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