what people are buying at home. In places like Hawaiʻi, where tourism drives the economy, this kind of nationwide shift hits hard, said the report. If visitors feel insecure about jobs, finances or debt, they're less likely to book big trips or spend freely once they arrive. You can click here to read the full report. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Economic trends are more than numbers. They're about people, what they hope for, what they fear and how they make decisions. As consumer confidence dips, every choice counts. Whether you're spending, saving, or traveling, the best decisions start with awareness. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California city named best place in US to raise a family. Here's which one
A California city is the best place in the nation to raise a family, according to WalletHub. The personal finance website recently released its list of the Best and Worst Places to Raise a Family in the United States in 2025, based on factors including housing costs, recreation opportunties and the quality of local schools and health care systems. Fremont ranked No. 1 overall. 'Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained,' WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote in an article published on May 27. 'Current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive,' he added. In total, 26 California cities landed on WalletHub list. Fremont scored first place on WalletHub's list of the best U.S. cities for families, earning an overall score of 73.53 out of 100. The Bay Area city had an estimated population of 228,192 residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly 50% of households have children under 18, WalletHub said, one of the highest rates in the United States. Fremont boasts one of the highest median household incomes in the nation, at $176,350 a year, Census data showed. According to WalletHub, the city had the third-lowest share of families living in poverty in the nation and the third-lowest share receiving food stamps Fremont also ranked No. 1 in socioeconomics, second in child care and education, fourth in health, and ninth in affordability, WalletHub said. Other factors that make Fremont a good spot for families include a high percentage of top-rated public schools and plentiful parkland acres per capita, according to the personal finance website. In total, 26 California cities landed on WalletHub's list of the best places in the nation to raise families. Irvine took fourth place, while San Diego came in 10th place. Huntington Beach barely missed the top 10, landing at No. 11 Further down in the rankings, Sacramento landed at No. 41, while Modesto was No. 79 and Fresno was No. 124. Source: WalletHub According to WalletHub, these are the top cities for families in the United States: Fremont Overland Park, Kansas Plano, Texas Irvine South Burlington, Vermont Seattle Boise Gilbert, Arizona Bismarck, North Dakota San Diego These U.S. cities offered the most challenges for people looking to raise a family, WalletHub said: Memphis Detroit Cleveland Gulfport, Mississippi Newark, New Jersey Birmingham, Alabama Baltimore San Bernardino Jackson, Mississippi Hialeah, Florida To determine the best and worse cities for families, WalletHub said it compared a sample of 182 cities in the United States based on 42 key metrics, including: Family fun Health and safety Education and child care Affordability Socioeconomics The personal finance website graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing 'the most favorable conditions for family life.' WalletHub calculated each city's weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and ranked them in order based on the resulting scores. Data came from the U.S. Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Numbeo and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. WalletHub also sought data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Black America Web
27-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
The Worst and Best Cities in the US To Raise A Family in 2025
As rising inflation drives families to seek more affordable cities, the personal finance site WalletHub has released its annual report ranking the best and worst places to raise a family in 2025, alongside insights from financial experts. The report evaluates over 180 U.S. cities using 45 key indicators of family friendliness, including factors like housing affordability, quality of local schools, and employment rates. Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub said, 'Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained. On top of all of these factors, people also often want to raise their children close to their extended family. Therefore, current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive of their family.' According to the report, the average American can expect to move an estimated 11.7 times in a lifetime. Keep scrolling to see what other cities made the list. The Worst and Best Cities in the US To Raise A Family in 2025 was originally published on 1. Memphis, TN Play 2. Detroit, MI Play 3. Cleveland, OH Play 4. Gulfport, MS Play 5. Newark, NJ Play 6. Birmingham, AL Play 7. Baltimore, MD Play 8. San Bernardino, CA Play 9. Jackson, MS Play 10. Hialeah, FL Play 11. New Orleans, LA Play 12. Toledo, OH Play 13. Augusta, GA Play 14. Shreveport, LA Play 15. Wilmington, DE Play 16. Little Rock, Arkansas Play 17. Fayetteville, NC Play 18. Montgomery, AL Play 19. Miami, FL Play 20. Fort Lauderdale, FL Play 21. Mobile, AL Play 22. Bridgeport, CT Play 23. Baton Rouge, LA Play 24. 25. Akron, OH Play 26. Indianapolis, IN Play 27. Las Cruces, NM Play 28. St. Louis, MO Play 29. Aurora, CO Play 30. Milwaukee, WI Play
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore ranks among most affordable large cities for homebuyers in 2025, report finds
Baltimore ranked 22 on Wallethub's list of most affordable cities for homebuyers in 2025. The rankings are based on home prices, maintenance costs, tax rates, and vacancy rates. According to the report, Baltimore has a wide variety of homes available and an average cost of living compared to other cities. The report also says that it's more affordable to buy in Baltimore City than to rent. That affordability isn't without some cons, some analysts say. "The bad side is that Baltimore, Maryland in general, it's a high tax state. It's a high regulation state. So before you sign those closing documents, make sure you're aware of everything that comes with it," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. What's the cost of living in Baltimore? A 2024 study by SmartAsset found that living comfortably in Baltimore as a single adult requires a nearly $90,000 salary or an hourly wage of $40.86. That amounts to a $218,733 salary for a family of four with two working adults and two children. Cost of renting in Maryland Analysts have said that renting in Maryland comes at a high price. A report released in 2024 ranked Maryland as one of the most challenging places to secure affordable housing. According to Out of Reach, Marylanders need an hourly wage of approximately $37 to afford a typical two-bedroom apartment without exceeding the recommended 30% of income on housing costs. The Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Maryland is $1,909, and $1608 for a one-bedroom, according to the report. That means a household would have to earn $6,362 monthly, or $76,345 annually to afford rent and utilities without spending more than 30% of income on housing - per the study. The same report ranked Washington, D.C., Arlington, V.A., and Alexandria, V.A., as the most expensive rental areas, and Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson, Maryland as the second most expensive areas to rent.
