July 9th, 2010

Family Circle’s 10 Best Towns for Families

By Michael Groysman, Marketing Intern

Family Circle has just released their new list of the 10 Best Towns for Families, 2010 using Onboard Informatics’ community, school, and points of interest expertise. This year they chose towns with affordable homes, quality schools, access to health care, green space, low crime rate, and financial stability.

In first place is Edmond, Oklahoma which has “abundant parks, miles of walking and jogging trails, and a lake teeming with bass and bluegill” and other scenic charms. Family Circle also looked at “Good Deeds” for each of the top 10 places, revealing a list of close-knit American towns.

Family Circle has been working with Onboard to find great towns for families since 2007.

Here are this year’s top towns:

1. Edmond, Oklahoma
2. Hampton Township, Pennsylvania
3. Edwardsville, Illinois
4. Windsor, Colorado
5. La Verne, California
6. Round Rock, Texas
7. Simpsonville, South Carolina
8. Meridian, Idaho
9. Bristol, Rhode Island
10. Bettendorf, Iowa

Check out the article to see what residents have to say about their hometowns.

Tags: Family Circle.

March 5th, 2010

BusinessWeek Names 2010′s Best Affordable Suburbs

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

BusinessWeek and Onboard Informatics teamed up once again to collaborate on BW’s Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010 story. BusinessWeek evaluated information provided by our content team to determine the best affordable suburb in each state as well as an overall winner with high marks across the board.

The economy in Fishers, Indiana has remained strong, earning them the top spot in this year's Best Affordable Suburbs in America.

All the suburbs on the list are towns within 25 miles of the most populated city in the state, with populations of 5,000 to 60,000, median family incomes of $51,000 to $120,000, and lower-than-average crime rates. We weighted a variety of factors including livability (short commutes, low pollution, green space), education (well-educated residents, high test scores), crime (low personal and property crime), economy (high job growth, low unemployment rate, high family income), and affordability (median household income, cost of expenditures). Affordability was most heavily weighted in the calculations.

As for exclusions, BusinessWeek decided to penalize places with bad weather, a lack of racial diversity, high divorce rates, and few children.

Our content team worked closely with BusinessWeek to create this data-driven story based on their criteria and the filters they selected to produce the most concise and accurate information possible.

Fishers, Indiana was determined to be a fantastic choice for families with its diverse housing market, safety, great schools, and unemployment rates that were almost 4% below Indiana’s average.

It’s no surprise that the extremely accessible Glasgow was named the most affordable suburb in my home state of Delaware. (Not that there were all that many towns to choose from, considering Delaware’s entire population barely edges out that of Lower Manhattan…)

See which town tops your state’s list here.

Tags: affordable towns, Best Affordable Suburbs in America, Best Places, BusinessWeek, most affordable suburbs.

November 17th, 2009

BusinessWeek’s Best Places to Raise Your Kids, 2010

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

Our second annual collaboration with BusinessWeek to find the best cities to raise kids is out today. The 2010 Best Places to Raise Your Kids list selected one town (and occasionally two runners up) from each of the 50 states for parents looking to give their kids a great education and strong community within modest financial means.

The methodology gave the greatest weight to affordability, safety, and school test scores. Towns with populations above 45,000 and median incomes between $40,000 and $125,000 were considered for the top cities list. BusinessWeek also considered the cultural grain of the communities when picking top towns – meaning diverse cities with lots of museums, parks, theaters, and other amenities were given high marks.

Our team created an index based on low crime, high test scores, diversity, population and cost of living thresholds to use as a screening method to help determine the 50 Best Places according to the additional BusinessWeek criteria.

The highest rated score was a town of 600,000 just outside of Chicago. Tinley Park, Illinois was touted by editors and residents alike for its affordability, access to Chicago, connectedness, and top notch schools.

“Most of the towns we chose are new to the list,” said real estate writer Prashant Gopal, noting a few returners to the Best Places list.

The strong reactions from readers last year prompted BusinessWeek to encourage online discussion in the story’s comment section. Have a look at the results and be sure to let us know how your state’s winner stacks up in your mind.

Tags: Best Places, Best Places to Raise Kids, BusinessWeek, community data, media services.

September 29th, 2009

America’s Best Affordable Places to Retire

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

An astounding 93% of the growth in the U.S. labor force through 2016 will be among workers over 55, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. With more Americans delaying retirement, U.S. News & World Report chose to focus on affordable destinations in the third annual Best Places to Retire list.

The 2009 Best Affordable Places to Retire, powered by Onboard Informatics demographic and economic indicators, reflects the shifting expectations of retirees. Rather than focusing on popular (and pricey) retirement hubs, U.S. News selected affordable high-value spots with great amenities. In order to make the cut, cities needed high-quality healthcare and elder-care facilities and outstanding cultural and learning programs.

The analysis didn’t stop there. The U.S. News editorial team conducted interviews with residents in the top towns to get a true picture of each city.

Tucson offers great outdoor activities and affordable housing for retiring seniors.

Realizing that retirement goals are extremely personal, the new U.S. News package also includes an interactive search tool for retirees to find towns that conform to their lifestyle needs and preferences.

The Best Places to Retire search application weighs a user’s criteria against a database of 2,000 places with populations of at least 10,000 and crime equal to or below the national average. Complete methodology is found here.

Listed alphabetically, here are the top 10 places to retire:

• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Aurora, Colorado
• Columbia, South Carolina
• Columbus, Ohio
• Eugene, Oregon
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Tucson, Arizona

The Best Affordable Places, featured in October’s U.S. News & World Report magazine, hit newsstands today.

Tags: Best Affordable Places to Retire, Best Places, community data, neighborhood data, relocation, US News.

September 18th, 2009

Top Cities for Political Junkies

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

If political involvement ranks high in your value system, you’re likely compelled to live in the company of like-minded peers to engage and organize with. In its latest community feature, U.S. News points its lens at the top 10 Cities for Political Junkies for all those who prefer C-SPAN and Gallup to ESPN and E!.

The list is based primarily on Onboard Informatics data measuring household involvement in current events and political affairs. U.S. News screened the index for cities and towns with populations of more than 50,000 and further filtered the towns using voter registration statistics. The list is hardly a relocation tool for the far ends of the political spectrum; what the editorial team uncovered in their search were patches of purple.

“Although polarization might be ubiquitous on television, in blogs, and on the radio, it does not follow that the most politically active and politically interested people live in polarized communities, interacting only with those who agree with them. When U.S. News looked for the places where residents have the greatest interest in political affairs, it wasn’t the heavily red or blue areas that popped up. Sure, there are plenty of political junkies in very liberal places like Portland, Ore., or very conservative places like small towns in Texas, but the places on our list are in more purple regions: Orange County, Calif., an area that is red relative to its deep-blue home state, or Fairfax County, Va., a county that traditionally elects Republicans but went heavily for Obama in the last presidential election.”

The slideshow feature details why places like San Ramon, CA and Brookline, MA are perfect for political gurus.

Tags: community data, relocation, US News.

September 16th, 2009

U.S. News’ Best Places for Tech Jobs

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

Using Onboard Informatics data, U.S. News & World Report introduced another set of its influential Best Places lists. The newest edition offers the Best Places for Tech Jobs for all the engineers and IT experts out there looking for a new gig.

“It’s a recession, so few things are booming and no city is exactly thriving. But within the tech industry, some cities clearly have more job opportunities than others. Although tech employment overall has suffered along with the rest of the economy, there’s been variance: High-tech manufacturing jobs have been shed more rapidly, while IT service jobs—in engineering and in software services, for instance—have fared better. And one future bright spot: Over the next three years, the federal government is projected to make 11,500 new hires in information technology jobs, according to a report by the Partnership for Public Service.”

Check out which cities made the list and how U.S. News narrowed down the initial list of 2000 cities.

Tags: Best Places, Best Places to Live, relocation, technology, technology jobs, US News.

August 28th, 2009

America’s Best Places to Find a Job 2009

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

Is the American economy rebounding or not? The most trusted media outlets are constantly debating the answer to the question on everyone’s mind in some capacity. At Onboard Informatics, we understand the key to success in analyzing the economic climate is to do so at the most granular level.

Our client U.S. News & World Report also values the evidence of comparing local economies, and has done so in their list of America’s Best Places to Find a Job 2009. Onboard’s data and algorithm powered this expansion of U.S. News’ “Best Places” series.

U.S. News & World Report's 10 Best Places to Find a Job.

U.S. News evaluated unemployment rates, job growth, and career opportunity data in over 2,000 cities before editors chose the top cities, listed alphabetically:

• Anchorage, AK
• Arlington, VA
• Columbus, OH
• Honolulu, HI
• Houston, TX
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Shreveport, LA
• Tallahassee, FL
• Wichita, KS

Be sure to read the article for the reasons why each city is a promising place to start a career. Additionally, seasoned professionals and fresh graduates alike can find the best place to work for their lifestyle and quality-of-life preferences with U.S. News’s online search tool.

Tags: Best Places, US News.

July 24th, 2009

USA Weekend’s Top Places to Retire

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

USA Weekend Magazine, in collaboration with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, released its Top Places to Retire based on Onboard Informatics data in its July 26 issue. The top cities list, aimed at young retirees, is based on recreation, weather, health resources, crime, and cost of living data provided by Onboard.

The article is based on an April Coldwell Banker study noting home purchase increases among retirees under 60 taking advantage of low home prices. The national study revealed a trend of 50-somethings leasing retirement homes early “until they are prepared to move permanently.”

USA Weekend’s top 5 markets to buy now, retire later are:

1) Helena, Montana (pop. 28,726)
2) Pensacola, Florida (pop. 54,283)
3) Creve Coeur, Missouri (pop. 16,933)
4) Traverse City, Michigan (pop. 14,339)
5) Butte-Silver Bow, Montana (pop. 31,967)

Be sure to pick up a copy of USA Weekend on newsstands this weekend.

Tags: community data, relocation, USA Weekend.

July 14th, 2009

CNN Money, Best Places to Live 2009, powered by Onboard

By Jackie Berg, Marketing Director

Which small towns in America have weathered the economic storm and continued to provide residents with affordable living, great educations, low crime and more? CNN Money has outlined the top 100 in the 2009 Best Places to Live list powered by Onboard Informatics data.

The top 100 list accompanies a set of interactive community features to show readers the best places to find rich singles, six-figure towns, the most affordable towns and more. Onboard’s employment-related data powered special content for financially-minded readers, a special focus of this year’s Best Places list.

World class trails, weekly street fairs, and great weather helped Louisville, CO claim this year's #1 spot.

Our data team worked closely with CNN to provide housing, financial, quality of life and other data for the filters they selected to produce the most concise and accurate information possible. The piece also included data from our exclusive partner GreatSchools, the leading provider of school information and reviews.

Be sure to check out some of the other additions to the basic functions of the features and top 100 list for 2009:

• Expanded interactivity beyond the typical comment section with an integrated Facebook application for residents to share thoughts and become fans of their favorite towns.
• The “Find Your Best Places” applications, allowing users to factor in lifestyle preferences into a customized list of suitable small towns to consider packing up to. Even if relocation is not in your near future, it can’t hurt to take a look at which towns fit the bill. (I just may be headed to Cambridge, MA for a long weekend!)

Onboard works closely with each of our media clients to develop custom solutions that drive readership. For more information on our media solutions, please contact us at 646.747.4273 or info@onboardinformatics.com.

Tags: Best Places to Live, CNN Money, community data, relocation.

March 11th, 2009

All the Best Places to Live, Work, Eat, Procreate, and Kiss Life Goodbye

By Colleen Staunton, Product Manager

I’m a huge believer in quality of life and the idea of ‘work to live’ not ‘live to work’ which is hard to believe considering I live in the roughest city in the U.S. but I guess that would fall under work hard, play hard. 

Anways, I know this is not a new way of thinking and I understand in times like these many don’t have the luxury or time to focus on maintaining a high quality of  life…. but life goes on.  Regardless of the economy people are still having  kids, getting married, relocating for work, moving closer to their elderly parents, etc. and all of them want to find a home that fits their needs and lifestyle. 

Lifestyle, whether you’re a young professional, a mother with three kids, or a retiree, it’s important to find that perfect place to fit that phase and time in your life. 

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t enjoy a “Best Places to…” story, so I’ve taken some of my favorites from this year and last to share a variety of places that one can fulfill a person’s lifestyle and hopefully get us all thinking more about how and where we want to live and not merely survive.

Best Places to Live

CNNMoney.com, Best Places to Live 2008

And the winners are…

Plentiful jobs, excellent schools, affordable housing – America’s best small cities have all that and more. See the top 100 best places to live – including detailed city profiles, homes for sale and million-dollar homes. More

1. Plymouth, MN

2. Fort Collins, CO

3. Naperville, IL

4. Irvine, CA

5. Franklin Township, NJ

• See the top 100

6. Norman, OK

7. Round Rock, TX

8. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD

9. Overland Park, KS

10. Fishers, IN

Best Places to Work

FORTUNE, 100 Best Companies to Work For 2009

And the winners are…

Even in this economy, some companies are going out of their way to please employees. This year, there’s a new no. 1, as Google slips to no. 4. See detailed profiles of the top 100 employers, including interactive maps, key perks, contact information, and more.

• See the top 100

 

Best Places to Eat

Gayot.com, The Restaurant Issue, TOP 40 Restaurants in the U.S.

These restaurants have influenced the dining scene in big cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco with daring, elegant, exciting and soothe-the-soul concepts. Smaller towns, too, whether on secluded Atlantic shores or California’s golden hills, have benefited by having one of these top-rated restaurants in their midst. The top restaurants not only share their spirit, but ignite our intelligence, imagination, and desire for more truly exceptional dining experiences.

Best Places to Have Kids

BusinessWeek, The Best Place to Raise your Kids 2009

Kid-Friendly and Cost-Friendly

A Chicago suburb beats out thousands of other communities around the U.S. as the best, most affordable place to raise kids

Mount Prospect, Ill., is a quiet Chicago suburb with a population of just over 56,000. It is a tight-knit town where over the past eight years Prospect High School’s football team won three state championships, its Marching Knights picked up their 26th straight grand champion title at the annual state marching band festival, and just last month the school itself ranked 12th among all state high schools. Now the town is also the winner of Businessweek‘s second annual roundup of the Best Places in America to Raise Kids.

Best Places to Retire

CNNMoney.com, Best Places to Retire

Beaufort, SC is by far my favorite of this bunch.  I am partial due to my entire upbringing being in South Carolina, from beautiful horse country of Aiken, to the home of the Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, and my favorite, the beaches of Charleston.  Now living in New York (which I love and while I am mentally ready to retire, I am no where near financially) I can appreciate the slow pace and beauty of the coastline and quaint towns.

 6 Terrific towns, all on the water

Many baby boomers dream of retiring somewhere by the water. These half-dozen places are on a lake, a river or an ocean – yet won’t sink your retirement budget. More

• Dunedin, FL
• Sequim, WA
• St. Joseph, MI
• Beaufort, SC
• Durango, CO
• Marble Falls, TX

Onboard Informatics had the pleasure of working with many media companies to produce data-driven stories such as the ones above.  Of these, Onboard provided the data for CNNMoney’s Best Places to Liveand BusinessWeeks’s Best Places to Raise Kids.

Check out some of our other media client’s lifestyle stories… BusinessWeek’s  Best Affordable Suburbs in the U.S. 2009, Progressive Farmer, Five Safest Places to Live in Rural America and  Best Places to Raise Farm Kids.

For more information on how we partner with media and publishing companies please contact us at 646.747.4273 or info@onboardinformatics.com.

Tags: Best Places to Live, Business Week, CNNMoney, Fortune, Gayot, Lifestyle, Onboard Informatics, Real Estate.