SmartAsset
Coverage of SmartAsset in the Nexus archive.
- States ranked by how much of their federal income tax is paid by the top 1%
Florida ranked second-highest in a SmartAsset study measuring the share of federal income tax paid by the top 1% of earners. The study found the top 1% nationally pay 37% of federal income taxes despite earning 19% of incomes, with tax proposals in New York and California aiming to increase taxes on wealthy residents.
- New study ranks Nashville, Memphis among least-safe large U.S. cities. Here’s how they compare
A SmartAsset study ranked Nashville and Memphis among the 10 least-safe large U.S. cities, with Nashville at No. 76 and Memphis at No. 83. The rankings consider violent crime, property crime, fatal traffic crashes, overdose deaths, and excessive drinking, showing Memphis had higher rates of violent and property crimes than Nashville.
- How Tennessee cities rank among other cities in U.S. for cost of raising a child, according to 2026 study
A 2026 SmartAsset study ranks Memphis as the least expensive major U.S. metro for raising a child with an annual cost of $19,922, and Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin as the second most affordable at $21,216. Despite this, Tennessee families face high child care costs, averaging $14,000 annually, which constitutes about 17% of their income.
- Over 10 years, the time needed to save up for house increased 30% in TN. Here’s what changed
A SmartAsset study found that in Tennessee, the time required for median-income households to save for a 20% down payment on a home increased by 25 months between 2016 and 2026, with home prices rising from $163,763 to $334,075. Minimum-wage earners in Tennessee would need 44.3 years to save for a down payment in 2026, while the study ranked Tennessee 14th nationally for the largest increase in required savings time.
- Four California cities make list of America’s newest boomtowns
Four California cities—Menifee, Rancho Cordova, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale—were identified as emerging boomtowns in SmartAsset’s report. All are in Northern California except Menifee, which is located in Southern California.
- Here's how much money you need to make to be middle-class in every US state
A SmartAsset study using US Census Bureau data defines middle-class income ranges as two-thirds to double the median household income per state. Massachusetts has the highest upper limit at $209,656, while Mississippi's threshold is $118,254, with significant variation across states like West Virginia ($40,532) and New Jersey ($69,529).
- Murfreesboro, Clarksville among America's new ‘Boomtowns’
Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Franklin, and Knoxville are listed as America's newest 'Boomtowns' in a SmartAsset report. The report highlights these cities for their growth and economic opportunities.
- Clarksville ranked among nation's top 'boom towns' as growth sparks tax debate
Clarksville is ranked as a top 'boom town' by SmartAsset due to rapid growth, but city leaders debate property tax increases to fund infrastructure. Residents express concerns over rising costs and insufficient services despite economic expansion.
- New report: These TN cities named among America’s new ‘boomtowns.’ Here’s what that means
A new SmartAsset report named four Tennessee cities—Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Knoxville—as part of America’s top 75 'boomtowns' based on housing, labor force, and GDP growth over five years. The report highlights regional trends, with the South and West leading in boomtown growth, and Florida and Texas having the most cities on the list.