Young, single and working-class, these residents pursue active lifestyles amid sprawling apartment complexes, bars, convenience stores and laundromats.
Found in second-tier cities, these mobile, twentysomethings include a disproportionate number of recent college graduates who are into athletic activities, the latest technology and nightlife entertainment.
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
Country Communities
Claritas / Nielsen PRIZM estimated that country communities represented 39.6% of United States population in 2011.
“Town and Rural areas (T) have population density scores under 40.
This category includes exurbs, towns, farming communities, and a wide range of other rural areas.”
Should you include these Birds-of-a Feather (BOF) lifestyles on your Bucket List?
Let’s turn to five High Country Eagle household lifestyles at different stages of their life.
High Country Eagles, Satellite City-zens (HCESC) – Two 25-54, Mainstream Singles, 25-54 Mainstream Families, 55+, Conservative Classics Couples, 55+ Empty Nests 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.
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 9,023,807
- Median Household Income : $46,335
“The five segments in the C2 social group consist of a mix of Americans—old and young, homeowners and renters, families and singles—who’ve settled in the nation’s satellite cities.
What they share is a middle-class status, some college educations and a lifestyle heavy on leisure and recreation.
The members of City Centers tend to be big fans of home-centered activities: computer surfing, video renting, TV viewing and playing games and musical instruments.
Outside their homes, they go to movies, museums and bowling alleys at high rates.”
Where in the West will you find those five lifestyles?
- Napa, CA
- South Lake Tahoe, CA
- San Marcos, TX
- Aurora, CO
- Santa Fe, NM
Which of the following lifestyles best describes you?
24Y2C2, Up-and-Comers, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (Napa, CA)
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 1,510,327 (1.29%)
- Median Household Income: $50,556
Satellite City-zens (HCESC): “Up-and-Comers is a stopover for young, midscale singles before they marry, have families and establish more deskbound lifestyles
Found in second-tier cities, these mobile, twentysomethings include a disproportionate number of recent college graduates who are into athletic activities, the latest technology and nightlife entertainment.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
- Shopped at Ethan Allen Galleries
- Done Karate
- Read Maxim
- Watched MTV
- Drove a Nissan Xterra”
35Y2C2, Boomtown Singles, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (San Marcos, TX)
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 1,617,454 (1.38%)
- Median Household Income: $39,838
Satellite City-zens (HCESC): “Affordable housing, abundant entry-level jobs and a thriving singles scene-all have given rise to the Boomtown Singles segment in fast-growing satellite cities.
Young, single and working-class, these residents pursue active lifestyles amid sprawling apartment complexes, bars, convenience stores and laundromats.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
- Shopped at Victoria’s Secret
- Done Karate
- Read Elle
- Watched VH1
- Drove a Suzuki SX4″
34F3C2, White Picket Fences, 25-54, Families, Mainstream Families, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (Aurora, CO)
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 1,536,574 (1.31%)
- Median Household Income: $51,800
Satellite City-zens (HCESC): “Midpoint on the socioeconomic ladder, residents in White Picket Fences look a lot like the stereotypical American household of a generation ago: young, middle-class, married with children.
But the current version is characterized by modest homes and ethnic 
diversity-including a disproportionate number of Hispanics and African-Americans.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
- Ordered from BMG Music
- Rented/bought kid’s videos
- Read People en Espanol
- Watched Latin Grammy Awards
- Drove a Saturn ION”
27M2C2, Middleburg Managers, 55+, Couples, Conservative Classics, City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 2,276,009 (1.95%)
- Median Household Income: $51,769
Satellite City-zens (HCESC): “Middleburg Managers arose when empty nesters settled in satellite communities which offered a lower cost of living and more relaxed pace.
Today, segment residents tend to be middle-class and over 55 years old, with solid managerial jobs and comfortable retirements.
In their older homes, they enjoy reading, playing musical instruments, indoor gardening and refinishing furniture.”
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
- Shopped at Office Depot
- Bought books on tape
- Read VFW Magazine
- Watched Inspiration Network
- Drove Mercury Grand Marquis Flex Fuel”
41M3C2, Sunset City Blues, 55+ Cautious Couples, Empty Nests – City Centers, HCESC Satellite City-zens, High Country Eagles (Santa Fe, NM)
2011 Statistics:
- US Households: 2,083,443 (1.78%)
- Median Household Income: $39,366
Satellite City-zens (HCESC): “Scattered throughout the older neighborhoods of small cities, Sunset City Blues is a segment of lower-middle-class singles and couples who have retired or are getting closed to it.
These empty-nesters tend to own their homes but have modest educations and incomes.
They maintain a low-key lifestyle filled with newspapers and television by day, and family style restaurants at night.
Lifestyle & Media Traits:
- Ordered from QVC
- Collected coins
- Read Ladies’ Home Journal
- Watched One Life to Live
- Drove a Kia Borrego”
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?