Editorial

Guides: Where America Lives


Taxes

States With No Capital Gains Tax: The Full List

Nine states charge zero capital gains tax at the state level, meaning every dollar you make from selling stocks, real estate, or a business stays intact from a state tax perspective. Where you live when you sell matters enormously. Here is the complete list for 2026, with cost-of-living context to help you compare.

May 7, 2026

Lifestyle

Texas Hippie Hollow: America's Largest Public Nude Park

Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis is the only legally recognized clothing-optional public park in Texas and the largest of its kind in the United States. Located about 30 minutes northwest of Austin, it draws tens of thousands of visitors annually to its rocky shoreline. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

May 7, 2026

Relocation

Cheapest States to Buy a House Right Now

West Virginia's median home price sits around $148,000, roughly one-fifth of what buyers pay in California. If you're priced out of your current market, these ten states offer the lowest entry points for homeownership in 2026.

May 6, 2026

Relocation

Minimum Wage vs. Cost of Living: Which States Are Livable?

The federal minimum wage still sits at $7.25 an hour, but the national living wage for a family of four has climbed to $68,808 a year. That gap is not theoretical. It determines whether a full-time worker can pay rent, buy groceries, and keep the lights on.

May 5, 2026

Lifestyle

Best States for Veterans Benefits and Services

Where you live after service can be worth tens of thousands of dollars a year in tax breaks, housing credits, and healthcare access. This data-driven breakdown ranks the states that deliver the most for veterans in 2026, from property tax exemptions to disability income exclusions.

May 5, 2026

Montana Has More Breweries Per Person Than Anywhere Else
Lifestyle

Montana Has More Breweries Per Person Than Anywhere Else

Montana leads the country in craft breweries per capita, with roughly 12.8 per 100,000 adults over 21, as of late 2025 data. That density reflects something deeper about the state's culture, economy, and regulatory environment. Here's what the numbers actually show.

May 5, 2026

Relocation

Where Are New York Residents Moving in 2026?

New Yorkers are leaving at a pace that has reshaped migration maps across the country. Florida and Texas still lead the list, but newer destinations like Tennessee and the Carolinas are absorbing a growing share of the exodus. Here is where the data points in 2026.

May 4, 2026

Lifestyle

Internet and Broadband Costs by State

Your monthly internet bill varies by as much as $60 depending on which state you live in, and speed gaps between states are just as dramatic. Maryland leads the country in average download speeds while rural states in the South and Plains still struggle to clear 25 Mbps in many counties. Here is what the data actually shows.

May 4, 2026

Relocation

Where Are California Retirees Moving?

California retirees are leaving at record pace, and the destination data tells a clear story. Tax savings, lower housing costs, and friendlier inheritance rules are driving the shift. Here is where they are going and why the numbers make sense.

May 3, 2026

Lifestyle

New Orleans Live Music: Why the City Never Sleeps

New Orleans hosts more live music per square mile than any other American city, with over 300 venues operating on any given night. Jazz Fest 2026 drew an estimated 475,000 attendees across two weekends, cementing the city's global reputation. Here is what makes the scene tick, and what it costs to be part of it year-round.

May 3, 2026

Relocation

Best States for Digital Nomads in 2026

Remote workers now make up nearly 20% of the U.S. workforce, and where you plant your tax residency can mean a difference of $15,000 or more per year. These are the states that actually make financial sense for digital nomads in 2026.

May 2, 2026

Lifestyle

Healthcare Out-of-Pocket Costs by State

The average American now pays $752 per month just for a Silver plan premium, up 21% from last year. But premiums are only part of the story. Where you live determines how much you actually spend when you get sick.

May 2, 2026

Relocation

Best States for Families With Young Children

Where you live determines how much of your paycheck goes to child care, how safe your kids' schools are, and what tax credits you can claim. These states consistently rank at the top for families raising young children in 2026.

May 1, 2026

Lifestyle

California Nude Beaches: Black's Beach and Beyond

California has exactly one officially recognized nude beach, and getting there requires a steep cliff hike. Here's what you need to know about Black's Beach, clothing-optional spots up the coast, and the legal reality of public nudity in California.

May 1, 2026

Portland Oregon's Craft Beer Scene: Why It Tops Every List
Lifestyle

Portland Oregon's Craft Beer Scene: Why It Tops Every List

Portland has over 70 active breweries packed into a single metro area, earning its 'Beervana' nickname through decades of serious brewing culture. New names like Tiny Giants Brewing and Spotlight Brewing are joining veterans like Deschutes and 10 Barrel in 2026. Here is what makes Portland's beer scene genuinely different from every other city claiming the craft beer crown.

May 1, 2026

Relocation

Childcare Costs by State: The Hidden Tax on Young Families

Center-based infant care costs $25,480 per year in Washington D.C. and just $5,783 in Kansas. That $19,697 gap determines whether a second income is worth having, and it shapes where young families can actually afford to live.

Apr 30, 2026

Taxes

Best States for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Where you incorporate and operate your business can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career. These states consistently deliver the lowest tax burden, friendliest LLC rules, and strongest overall business climates for entrepreneurs in 2026.

Apr 30, 2026

Relocation

Best States for Military Retirees in 2026

Military retirement pay averages over $30,000 a year for a 20-year E7, and where you retire determines how much of that you actually keep. Some states tax none of it. Others take thousands off the top. Here is where your benefits go furthest.

Apr 29, 2026

Lifestyle

Summerfest to Coachella: The Best Music Festivals by State

America's best music festivals aren't evenly distributed. From Wisconsin's Summerfest drawing 800,000 attendees to California's Coachella selling out in minutes, where you live shapes what you hear live. Here's the definitive state-by-state breakdown for 2026.

Apr 29, 2026

Relocation

Car Insurance by State: The Full Rate Breakdown

Car insurance costs vary by more than $250 per month depending on where you live. Nevada drivers pay an average of $335 per month for full coverage, while Vermont drivers pay closer to $100. Where you park your car may matter as much as how you drive it.

Apr 28, 2026

Taxes

Washington vs. Oregon: The Pacific Northwest Decision

Washington has no income tax. Oregon has no sales tax. Those two facts define one of the most interesting state-versus-state comparisons in the country, and the right answer depends entirely on how you earn and spend your money.

Apr 28, 2026

Relocation

Best States to Retire With $2 Million

A $2 million retirement portfolio sounds like financial freedom, but the state you choose can cost you $300,000 or more over a 20-year retirement. Taxes on investment income, Social Security, and estates vary wildly by state. Here are the best places to make that money last.

Apr 28, 2026

Relocation

Colorado vs. Utah: Where Should You Actually Live?

Colorado and Utah look similar on paper, but the tax and cost-of-living gap between them is real and measurable. Utah's flat 4.65% income tax beats Colorado's 4.4% rate on paper, but housing and overall costs tell a different story. Here's what the numbers actually say.

Apr 27, 2026

Taxes

Best States for High Earners Over $500K

Earning over $500K puts you in the crosshairs of the most aggressive state tax regimes in the country. The difference between the best and worst states can exceed $80,000 in annual tax liability on the same income. Here is where high earners actually keep the most.

Apr 27, 2026

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

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State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

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Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

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Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

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Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

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Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

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K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

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Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

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Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable