And finally, for understanding the way you and theneighbors can find the best fit for you in a new community, let’s turn to the other Rustic Eagle lifestyles.
Photo: Visual Hunt
In the PRIZM list of lifestyles, then, Blue Highways describes lower middle-class couples and families who live in isolated towns and farmsteads.
“lower-mid income level (45th out of 66) with median household incomes at $43,023. Out of all US households, they account for under 2% (1.55%) for a total 1,809,961.”
Out of six segments of the Middle America social group 45Y3T3 is the younger of Whitefish’s two — and
“one of seven striving single lifestyles which as a group live in 12,665,698 households with a median household income of $33,160.”
Fifty years ago the most complex thing about maps was trying to fold them up the right way.
On folding paper maps blue highways represent two-lane roads that “wind through remote stretches of the American landscape.”
Photo: Visual Hunt
In the PRIZM list of lifestyles, then, Blue Highways describes lower middle-class couples and families who live in isolated towns and farmsteads.
Sharing the same pursuits as other Whitefish Wireless Resorters and High Country Eagles, they
“like to hunt and fish, the women enjoy sewing and crafts, and everyone looks forward to going out to a country music concert.”
Photo: Visual Hunt
And, they’re likely to:
“Read Guns & Ammo, drive a Chevrolet Colorado and shop at Wal-Mart. Getting television reception in isolated towns means they probably own a satellite dish and watch auto racing.”
And finally, for understanding the way you and theneighbors can find the best fit for you in a new community, let’s turn to the other Rustic Eagle lifestyles.
The second of Whitefish’s High Country Eagles, Rustic Eagles (HCERE) are the much older (M4) neighbors of WRDE Distant Exurbans – 48Y3T4 – the young and restless striving singles living at the greatest distance from the center of town (T4).
Photo: Visual Hunt
Rustic Eagles are the downscale demographic who are the more mature residents who live in households without children.
The 58M4T4 Rustic Eagles fit into one of PRIZM’s nine “Sustaining Seniors” segments filled with older, economically challenged Americans.
As a group sustaining seniors are:
“Racially mixed and dispersed throughout the country, they all score high for having residents who are over 65 years old and household incomes under $25,000.
Many are single or widowed, have modest educational achievement and live in older apartments or small homes.”
On their fixed incomes, they lead low-key, home-centered lifestyles.
“They’re big on watching TV, gardening, sewing and woodworking. Their social life often revolves around activities at veterans clubs and fraternal organizations.”
And as a group of all nine M4 sustaining seniors as of 2011…
lived in just over 12 million American households (12,101,672)
with median household incomes of $29,346.
As one of six PRIZM “Rustic Living” segments (and the second of ’s T4 neighbors) in 2011 …
they lived in slightly more US households (13,401,489) and
lived on more household income ($31,343).
Photo: Visual Hunt
TheRustic Eagles (HCERE), 58M4T4 profiles is known as Back Country Folksin the PRIZM lifestyle categories.
They are “along way away from economic paradise.
The residents tend to be poor, over 55 years old and living in older, modest-sized homes and manufactured housing.
Typically, life in this segment is a throwback to an earlier era when farming dominated the American landscape.”
Mostly retired, these 65+ seniors have below average income producing assets, but they mostly own their own homes.
Growing up on farms in remote rural areas, they have completed some high school course.
In 2011, “they more than 2.5 million homes (2,658,532) or 2.27% of all US households.
With a median household income of $32,207, they tend order from Publishers Clearing House, read Hunting, and watch Soapnet.
And, they more than likely drive a Ford Ranger when they attend board meetings at their local church.”
25) Compare what “life” was like in those communities before the Great Recession, how resilient each was during the economic downturn, and to what degree did each bounce back after with any “economic hangover.”
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
28) Which lifestyles profiled in the western resort towns during 2008 – 2009 remained five years later in 2013-2014? Which disappeared entirely? Why? Which new lifestyles emerged, grew or moved in to shift the neighborhood mix? Have longtime locals been forced out by escalating property valuations and sky high property taxes?
“Town and Rural areas have population density scores under 40.This category includes exurbs, towns, farming communities and a wide range of other rural areas.
Photo: Visual Hunt
How Charles, Arthur and Dudley find new communities across the West.
An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.
With the help of our knowledge bank, you can choose for variations in your new neighborhood by:
When you dig in a little deeper below the surface of Whitefish’s zip code you find what you would expect –a community whose residents reflect a mix of three Wireless Resorter lifestyles and two High Country Eagles.
Whitefish attracted a broad range of age and stage lifestyles –from the striving single 20-29 year olds to 65+ year-old sustaining seniors in older homes.
Depending upon their circumstances, residents chose to live in Whitefish households alone or with other singles, couples, families, empty-nesters, and retired seniors.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Using original density definitions from Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM Segmentation, Whitefish fits the “Town and Country” community description.
Just under 40% of the U.S. population (39.6%) call town and country home.
“Town and Rural areas have population density scores under 40.
This category includes exurbs, towns, farming communities and a wide range of other rural areas.
Using our density and lifestyle definitions most town and country residents live in either Wireless Resort or High Country Eagle communities.
Now consider that both Wireless Resorters and High Country Eagles come in four possible “flavors.”
For the rest of our story, we’ll use those profiles as a way for Charles, Arthur and Dudley to find new communities across the West.
Premier Resorts (WRPR),09M1T1.
Photo: Visual Hunt
WRPRs like those that flocked to Whitefish are the more wealthy of those who migrated to smaller boomtowns.
These are what the Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM Segmentation call the “Landed Gentry” social group.
Many of their households contain families with members of the Baby Boomer generation.
WRPR couples already earned college degrees and work in professional jobs.
As a social group living in expansive homes.
They are more likely telecommuting – twice as likely as the rest of Americans.
Along with their upscale incomes and expansive homes comes the ability to afford heavy spending on expensive toys.
They’re the prime consumers of technology –
exercise equipment,
electronics,
wireless and computer technologies,
luxury cars and
powerboats.
They’ll display the books they’ve read, the magazine subscriptions.
And, intentionally or not, the toys they buy their children or grandchildren.
According PRIZM’s 2011 statistics …
9,812,689 US households fall within this social group with a median household income of $82,323.
The “09M1T1” code in our Knowledge Bank stands for one of the most affluent WRPR lifestyles.
Balboa Island Ferry – Getty Images
It means they rank within the top 10 of affluence (09),
have entered their mature life stage (M1) and
reside in the premier resort neighborhoods (T1) of country towns and exurbs.
And, that makes their neighborhoods a mashup of Cambria in California, Pagosa Springs in Colorado, Sedona in Arizona, Santa Fe in New Mexico, Incline Village – Crystal Bay in Nevada and Deer Valley in Utah.
The M1 upscale, empty-nesting couples enjoy the trappings of success.
Photo: Visual Hunt
How so? By …
“belonging to country clubs, maintaining large investment portfolios and spending freely on computer technology.
Older, upper-class, college-educated professionals, the members of PRIZM’s aptly named “Big Fish, Small Pond” are often among the leading citizens of their small-town communities. “
Which is why other Whitefish citizens had these reactions in Kim Murphy’s 2010 article.
Photo: Visual Hunt
“Longtime residents say it’s not unusual to see three or four old houses along the lake razed and replaced with a massive private lodge.
Wine bars, gourmet pizza bistros and boutiques now sit between the saloons at the base of the ski slopes in rustic downtown .”
The Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM Segmentation says:
“While those on the ‘MTV side’ of fifty may debate their inclusion in M1 group, Americans in the Mature Years tend to be over 45 years old and living in houses that have empty-nested.”
Not all empty nests are as affluent as the Affluent Empty Nests 09M1T1 “WRPRs.”
But, as we will see a little later, these are upscale couples.
The members of the M1 life stage group are college educated, hold executive and professional positions and are over 45.
Photo: Visual Hunt
“With their children out of the house, these consumers have plenty of disposable cash to finance active lifestyles rich in travel and cultural events.
They’re highly likely to order from L.L. Bean, contribute to PBS, read Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, watch The Triple Crown, and own a high-end vehicle like the Cadillac DTS.”
Oh, and these WRPRs are also community activists.
They write their politicians, volunteer for environmental groups and vote heavily in elections.
What about the other Whitefish Wireless Resorters, the Distant Exurbans (WRDE) and Resort Suburbans (WRRS)?
Distant Exurbans (WRDE),48Y3T4.
Distant Exurbans come in three lifestyle “flavors” …
Two striving single and younger segments ages 20-29 year olds –both Millennials.
And a third much older sustaining senior 65+ age retirement group.
What they have in common is “rustic living” in their more remote homes (T4).
Whitefish’s Distant Exurbans – 48Y3T4 – fit the profile of “young and restless” singles.
They haven’t made their mark in their life or career like two other younger year segments – Y2 mainstream singles who live in metropolitan areas or the older Y1 30 and 40 year olds succeeding by midlife.
PRIZM labels these “twenty-something” singles the “Young and Rustic” because they typically have low incomes—
Often under $25,000 a year—from service jobs or part-time work they take on while going to college.
“In general,they are high-school educated, but don’t own their own homes
As a home-to-school-back to home and then out on their own group, they rent small apartments instead.
Housing for the striving single group is a mix of cheap apartment complexes, dormitories and mobile homes.”
With their service industry jobs and modest incomes, the younger WRDEs still try to fashion fast-paced lifestyles centered on sports, cars and dating.
Photo: Visual Hunt
As consumers, the residents in these segments score high for …
outdoor sports,
movies and music,
fast food and
inexpensive cars.
In their remote communities, PRIZM says …
“they spend their leisure time in traditional small-town activities as fishing and hunting, attending socialactivities at the local church and veterans club, enjoying country music and car racing.”
WRDE Distant Exurbans – 48Y3T4 – lifestyles, according to Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM Segmentation are more likely to:
“Order from Columbia House, buy science fiction books, read “Car Craft”, watch WWE Wrestling, and drive a Dodge Ram Diesel”
Resort Suburbans, (WRRS)43M3T3.
The third of Whitefish’s Wireless Resorters, 43M3T3 …
live closer (T3) to the premier resort neighborhoods (T1)
than the rustic exurbs (T4)
which is why we call them the Resort Suburbans (WRRS).
Photo: Visual Hunt
The homes in these neighborhoods house mostly older couples without children existing on lower-mid level income rankings(43rd / 66).
Like the ’s fourth lifestyle, High Country Eagles, Rural Cowboys (HCERC), WRRS Resort Suburbans belong to one of six segments of a broad social group, “Middle America.”
Middle America segments are filled with middle-class homeowners living in small towns and remote exurbs.
They’re typically found in scenic settings throughout the nation’s heartland.
Middle Americans tend to be white, high school educated, living as couples or larger families, and ranging in age from under 25 to over 65.
Like many residents of remote communities, these conservative consumers tend to prefer traditional rural pursuits:
fishing,
hunting,
making crafts,
antique collecting,
watching television and
meeting at civic and
veterans clubs for
recreation and companionship.
Friday nights are for celebrating high school sports.
Photo: Visual Hunt
A half a century ago things were different across the U.S.
Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM Segments says …
“America was once a land of small middle class towns, which can still be found today among Heartlanders.
This widespread segment consists of middle-aged couples with working-class jobs living in sturdy,unpretentious homes.
In these communities of small families and empty-nesting couples, Heartlanders pursue a rustic lifestyle where hunting and fishing remain prime leisure activities along with cooking, sewing, camping and boating.”
What about age?
You’ll notice in our knowledge bank we borrow Nielsen’s maturity as part of our code.
First the “M” and then the “Y” portions of the lifestyle label.
Photo: Visual Hunt
M1, the WRPR 09M1T1 affluent empty nesters in premier resorts we’ve already discussed is younger.
The M3 designation refers to the third of four Mature Years segments the large group of Cautious Couples, featuring an over-55-year-old mix.
“Widely scattered throughout the nation, the residents in the Cautious Couples seven lifestyle segments typically are working-class and white, with some college education and a high rate of homeownership. of singles, couples and widows.”
As a whole group, Cautious Couples today pursue sedate lifestyles, given their blue-collar roots.
“They have high rates for reading, travel, eating out at family restaurants and pursuing home-based hobbies like coin collecting and gardening.”
We pulled all of the PRIZM classifications together (2011 Statistics) in our Knowledge Bank for the following snapshot.
43M3T3 WRRS Resort Suburbans can be found living in …
“about 2% of US households (2,334,924) that earn median incomes of $43,485.”
What else do we know about them?
“They tend to shop at places like Kmart, sew clothing from patterns and read “Family Handyman.” On television, they watch the CBS Early Show and would likely drive the GMC Sierra Flex Fuel.”
Fun facts.
M3 Cautious Couples live in roughly 6 times more homes (12,266,568),
but earn roughly $2,000 less a year ($41,303),
as compared to the Middle America social group, 11,533,179 households
25) Compare what “life” was like in those communities before the Great Recession, how resilient each was during the economic downturn, and to what degree did each bounce back after with any “economic hangover.”
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
28) Which lifestyles profiled in the western resort towns during 2008 – 2009 remained five years later in 2013-2014? Which disappeared entirely? Why? Which new lifestyles emerged, grew or moved in to shift the neighborhood mix? Have longtime locals been forced out by escalating property valuations and sky high property taxes?
These lifestyle descriptions are intended to paint a picture of a new neighborhood you’d enjoy, because you share some of the same traits with current residents.
Photo: Visual Hunt
For our purposes, we are assuming that you really want to move, invest in, work in and around, start a business or retire in a new community that doubles as a vacation resort with pristine quality of lifestyle activities. Otherwise, why bother?
Here’s what we know already.
Neighborhoods change slowly.
“Birds of a Feather Flock Together.”
They attract the same kinds of people over time.
You’ll want to see if current residents match your criteria.
We’ve already done the heavy lifting for you: identifying neighborhood characteristics by age and the stage of life of their residents.
Single (20-29, 25-54, or 30-44).
Couple (55+ or 65+).
Family (20-44, 25-54, 35-54).
Mid-Lifers (30-44).
Empty Nests (45+).
Baby Boomers (55+).
Seniors (65+).
And, we’ve compared neighborhoods by population density.
From urban and suburban Wealthy Influentials and Permanent Temporaries to premier quality-of-life Wireless Resorters to pristine small town and rustic High Country Eagles.
So, if you want to narrow your focus to neighborhoods with, say, 25-54 year old families in Wireless Resorts, then you can find a list that suits you best.
With the help of our knowledge bank, you can choose for variations in your new neighborhood by:
Refer to 66 lifestyle segment descriptions grouped in sets of ten, beginning with the most affluent and ending with the least. You’ll see that we’ve identified a sample town where you’ll most likely find each lifestyle listed.
These lifestyle descriptions are intended to paint a picture of a new neighborhood you’d enjoy, because you share some of the same traits with current residents.
8) Sit down with your spouse, partner or friends and write-up your bucket list of places.
20) Pivot. Maybe the lists of best places don’t appeal to you. Where can you go to make a fresh, new start? Don’t limit your imagination. Think anywhere — across the globe. Where do you really, really want to live, work and play? Why not live where it’s a vacation all year round?
21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life.
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
We use Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM lifestyle segmentation profiles to evaluate best places for relocation to more authentic, quality-of-life communities.
And, if your community already includes the following profiles, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s going on in your neighbors’ lives.
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 13,401,489
Median Household Income : $31,343
“Three of the six segments in Rustic America represent the nation’s most isolated towns and rural villages.
As a group, T4 residents have relatively modest incomes, low educational levels, aging homes and blue-collar occupations.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Many of the residents, a mix of young singles and seniors, are unmarried, and they’ve watched scores of their neighbors migrate to the city.
In their remote communities, these consumers spend their leisure time in such traditional small-town activities as fishing and hunting, attending social activities at the local church and veterans club, enjoying country music and car racing.”
Where in the West will you find those three lifestyles?
Google Maps: Whitefish, MT
We identified three Rustic Eagle residential neighborhoods in California, Montana and New Mexico.
Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?
64F4T4, Bedrock America, 20-44, Families, Sustaining Families, Town and Country, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles (Palm Springs, CA)
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 2,220,781 (1.90%)
Median Household Income: $27,602
In 2011 Claritas described these Rustic Eagle (HCERE) household lifestyles:
“Bedrock America consists of young, economically challenged families in small, isolated towns, located throughout the nation’s heartland.
With modest educations, sprawling families and blue-collar jobs, many of these residents struggle to make ends meet.
One quarter live in mobile homes. One in three haven’t finished high school.
Rich in scenery, Bedrock America is a haven for fishing, hunting, hiking and camping.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
Ordered from Avon
Bought toy cars
Read Parents Magazine
Watched The Young and the Restless
Drove a Dodge Ram Flex Fuel”
57M4T4, Old Milltown, 65+, Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles ( Taos, NM)
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 1,845,943 (1.58%)
Median Household Income: $30,608
Rustic Eagles (HCERE): “America’s once-thriving mining and manufacturing towns have aged-as have the residents in Old Milltowns communities
Today, the majority of residents are retired singles and couples, living on downscale incomes in pre-1960 homes and apartments.
Photo: Visual Hunt
For leisure, they enjoy gardening, sewing, socializing at veterans clubs or eating out at casual restaurants.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
Ordered from Home Shopping Network
Did needlepoint
Read Good Housekeeping
Watched As the World Turns
Drove a GMC Canyon”
58M4T4, Back Country Folks, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles (Whitefish, MT)
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 2,658,532 (2.27%)
Median Household Income: $32,207
Rustic Eagles (HCERE): “Strewn among remote farm communities across the nation, Back Country Folks are a long way away from economic paradise.
The residents tend to be poor, over 55 years old and living in older, modest-sized homes and manufactured housing.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Typically, life in this segment is a throwback to an earlier era when farming dominated the American landscape.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
Ordered from Publishers Clearing House
Belonged to church board
Read Hunting
Watched Soapnet
Drove a Ford Ranger”
Will you find a 100% fit?
No.
These lifestyle descriptions are intended to paint a picture of a new neighborhood you’d enjoy, because you share some of the same traits with current residents.
8) Sit down with your spouse, partner or friends and write-up your bucket list of places.
20) Pivot. Maybe the lists of best places don’t appeal to you. Where can you go to make a fresh, new start? Don’t limit your imagination. Think anywhere — across the globe. Where do you really, really want to live, work and play? Why not live where it’s a vacation all year round?
21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life.
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
Let’s review the upscale metropolitan Wealthy Influential lifestyle and then turn to four more found in the surrounding suburban area.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Blue Blood Estates is a family portrait of suburban wealth, a place of million-dollar homes and manicured lawns, high-end cars and exclusive private clubs.
With the help of our knowledge bank, you can choose for variations in your new neighborhood by:
But to zero in on the best place for you you’ll have to visit and schedule time to explore potential new homes in a region.
Oh, darn!
Lifestyles Segments: Urban to Rustic Density
Urban and Suburban Populations
Urban
Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM defines Urban areas (U) as having population density scores between 85 and 99.
Photo: Visual Hunt
“They include both the downtowns of major cities and surrounding neighborhoods.
These areas often extend beyond the city limits and into surrounding jurisdictions.”
Should you include these Birds-of-a Feather (BOF) residential lifestyles on your Bucket List?
Let’s review the upscale metropolitan Wealthy Influential lifestyle and then turn to four more found in the surrounding suburban area.
Wealthy Influential, Affluently Elite (WIAE) – 45+ year old Empty-Nest Couples
We use Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM lifestyle segmentation profiles to evaluate best places for relocation to more authentic, quality-of-life communities.
And, if your community already includes the following profiles, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s going on in your neighbors’ lives.
Urban Uptown segments are home to the nation’s wealthiest urban consumers.
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 9,480,843
Median Household Income : $65,583
“Members of this social group tend to be affluent to middle class, college educated and ethnically diverse, with above average concentrations of Asian and Hispanic Americans.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Although this group is diverse in terms of housing styles and family sizes, residents share an upscale urban perspective that’s reflected in their marketplace choices.
Urban Uptown consumers tend to frequent the arts, shop at exclusive retailers, drive luxury imports, travel abroad and spend heavily on computer and wireless technology.”
Where will you find this lifestyle?
Google Maps
In California on the outskirts of Long Beach near Los Angeles County, but in Orange County:
Affluently Elite (WIAE): “The residents of Money & Brains seem to have it all: high incomes, advanced degrees, and sophisticated tastes to match their credentials.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Many of these city dwellers are married couples with few children who live in fashionable homes on small, manicured lots.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Shop at Nordstrom
Contribute to NPR
Read Sunday newspaper
Watch Ebert & Roeper
Drive a Jaguar XJL”
Let’s now consider suburban populations.
Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM ranks suburbs as having a medium density, although they may in fact be surrounded by high density urban areas.
“Population density rises as you approach the city, and decreases as you move away from it.”
Photo: Visual Hunt
In 2011 roughly 23.4% of the population in the United States lived in the nation’s suburbs.
And Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM said:
“Suburbs have population density scores between 40 and 90, and are clearly dependent on urban areas or second cities.”
Should you include these Birds-of-a Feather (BOF) lifestyles on your Bucket List?
We use Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM lifestyle segmentation profiles to evaluate best places for relocation to more authentic, quality-of-life communities.
And, if your community already includes the following profiles, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s going on in your neighbors’ lives.
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 6,061,268
Median Household Income : $109,636
“The most affluent suburban social group,Elite Suburbs is a world of six-figure incomes, post-graduate degrees, single-family homes and managerial and professional occupations
The segments here are predominantly white with significant concentrations of well-off Asian Americans.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Befitting their lofty salaries, they are big consumers of large homes, expensive clothes, luxury cars and foreign travel.
Despite representing a small portion of the U.S. population, they hold a large share of the nation’s personal net worth.”
Where will you find those four lifestyles?
Google Maps
You’ll find communities in Arizona, California, Oregon and Utah.
Scottsdale, AZ
Half Moon Bay, CA
West Linn, OR
Alta, UT
Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?
Affluently Elite (WIAE): “Movers & Shakers is home to America’s up-and-coming business class: a wealthy suburban world of dual-income couples who are highly educated, typically between the ages of 35 and 54 and often with children.
Given its high percentage of executives and white-collar professionals, there’s a decided business bent to this segment:
Movers & Shakers rank number one for owning a small business and having a home office.
Affluently Elite (WIAE): “The nation’s most exclusive address, Upper Crust is the wealthiest lifestyle in America a haven for empty-nesting couples over 55 years old.
Photo: Visual Hunt
No segment has a higher concentration of residents earning over $100,000 (now $200,000) a year or possessing a postgraduate degree. And none has a more opulent standard of living.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
Shopped at Saks Fifth Ave.
Belonged to a country club
Read Conde Nast Traveler
Watched Golf Channel
Drove a Mercedes SL Class”
02F1S1, Blue Blood Estates, 45+ Families, Elite Suburbs, Affluently Elite – WIAE, Wealthy Influentials (West Linn, OR)
2011 Statistics:
US Households: 1,129,199 (0.97%)
Median Household Income: $119,314
Affluently Elite (WIAE): “Blue Blood Estates is a family portrait of suburban wealth, a place of million-dollar homes and manicured lawns, high-end cars and exclusive private clubs.
Photo: Visual Hunt
The nation’s second-wealthiest lifestyle, it is characterized by married couples with children, college degrees, a significant percentage of Asian Americans and six figure incomes earned by business executives, managers and professionals.
Affluently Elite (WIAE): “Among the wealthy suburban lifestyles, Winner’s Circle is the youngest, a collection of mostly 25- to 34-year-old couples with large families in new-money subdivisions.
Surrounding their homes are the signs of upscale living: recreational parks, golf courses and upscale malls.
Photo: Visual Hunt
With a median income of nearly $90,000, Winner’s Circle residents are big spenders who like to travel, ski, go out to eat, shop at clothing boutiques and take in a show.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
Shop at Neiman Marcus
Go jogging
Read Wall Street Journal
Watch Wimbledon Tennis
Mercedes GL Class”
Will you find a 100% fit?
No.
These lifestyle descriptions are intended to paint a picture of a new neighborhood you’d enjoy, because you share some of the same traits with current residents.
8) Sit down with your spouse, partner or friends and write up your bucket list of places.
20) Pivot. Maybe the lists of best places don’t appeal to you. Where can you go to make a fresh, new start? Don’t limit your imagination. Think anywhere — across the globe. Where do you really, really want to live, work and play? Why not live where it’s a vacation all year round?
21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life.
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
Strewn among remote farm communities across the nation, Back Country Folks are a long way away from economic paradise.
Photo: Visual Hunt
It is during this time through retrospection that we look back to contemplate our accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.
With the help of our knowledge bank, you can choose for variations in your new neighborhood by:
You’re coming to grips with what life means when you’ve reached the last chapter of your life.
When retirement is approaching or has already taken place.
Fulfillment or Despair, Depression and Hopelessness
The last and eighth developmental stage is called Maturity.
Photo: Wikipedia
As we grow older and become senior citizens, according to Erikson’s theory, we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person.
It is during this time through retrospection that we look back to contemplate our accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.
If so we develop feelings of contentment and integrity if we believe we have led a happy, productive life.
Should you include these Birds-of-a Feather (BOF) lifestyles on your Bucket List?
You’ll find them in more rustic Wireless Resort and High Country Eagle neighborhoods and in less affluent Permanent Temporary communities.
Wireless Resorters – Distant Exurbans (WRDE)
High Country Eagles – Small Town Borders (HCESTB) and two Rustic Eagles (HCERE)
Permanent Temporaries – The Cutters (PTTC) and two Urban Trapped (PTUT)
We use Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM lifestyle segmentation profiles to evaluate best places for relocation to more authentic, quality-of-life communities.
And, if your community already includes the following profiles, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s going on in your neighbors’ lives.
We know the number of households and income levels for comparison purposes based upon Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM 2011 Statistics:
US Households: 12,101,672
Median Household Income : $29,346
Sustaining Seniors are filled with older, economically challenged Americans.
Racially mixed and dispersed throughout the country, they all score high for having residents who are over 65 years old and household incomes under $25,000.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Many are single or widowed, have modest educational achievement and live in older apartments or small homes.
On their fixed incomes, they lead low-key, home-centered lifestyles.
They’re big on watching TV, gardening, sewing and woodworking.
Their social life often revolves around activities at veterans clubs and fraternal organizations.
Where in the West will you find those seven lifestyles?
Southwest United States – Wikitravel
We’ve identified four in California and one community each in Arizona, New Mexico and Montana:
Long Beach, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Seal Beach, CA
Eureka, CA
Elgin, AZ
Taos, NM
Whitefish, MT
Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?
Distant Exurbans (WRDE): “Golden Ponds is mostly a retirement lifestyle, dominated by downscale singles and couples over 65 years old.
Found in small bucolic towns around the country, these high school-educated seniors live in small apartments on less than $25,000 a year; one in five resides in a nursing home.
Photo: Visual Hunt
For these elderly residents, daily life is often a succession of sedentary activities such as reading, watching TV, playing bingo and doing craft projects.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Purchased in-home vitamins
Ordered garden supplies by phone
Read American Legion Magazine
Watched The Price is Right
Drove a Mercury Sable”
57M4T4, Old Milltown, 65+, Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles ( Taos, NM)
2011 Statistics
US Households: 1,845,943 (1.58%)
Median Household Income: $30,608
Rustic Eagles (HCERE): “America’s once-thriving mining and manufacturing towns have aged-as have the residents in Old Milltowns communities
Today, the majority of residents are retired singles and couples, living on downscale incomes in pre-1960 homes and apartments.
Photo: Visual Hunt
For leisure, they enjoy gardening, sewing, socializing at veterans clubs or eating out at casual restaurants.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Ordered from Home Shopping Network
Did needlepoint
Read Good Housekeeping
Watched As the World Turns
Drove a GMC Canyon”
58M4T4, Back Country Folks, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles (Whitefish, MT)
2011 Statistics
US Households: 2,658,532 (2.27%)
Median Household Income: $32,207
Rustic Eagles (HCERE): “Strewn among remote farm communities across the nation, Back Country Folks are a long way away from economic paradise.
The residents tend to be poor, over 55 years old and living in older, modest-sized homes and manufactured housing.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Typically, life in this segment is a throwback to an earlier era when farming dominated the American landscape.
Urban Trapped (PTUT): “For Urban Elders-a segment located in the downtown neighborhoods of such metros as New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami life is often an economic struggle.
Photo: Visual Hunt
These communities have high concentrations of Hispanics and African-Americans, and tend to be downscale, with singles living in older apartment rentals.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Shopped at Rite Aid
Traveled Domestically on JetBlue
Read Essence
Watched Primer Impacto
Drove a Ford Crown Victoria”
60M4C3, Park Bench Seniors, 65+Sustaining Seniors,Micro-City Blues – HCESTB Small Town Borders, High Country Eagles (Palm Desert, CA)
2011 Statistics
US Households: 1,345,679 (1.15%)
Median Household Income: $24,290
Small Town Borders (HCESTB): “Park Bench Seniors typically are retired singles living in the racially mixed neighborhoods of the nation’s satellite cities.
With modest educations and incomes, these residents maintain low-key, sedentary lifestyles.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Theirs is one of the top-ranked segments for TV viewing, especially daytime soaps and game shows.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Purchased in-home housewares
Bought gospel music
Read Jet
Watched The People’s Court
Drove a Suzuki Reno”
61M4U3, City Roots, 65+, Seniors, Sustaining Seniors, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Seal Beach, CA)
2011 Statistics
US Households: 1,326,369 (1.13%)
Median Household Income: $28,006
Urban Trapped (PTUT): “Found in urban neighborhoods, City Roots is a segment of lower-income retirees, typically living in older homes and duplexes they’ve owned for years.
Photo: Visual Hunt
In these ethnically diverse neighborhoods-more than a third are African-American and Hispanic residents are often widows and widowers living on fixed incomes and maintaining low-key lifestyles.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Ordered from drugstore.com
Gambled in Reno, NV
Read Town & Country
Watched NAACP Image Awards
Drove a Chrysler 300″
62M4C3, Hometown Retired , 65+, Seniors, Sustaining Seniors, Second Tier Cities, Micro-City Blues, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries (Eureka, CA)
2011 Statistics
US Households: 1,406,698 (1.20%)
Median Household Income: $27,609
The Cutters (PTTC): “With three-quarters of all residents over 65 years old, Hometown Retired is one of the oldest lifestyles.
These racially mixed seniors tend to live in aging homes-half were built before 1958-and typically get by on social security and modest pensions.
Photo: Visual Hunt
Because most never made it beyond high school and spent their working lives at blue-collar jobs, their retirements are extremely modest.
Lifestyle & Media Traits
Ordered items by mail
Collected stamps
Read Womans Day
Watched Judge Judy
Drove a Mercury Grand Marquis”
Will you find a 100% fit?
No.
These lifestyle descriptions are intended to paint a picture of a new neighborhood you’d enjoy, because you share some of the same traits with current residents.
26) If you know the zip code you can discover the lifestyles living in the community. You can compare your profile with theirs to estimate your degree of fit.
27) Estimate how well suited you are for the resorts. Refer to “Profiles-at-a-Glance” comparing 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for changes in Life Stages – Singles, Couples, Families, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers and Seniors; Ages – 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45+ 45-65, 55+ and 65+; and mix of Lifestyles in neighborhoods. Does the resort still offer the age, life stage and lifestyle profiles you prefer?
“The real question is, what does it mean to live to full effect? How do you know if you are fulfilling your time, or wasting it?”
These days, all my sixtysomething friends seem to be taking care of aging parents. Too many — most of them male — are fighting serious health issues of their own. They are tough old boots, all of them.
With the help of our knowledge bank, you can choose for variations in your new neighborhood by:
Chris Erskine. Meanwhile, many of my friends are turning 60, and though I have a long way to go till I reach that particular benchmark (six months), witnessing so many milestones at once can really take a toll on a fella.
“You’re turning 60?” I always tell my friends.
“That’s just so great!!!”
Really?!!
Integrity or Despair
Erik Erikson’s last and eighth developmental stage is called Maturity.
Approximate Age: Maturity ( 65 – death)
Significant Relationship: Mankind, my kind
Existential Question: Is it okay to have been me?
Examples: Reflection on life
Psychosocial Crisis: Integrity vs. Despair
Virtues: Wisdom
A lot of stuff comes with approaching the traditional retirement age.
That age when Erskine’s generation viewed their parents living their second half of life – the Golden Years – with a pension, receiving monthly social security checks and picking up divots on a par five in Sarasota, Florida as boring.
A given.
But, now not so much.
And tomorrow, probably not at all.
Entering Act III with Doctors and Adult Kids
Daditude: The Joys & Absurdities of Modern Fatherhood by Chris Erskine
Turning sixty is a weird time, Erskine says, for him and his friends.
A time when they look back to times they spent when they were younger.
The middle of any story meanders, drifts, struggles and is often the death of art itself.”
Wisdom and Life Acceptance
Erskine’s writes about what comes with the Act III territory.
Coming to grips with what it means when you’ve reached the last chapter of your life.
When retirement is approaching or has already taken place.
Stories about “Is it okay to have been me?”
And other reflections on life.
Examples of leaving the second half of adulthood and embarking on maturity.
Erikson (at least the Wikipedia version) describes what happens.
“Ego-integrity means the acceptance of life in its fullness: the victories and the defeats, what was accomplished and what was not accomplished.
Wisdom is the result of successfully accomplishing this final developmental task.
Wisdom is defined as “informed and detached concern for life itself in the face of death itself.””
Erskine reflects on a book review, a memoire written about turning 60.
Erskine. “Like a pro athlete just retired, he seems pretty convinced that most of life’s good times are behind him.
Likewise, there is very little chirpy, New Age navel-gazing to his writing.
His mind is keen and active, and his pages are full of fine references to poets and artists who he knows also dealt with the minefield of late middle age.”
Erskine says the book takes on topics like his love life, physical changes, marriage struggles with, family relations brother and more.
“He speaks of his existential crises:
“The real question is, what does it mean to live to full effect?
How do you know if you are fulfilling your time, or wasting it?”
Fulfillment or Despair, Depression and Hopelessness
As we grow older and become senior citizens, according to Erikson’s theory, we tend to slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person.
It is during this time through retrospection that we look back to contemplate our accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.
If so we develop feelings of contentment and integrity if we believe we have led a happy, productive life.
But if we see our life as unproductive, or feel that we did not accomplish our life goals, we become dissatisfied with life and develop despair, often leading to depression and hopelessness.
Instead of contentment, we may instead develop a pervasive sense of despair when we recall a life of disappointments and unachieved goals.
This stage can occur out of the sequence when an individual feels they are near the end of their life (such as when receiving a terminal disease diagnosis).
Stage 4 Cancer
Erskine. “Well, the doctors had said “cancer, Stage 4,” so I suppose Posh was a little desperate.
Chris Erskine at the Los Angeles Times
I was there to help, and eager as a dumb puppy.
I didn’t feel responsible for her cancer, just every other challenge in her life: the plain little ranch house, the minivan with the “check-engine” light aglow, the dryer that kept scorching the shirts.
Most of all, a topsy-turvy marriage.”
Like taking on the day in and day out responsibilities of caring for an aging parent Erskine’s normal routine dramatically changed.
And he was the funny one.
Churning out humorous weekly syndicated essays about what it was like living in the Los Angeles suburbs with four children during his own middle age years.
“Bad as all that was, she had cancer, which is worse than about anything else that can ever happen.
How could I gripe about the missing tax records — or anything — when she was enduring injections, transfusions, lab tests, fatigue, nausea and hair loss?
A good day was one where they didn’t poke her with a 4-inch needle.”
Traditional retirement age used to be 65, but not so much any more.
So depending upon your situation, it may be easier to start the countdown process five years before you expect to retire.
Will it be 70 or 75 or 55?
These recommendations will still hold up.
You pick the time when you want retirement to start and work backwards to the time left.
Seriously, do this.
You know you put a lot of time and effort into planning your annual vacations.
So, put in the same time and energy into a project that protects your nest egg and well-being with piece of mind.
Erskine. “Meanwhile, my friends and I are at a more bittersweet stage, with five or so years left in our careers.
Every conversation has started to include talk of doctors.
How you and your spouse wish to spend time in retirement.
Take an inventory of your past and current interests, hobbies and activities.
One of the mentors in our Executive MBA program told me he wrote a book and set up his consulting practice, because so much golf and so much traveling didn’t cut it any more.
Estate Planning:
Make sure you have a will, an appointed power-of-attorney, health-care directives and an estate plan.
Otherwise, someone else will be calling the shots and siphoning off your hard-earned savings.
Time Left Before Retiring – Four Years
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Finances:
Start thinking about Social Security. Talk to your financial advisor. Check out all the tools and resources on the Social Security Administration’s website.
Lifestyle:
Start exploring your ideas.
Erskine. “Oh, I jest because after living here for nearly 30 years, I love L.A. and its open minds … its empty minds, and every now and then, its very brilliant minds.
In L.A., you’ll run across the smartest people you’ll ever meet, and they’ll probably be driving for Uber.
Still, it is a magnificent and inspiring place — America’s shining city on a hill.”
For active Millennials, Gen-Xers, Baby Boomers, and well everyone else living in California the high cost of living, taxes and congested living conditions in and around Los Angeles pushes “Golden Staters” like Erskine to actively consider moving.
But …
“You’d have to move to Monaco to find mountains this close to beaches, or wild animals this close to ingénues.
In addition to Claritas and City-data.com you may want to add helpful resources like: Relocationessentials.com, NeighborhoodScout.com and RetirementLiving.com.
You won’t want to be penalized for signing up for basic coverage when you were supposed to, but didn’t.
Find out what’s covered and what isn’t.
Investigate all those supplemental plans you’ll need if you want vision or dental care.
Realize that you’ll have one plan while your spouse will have another.
Time Left Before Retiring – One Year
Wait, where did the time go, right?
Lifestyle:
If you plan to start a business, draw up a detailed business plan.
Check out the 10 step process at the Small Business Administration (SBA) to get you started.
Consider all your ‘Preneurial options weighing the risks and rewards and the pros and cons before you commit your hard-earned nest egg to the vagaries of being in business for yourself.
If you want to work, check the listings at websites including RetiredBrains.com, RetirementJobs.com and SeniorJobBank.org
Finances:
Figure out how to convert your savings into a reliable stream of lifelong income.
Get a final estimate of benefits from your employer.
Don’t put it off too long or you might conveniently forget about it.
Forgetting Why You Entered the Room
Chris Erskine. “This week marks 60 laps around the sun for me.
Sixty is pretty sexy, of course.
Sixty is AARP discounts, cruise ships and cholesterol tests.
Sixty is forgetting why you entered the room, the number of that first baseman, the name of that girl you worshiped back in high school.
The whole thing started 15-plus years ago, after our sons and daughters aged out of youth sports.”
Aging Parents and Their Own Health Issues
Chris Erskine. “Eric dodged serious cancer and has rebounded well.
Social Ties and Deep Friendships
Paul had a relapse of his cancer and with gallows humor kids about a Viking funeral on a flaming raft in Jennifer Aniston’s pool.
Posh continues her fight, as does a family friend, LP, who used to coach with me long ago.
Not far from those thoughts are recollections of another great pal, Rhymer, who died five years ago.
At 51, he was just a baby.
“Focus on the good,” Rhymer always said, even in the times when we both had to squint to find the good.”
Maybe, just maybe, all you can really do is to find your own path.
With modest educations, sprawling families and blue-collar jobs, many of these residents struggle to make ends meet.
The one born between 1946, beginning nine months after World War II ended and 1964 more or less.
Erskine’s friend puts what’s different into perspective for him – like a three act screen play.
When retirement is approaching or has already taken place.
Likewise, there is very little chirpy, New Age navel-gazing to his writing.
How could I gripe about the missing tax records — or anything — when she was enduring injections, transfusions, lab tests, fatigue, nausea and hair loss?
Take a stab at answering The Big Question: 
Take an inventory of your past and current interests, hobbies and activities.
“You’d have to move to Monaco to find mountains 
Consider all your 
Figure out how to convert your savings into a reliable stream of lifelong income.
Sixty is AARP discounts, cruise ships and cholesterol tests.
