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66 Neighborhood Lifestyles Ranked by Wealth and Status

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:

Status and Affluence Rankings

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.

Photo: Visual Hunt

01M1S1, Upper Crust, 45+, Couples, Affluent Empty-Nests, Elite Suburbs, – WIAE Affluently Elite, Wealthy Influentials (Half Moon Bay, CA)

02F1S1, Blue Blood Estates, 45+ Families, Elite Suburbs, WIAE Affluently Elite, Wealthy Influentials (West Linn, OR)

03Y1S1, Movers & Shakers,  30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Elite Suburbs, WIAE Affluently Elite, Wealthy Influentials (Scottsdale, AZ)

04Y2U1, Young Digerati, 25 – 54, Mainstream Singles, Urban Uptown, WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (Chandler, AZ)

05F1T1, Country Squires, 45+, Family, Accumulated Wealth, Landed Gentry, WRPR Premier Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Lake Arrowhead, CA)

06F1S1, Winner’s Circle, 45+, Families, Accumulated Wealth, Elite Suburbs, WIAE Affluently Elite , Wealthy Influentials (Alta, UT)

07M1U1, Money & Brains, 45+, Couples, Affluent Empty Nests, Urban Uptown, WIAE Affluently Elite, Wealthy Influentials (Seal Beach, CA)

08Y1S2, ExecutiveSuites, 30-44,  Couples, Midlife Success, Affluentials, WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials (Mission Viejo, CA)

09M1T1, Big Fish Small Pond, 45+, Couples, Affluent Empty Nests, Accumulated Wealth, Landed Gentry WRPR Premier Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Mammoth Lakes, CA)

10M1C1, Second City Elite, 45+, Couples, Affluent Empty Nests, Second City Society, WIDM Digitally Mobiles, Wealthy Influentials  (Ft. Myers, FL)

Photo: Stephen G. Howard

11Y1T1, God’s Country, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Landed Gentry, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Boulder, CO)

12Y1C1, Brite Lites Lil City, 30-44, Couples, Midlife, Second City Society, WIDM Digitally Mobiles, Wealthy Influentials   (Santa Fe, NM)

13F2C1, Upward Bound, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Second City Society, WIDM Digitally Mobiles, Wealthy Influentials  (Louisville, CO)

14M2S2, NewEmptyNests, 55+, Couples, Conservative Classics, Affluentials, WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials (Indian Wells, CA)

15M2S2, Patios & Pools, 55+, Couples, Empty Nests, Conservative Classics, Affluentials, WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials (Mukilteo, WA)

16Y2U1, Bohemian Mix, 25 – 54, Mainstream Singles, Urban Uptown, WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (Huntington Beach, CA)

17F2S2, Beltway Boomers, 35-54, Families, Young Accumulators, Suburbs, Affluentials,  WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials  (Santa Cruz, CA)

18F2S2, Kids & Cul-de-Sacs, 35-54, Families, Young Accumulators, Suburbs, Affluentials,  WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials  (Mukilteo, WA)

19Y1S2, Home Sweet Home, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Suburbs, Affluentials, WIES Exurb Society, Wealthy Influentials  (Irvine, CA)

20F2T1, Fast-Track Families, 35-54, Families, Young Accumulators, Landed Gentry, WRPR Premier Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Cornish, NH)

Summer Outdoors

21M2S3, Gray Power, 55+, Couples, Conservative Classics,  Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Laguna Hills, CA)

22Y2S3, Young Influentials, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Tempe, AZ)

23Y2T2, Greenbelt Sports, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Aspen, CO)

24Y2C2, Up-and-Comers, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (Napa, CA)

25Y1T1, Country Casuals, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Landed Gentry, WRPR Premier Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Westwood, CA)

26M2U1, The Cosmopolitans, 55+, Couples,  Conservative Classics, Urban Uptown, WIDM Digitally Mobiles, Wealthy Influentials  (Huntington Beach, CA)

27M2C2, Middleburg Managers, 55+, Couples,  Conservative Classics, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles   (South Lake Tahoe, CA)

28M2T2, Traditional Times, Empty Nests, 55+, Couples, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (St. Helena, CA)

29F2U1, American Dreams, 35-54, Families, Young Accumulators, Urban Uptown, WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (Naples, CA)

30Y1S3, Suburban Sprawl, 30-44, Singles, Midlife, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (none in knowledge bank)

Photo: Visual Hunt

31Y2U2, Urban Achievers, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Midtown Mix – WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (Tempe, AZ)

32F3T2, New Homesteaders, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (New Braunfels, TX)

33F3T2, Big Sky Families, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Park City, UT)

34F3C2, White Picket Fences, 25-54, Mainstream Families, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles  (Aurora, CO)

35Y2C2, Boomtown Singles, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles  (San Marcos, TX)

36F3S3, Blue-Chip Blues, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries  (Santa Cruz, CA)

37Y1T2, Mayberry-ville, 25-54, Families, Couples, Midlife Success, Country Comfort, WRMR Maturing Resorts, Wireless Resorters (Truckee, CA)

38M3T3, Simple Pleasures, 55+, Couples,  Cautious Couples, Middle America, WRRS Resort Suburbans, Wireless Resorters (Idyllwild, CA)

39M3S3, Domestic Duos , 55+, Couples, Cautious Couples, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Lakewood, CO)

40M3U2, Close-In Couples, 55+, Couples,  Cautious Couples, Midtown Mix – WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (La Mirada, CA)

Photo: Visual Hunt

41M3C2, Sunset City Blues, 55+, Couples, Cautious Couples, Empty Nests – City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles  (Santa Fe, NM)

42Y3T3, Red, White & Blues, 20-29, Striving Singles, Middle America, WRRS Resort Suburbans, Wireless Resorters (Healdsburg, CA)

43M3T3, Heartlanders, 55+, Couples,  Cautious Couples, Middle America – WRRS Resort Suburbans, Wireless Resorters  (Prescott. AZ)

44Y3S4, New Beginnings, 20-29, Striving Singles,Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries (Santa Cruz, CA)

45Y3T3, Blue Highways, 20-29, Striving Singles, Middle America HCERC Rural Cowboy, High Country Eagles (Dillon, CO)

46M3S4, Old Glories, 55+, Couples,  Cautious Couples, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries  (none in knowledge bank)

47Y3C3, City Startups, 20-29, Striving Singles, Striving Singles, Micro-City Blues – HCESTB Small Town Borders, High Country Eagles (Eureka, CA)

48Y3T4, Young and Rustic, 20-29, Striving Singles, Rustic Living, WRDE Distant Exurbans, Wireless Resorters (ParkCity, UT)

49M3S4, American Classics, 55+, Couples, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries  (Surprise, AZ)

50F3T3, Kid Country, USA, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Middle America – HCERC Rural Cowboy, High Country Eagles  (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

Photo: Visual Hunt

51F3T3, Shotguns & Pickups, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Middle America, HCERC Rural Cowboy, High Country Eagles  (Surprise, AZ)

52F3S4, Suburban Pioneers, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries  (Boulder, CO)

53Y3C3,  Mobility Blues, 20-29, Striving Singles, Micro-City Blues – HCESTB Small Town Borders, High Country Eagles (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

54F3U2, Multi-Culti Mosaic, 25-54,  Mainstream Families, Midtown Mix, WIPL Portfolio Locals, Wealthy Influentials (Lakewood, CO)

55M4T4, Golden Ponds, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Couples, Rustic Living, WRDE Distant Exurbans, Wireless Resorters  (Elgin, AZ)

56Y3T4, Crossroads Villagers, 20-29, Striving Singles,Rustic Living, WRDE Distant Exurbans, Wireless Resorters  (Telluride, CO)

57M4T4, Old Milltown, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles (Taos, NM)

58M4T4, Back Country Folks, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles  (Whitefish, MT)

59M4U3, Urban Elders, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Long Beach, CA)

60M4C3, Park Bench Seniors, 65+Sustaining Seniors,  Micro-City Blues – HCESTB Small Town Borders, High Country Eagles  (Palm Desert, CA)

Photo: Visual Hunt

61M4U3, City Roots, 65+Sustaining Seniors, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Seal Beach, CA)

62M4C3, Hometown Retired , 65+Sustaining Seniors, Second Tier Cities, Micro-City Blues, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries (Eureka, CA)

63F4C3, Family Thrifts, 20-44, Sustaining Families, Second Tier Cities, Micro-City Blues, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries  (Ukiah, CA)

64F4T4, Bedrock America, 20-44, Sustaining Families, Town and Country, Rustic Living, HCERE Rustic Eagles, High Country Eagles  (Palm Springs, CA) 

65F4U3, Big City Blues, 20-44, Sustaining Families, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Long Beach, CA)

66F4U3, Low-Rise Living, 20-44, Sustaining Families,Urban Cores, Urban, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries  (Highland Park, CA)

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.

If you plan to relocate, start visiting communities on your short bucket list.

Don’t have a short list yet?

Steps:

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?

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Which Inner Suburban, Permanently Temporary Lifestyles Appeal to You?

Filled with young, single adults, New Beginnings is a magnet for adults in transition.

Photo: Visual Hunt
Many of the residents are twentysomething singles and couples just starting out on their career paths who live in communities attractive to older neighbors who may be starting over after recent divorces or job losses. 

 

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

Suburbs

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?

Permanent Temporaries, Start Overs (PTSO) – Two 55+ year old Couples, a 20-29 year old Single and a 25-54 year old  Family life stages.

Statistics:

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 5,854,297
  • Median Household Income : $27,116

According to Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM, “The four segments in the Inner Suburbs social group are concentrated in the inner-ring suburbs of major metros—areas where residents tend to be high school educated, unmarried and lower-middle class.

Watching the People’s Court. Photo: Visual Hunt

One of the least affluent social groups, U3 has a high concentration of Hispanics and African-Americans, and surveys indicate a fondness for both ethnic and mainstream media and products. 

Among the group’s preferences: TV news and daytime programming, Spanish and black radio, telephony services and pagers, cheap fast food and high-end department stores.”

Google Maps: Boulder, CO

Where in the West will you find those three lifestyles?

We’ve identified households in Arizona, California and Colorado:

  • Surprise, AZ
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • Boulder, CO

Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?

44Y3S4, New Beginnings, 20-29, Singles, Striving Singles, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries (Santa Cruz, CA)

“Filled with young, single adults, New Beginnings is a magnet for adults in transition.

Start Over (PTSO) :  “Many of the residents are twentysomething singles and couples just starting out on their career paths who live in communities attractive to older neighbors who may be starting over after recent divorces or job losses.  

Ethnically diverse-with nearly half its residents Hispanic, Asian or African-American-New Beginnings households tend to have the modest living standards typical of transient apartment dwellers.”

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,837,994 (1.57%)
  • Median Household Income: $31,226

Here are some examples from Claritas Lifestyle & Media Traits. They:

  • Shopped at Express
  • Read comic books
  • Read Vibe
  • Watched Maury
  • Owned a Kia Spectra”

52F3S4, Suburban Pioneers, 25-54, Families, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries (Boulder, CO)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,240,482 (1.06%)
  • Median Household Income: $33,658

Start Overs (PTSO):  “Suburban Pioneers represents one of the nation’s eclectic lifestyles, a mix of young singles, recently divorced and single parents who have moved into older, inner-ring suburbs.

They live in aging homes and garden-style apartment buildings, where the jobs are blue-collar and the money is tight. 

But what unites these residents-a diverse mix of whites, Hispanics and African-Americans is a working-class sensibility and an appreciation for their off-the-beaten track neighborhoods.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at Lane Bryant
  • Bought mail order toys
  • Read OK! Magazine
  • Watched Sabado Gigante
  • Drove Dodge Charger”

46M3S4, Old Glories, 55+, Cautious Couples, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries (none in Knowledge Bank)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,155,944 (0.99%)
  • Median Household Income: $31,162

Start Overs (PTSO): “Old Glories are the nation’s downscale suburban retirees, Americans aging in place in older apartment complexes.

These racially mixed households often contain widows and widowers living on fixed incomes, and they tend to lead home-centered lifestyles.

Photo: Visual Hunt

They’re among the nation’s most ardent television fans, watching game shows, soaps, talk shows and newsmagazines at high rates.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Purchased Clothing In-Home
  • Played bingo
  • Read Saturday Evening Post
  • Watched Jeopardy!
  • Drove a Kia Rio”

49M3S4, American Classics, 55+, Cautious Couples, Suburbs, Inner Suburbs, PTSO Start Overs, Permanent Temporaries (Surprise, AZ)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,211,533 (1.04%)
  • Median Household Income: $34,680

Start Overs (PTSO): “They may be older, lower-middle class and retired, but the residents of American Classics are still living the American Dream of home ownership.

Photo: Visual Hunt

Few segments rank higher in their percentage of home owners, and that fact alone reflects a more comfortable lifestyle for these predominantly white singles and couples with deep ties.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Ordered from Reader’s Digest
  • Gambled in Atlantic City, NJ
  • Read American Woodworker
  • Watched The Dr. Phil Show
  • Drove a Chevrolet Monte Carlo”

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.

If you plan to relocate, start visiting communities on your short bucket list.

Don’t have a short list yet?

Steps:

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?

Posted on

Which Urban or Small City, Permanently Temporary Lifestyles Appeal to You?

Typically, the commercial base of Mom-and-Pop stores is struggling and in need of a renaissance.

 

Photo: Visual Hunt
The small-city cousins of inner-city districts, Family Thrifts contain young, ethnically diverse parents who have lots of children and work entry-level service jobs.

 

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 Small City Cores

Urban Centers

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) lifestyles on your Bucket List?

Permanent Temporaries, The Cutters (PTTC): One 20-44  year old Sustaining Family household.

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.

Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM contrasts Urban Uptown with  Urban Downtown households with income at the bottom of the scale.

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 5,854,297
  • Median Household Income : $27,116
    Photo: Visual Hunt

“Urban Cores segments are characterized by relatively modest incomes, educations and rental apartments, but affordable housing is part of the allure for the group’s young singles and aging retirees. 

One of the least affluent social groups, U3 has a high concentration of Hispanics and African-Americans, and surveys indicate a fondness for both ethnic and mainstream media and products. 

Among the group’s preferences: TV news and daytime programming, Spanish and black radio, telephony services and pagers, cheap fast food and high-end department stores.”

Google Maps: Highland Park, CA

Where in the West will you find those three lifestyles?

We’ve identified one in Southern California:

  • Highland Park, CA

How well does the following lifestyle describe you?

66F4U3, Low-Rise Living, 20-44, Families, Sustaining Families, Urban Cores, Urban, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries (Highland Park, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,693,512 (1.45%)
  • Median Household Income: $24,378

In 2011 Claritas described The Cutters (PTTC) second household lifestyle:

Photo: Visual Hunt

“The most economically challenged urban segment, Low-Rise Living is known as a transient world for young, ethnically diverse singles and single parents.  

Home values are low-about half the national average-and even then less than a quarter of residents can afford to own real estate.

Typically, the commercial base of Mom-and-Pop stores is struggling and in need of a renaissance.”

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Purchased in-home cosmetics 
  • Traveled domestically by bus
  • Read Ebony
  • Watched BET
  • Drove a Nissan Pathfinder”

Small City Cores

Let’s turn to the neighborhoods where we’ll find the remaining Permanent Temporaries living in less dense metropolitan areas.:

2011 Statistics:

18.3% of United States population.

Photo: Visual Hunt

Second Tier Cities are less densely populated than urban areas, with population density scores between 40 and 85.

They are surrounded by areas of moderate or low population density, so that population density usually decreases on all sides of a second city. 

They can be independent cities or satellites cities in major metro areas.

Should you include these Birds-of-a Feather (BOF) lifestyles on your Bucket List?

Permanent Temporaries, The Cutters (PTTC) – 20-44 year old Sustaining Families and 65+ year old Sustaining Seniors.

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 7,935,137
  • Median Household Income : $27,604

    Wikipedia: “Breaking Away” Film

“Micro-City Blues was created via the predominantly downscale residents living in the affordable housing found throughout the nation’s smaller cities.

A diverse social group, these segments contain a mix of old and young, singles and widowers, whites, African-Americans and Hispanics. 

Most of the workers hold blue-collar jobs—hence the name—and their marketplace behaviors reflect the segments’ varied lifestyles. 

This is one of the few social groups where consumers have a high index for video games and bingo, aerobic exercise and fishing, BET and the Country Music Network.”

Google Maps: Eureka, CA

Where in the West will you find those two lifestyles?

We’ve identified two sustaining lifestyles in California:

  • Ukiah, CA
  • Eureka, CA

 

Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?

63F4C3, Family Thrifts, 20-44, Families, Sustaining Families, Second Tier Cities, Micro-City Blues, PTTC The Cutters, Permanent Temporaries (Ukiah, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 2,134,566 (1.83%)
  • Median Household Income: $30,290

In 2011 Claritas described The Cutters (PTTC) household lifestyles:

“The small-city cousins of inner-city districts, Family Thrifts contain young, ethnically diverse parents who have lots of children and work entry-level service jobs.

In these apartment-filled neighborhoods, visitors find the streets jam-packed with babies and toddlers, tricycles and basketball hoops, Daewoos and Hyundais.”

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at Walgreen
  • Bought large baby dolls
  • Read Life & Style
  • Watched Noticiero Univision
  • Drove Suzuki Cars“

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.

If you plan to relocate, start visiting communities on your short bucket list.

Don’t have a short list yet?

Steps:

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?

Posted on

Which Downtown Urban, Permanently Temporary Lifestyles Appeal to You?

They include both the downtowns of major cities and surrounding neighborhoods.

 

Photo: Visual Hunt
Urban Cores segments are characterized by relatively modest incomes, educations and rental apartments, but affordable housing is part of the allure for the group’s young singles and aging retirees.

 

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 

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) lifestyles on your Bucket List?

Let’s consider three lifestyle profiles at  opposite ends of the age spectrum:

Permanent Temporaries, Urban Trapped (PTUT) – Three household lifestyles: one 20-44 year old Sustaining Families and two 65+-year-old Sustaining Seniors.

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.

Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM contrasts Urban Uptown with  Urban Downtown households with income at the bottom of the scale.

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 5,854,297
  • Median Household Income : $27,116

    Photo: Visual Hunt

“Urban Cores segments are characterized by relatively modest incomes, educations and rental apartments, but affordable housing is part of the allure for the group’s young singles and aging retirees. 

One of the least affluent social groups, U3 has a high concentration of Hispanics and African-Americans, and surveys indicate a fondness for both ethnic and mainstream media and products. 

Among the group’s preferences: TV news and daytime programming, Spanish and black radio, telephony services and pagers, cheap fast food and high-end department stores.”

Where in the West will you find those three lifestyles?

Google Maps

We’ve identified two in one community and one in a neighboring Southern California downtown area:

  • Seal Beach, CA
  • Long Beach, CA

Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?

65F4U3, Big City Blues, 20-44, Families, Sustaining Families, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Long Beach, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,301,418 (1.11%)
  • Median Household Income: $31,429

In 2011 Claritas described these Urban Trapped (PTUT ) household lifestyles:

“With a population that’s 50 percent Latino, Big City Blues has the highest concentration of Hispanic Americans in the nation. 

Densely Populated Urban Neighborhoods

But it’s also the multi-ethnic address for downscale Asian and African-American households occupying older inner-city apartments. 

Concentrated in a handful of major metros, these young singles and single-parent families face enormous challenges: low incomes, uncertain jobs and modest educations.

More than 40 percent haven’t finished high school.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at The Gap
  • Gone to movies
  • Read Ser Padres
  • Watched El Gordo Y La Flaca
  • Drove Toyota Yaris”

59M4U3, Urban Elders, 65+, Sustaining Seniors, Urban Cores, Urban, PTUT Urban Trapped, Permanent Temporaries (Long Beach, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,532,998 (1.31%)
  • Median Household Income: $24,864

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”

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″

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.

If you plan to relocate, start visiting communities on your short bucket list.

Don’t have a short list yet?

Steps:

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?

Posted on

Which Suburban, Permanently Temporary Lifestyles Appeal to You?

Having recently left college dorms, they now live in apartment complexes surrounded by ball fields, health clubs, and casual-dining restaurants.

 

Photo: Visual Hunt
The steady rise of older, healthier Americans over the past decade has produced one important by-product: middle-class, home-owning suburbanites who are aging in place rather than moving to retirement communities.

 

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

Suburbs

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?

Permanent Temporaries, Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM) – Choose from a mix of 25-54 year old Mainstream Singles; 25-54 year old Mainstream Families; 30-44 year old Midlife Singles;  55+ year old Cautious Couples, or 55+ year old Classic 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.

“These five segments that comprise Middleburbs share a middle-class, suburban perspective, but there the similarity ends. 

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 7,192,186
  • Median Household Income : $50,281

“Two groups are filled with very young residents, two are filled with seniors and one is middle-aged. 

Photo: Visual Hunt

In addition, S3 includes a mix of both, homeowners and renters as well as high school graduates and college alums. 

With good jobs and money in their jeans, the members of Middleburbs tend to have plenty of discretionary income to visit nightclubs and casual-dining restaurants, shop at midscale department stores, buy dance and easy listening CDs by the dozen and travel across the U.S. and Canada”

Southwest United States – Wikitravel

Where in the West will you find those three lifestyles?

We’ve identified one in Arizona, two in California and one in Colorado:

  • Tempe, AZ
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • Laguna Hills, CA
  • Lakewood, CO

Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?

22Y2S3, Young Influentials, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Tempe, AZ)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,712,614 (1.47%)
  • Median Household Income: $49,182

Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM): “Once known as the home of the nation’s yuppies, Young Influentials reflects the fading glow of acquisitive yuppiedom. 

Today, the segment is a common address for younger, middle-class singles and couples who are more preoccupied with balancing work and leisure pursuits. 

Photo: Visual Hunt

Having recently left college dorms, they now live in apartment complexes surrounded by ball fields, health clubs, and casual-dining restaurants.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Ordered from orbitz.com
  • Attended NBA games
  • Read Entrepreneur
  • Watched Family Guy
  • Drove a Subaru Outback”

36F3S3, Blue-Chip Blues, 25-54, Mainstream Families, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries  (Santa Cruz, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,458,594 (1.25%)
  • Median Household Income: $50,667

Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM):  Blue-Chip Blues is known as a comfortable lifestyle for young, sprawling families with well-paying blue-collar jobs. 

Ethnically diverse-with a significant presence of Hispanics and African-Americans-the segment’s aging neighborhoods feature compact, modestly priced homes surrounded by commercial centers that cater to child-filled households

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at Marshalls
  • Bought fashion dolls
  • Read Baby Talk
  • Watched Univision
  • Drove a Mitsubishi Lancer”

30Y1S3, Suburban Sprawl, 30-44, Singles Midlife, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers (none in knowledge bank)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,529,350 (1.31%)
  • Median Household Income: $50,584

Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM):  “Suburban Sprawl is an unusual American lifestyle: a collection of midscale, middle-aged singles and couples living in the heart of suburbia. 

Typically members of the Baby Boom generation, they hold decent jobs, own older homes and condos, and pursue cocooning versions of the American Dream.

Among their favorite activities are jogging on treadmills, playing trivia games and renting videos.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at FedEx Kinkos
  • Sung karaoke
  • Read Cycle World
  • Watched Scrubs
  • Drove a Mazda 6″

21M2S3, Gray Power, 55+, Conservative Classics, Couples, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM, Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Laguna Hills, CA)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,093,066 (0.94%)
  • Median Household Income: $52,784

Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM): “The steady rise of older, healthier Americans over the past decade has produced one important by-product: middle-class, home-owning suburbanites who are aging in place rather than moving to retirement communities.

Photo: Visual Pursuit

Gray Power reflects this trend, a segment of older, midscale singles and couples who live in quiet comfort.

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at Ace Hardware
  • Belonged to a veterans club
  • Read Audubon
  • Watched Masterpiece Theatre
  • Drove a Buick Lucerne”

39M3S3, Domestic Duos, 55+, Couples, Cautious Couples, Suburbs, Middleburbs, PTIMM Interim Middle Managers, Permanent Temporaries (Lakewood, CO)

2011 Statistics:

  • US Households: 1,398,562 (1.20%)
  • Median Household Income: $49,261

Interim Middle Managers (PTIMM): “Domestic Duos represents a middle-class mix of mainly over 55 singles and married couples living in older suburban homes.

Photo: Visual Hunt

With their high-school educations and fixed incomes, segment residents maintain an easy-going lifestyle.

Residents like to socialize by going bowling, seeing a play, meeting at the local fraternal order or going out to eat

Lifestyle & Media Traits:

  • Shopped at Kohl’s
  • Cruised on Norwegian
  • Read Smithsonian
  • Watched Live from Lincoln Center
  • Drove a Chevrolet Impala”

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.

If you plan to relocate, start visiting communities on your short bucket list.

Don’t have a short list yet?

Steps:

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?