5 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families in the Northeast

Middle-class families seeking affordable locales where they can thrive are in luck. A new study from Livability has identified 15 Northeastern cities as among the best places to live in the United States. And five of these cities have homes for sale that can fit into your budget.
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From that list, GOBankingRates selected five cities with median home values of under $350,000 and high livability scores. Keep reading to find out which five Northeastern cities are among the most livable for middle-class families.
LivScore: 761
Population: 83,376
Median home value: $332,783
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LivScore: 727
Population: 310,519
Median home value: $206,135
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LivScore: 696
Population: 79,259
Median home value: $249,745
LivScore: 687
Population: 79,905
Median home value: $227,528
LivScore: 636
Population: 97,683
Median home value: $197,134
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Most Livable Cities for Middle-Class Families in the Northeast

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I'm an Economist: 4 Questions To Ask About Tariffs (and 2 Not To Worry About)

President Trump's tariffs has been dominating headlines for months now, prompting concerns about how they may affect everything from grocery bills to investment accounts. While it's tempting to react to every trade policy shift, not all impacts are immediate or relevant to everyday consumers. Trending Now: Try This: Here's a quick breakdown on Trump's tariffs, why they have been implemented, and what everyone knows so far: Tariffs are taxes charged on imported goods. For example, a 10% tariff means a $10 product would have a $1 tax on top, which would make your total $11. President Trump has doubled U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. There is a 25% tax on imports from both Canada and Mexico and a 10% levy on Canadian energy. Though there has been a lot of back and forth as to the amount, the current tariff on goods from China is 20%. The White House also implemented a 20% tariff on most European Union goods, but halved it to 10% until July 8, 2025, to allow time for trade talks. Trump is mandating that most countries have a 10% 'baseline' tariff on all goods sent to the U.S. GOBankingRates spoke with Jared Ashworth, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, to determine the four questions you should be asking about tariffs — and the two things you shouldn't worry about. Most consumers don't need to follow every twist in trade policy. However, they do need to understand how tariffs might affect their wallets, savings and investments. Here are four practical financial questions worth asking right now. Uncertainty is the biggest concern about the tariffs. 'In recent months, there have been significant swings in what the actual tariffs will be,' Ashworth said. 'Many of these tariffs could also be rolled back if, for example, a target country changes its trade policy.' This has caused a lot of uncertainty. 'As a result, financial markets have become much more uncertain. Standard advice about risk and uncertainty, like considering your risk aversion or how close you are to retirement, matters even more in this context,' Ashworth said. Many retailers have already or will likely adjust their prices quickly in anticipation of the tariffs. According to Wired, the price of refrigerator staples like apple juice is already increasing, as most apple juice that Americans drink comes from China. Apple juice is just one of the many goods American consumers count on that will likely become more expensive due to the tariffs. 'The goal of tariffs is to allow domestic firms to charge higher prices and compete with the raised prices of international firms,' Ashworth said. Consumers are making big purchases in anticipation of the tariffs. For example, sales of cars and motor vehicles parts were up by 8.8% from last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. 'Most people won't be able to gain by making major changes based on broad news,' Ashworth said. 'For example, with cars, even though the vehicles currently on lots weren't directly affected by tariffs, the rush to buy before the tariffs take full effect has driven up prices.' According to USA Today, the manufacturing, construction, transportation, warehousing, retail and supply chain sectors are most likely to be affected by tariffs and are paring back on hiring. Ashworth said individuals should consider shifting investments to companies less affected by tariffs, even though the market expectations are already reflected in stock prices. Healthcare and financial services are among the sectors that are still poised to grow or remain stable, per USA Today. Tariffs can feel like a threat to every part of one's financial life, but not all impacts are immediate or personal. Here's what to set aside for now. The uncertainty about the impact of the tariffs also means that it's hard to know what will happen next or how long the effects will last. 'While the U.S. is part of a globally connected economy, imports and exports still make up a relatively small percentage of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product),' Ashworth said. 'The idea of a full-out trade war often depends on how it's framed, which is part of the problem.' For example, tariffs are viewed as either a measure that protects domestic industries or a policy that punishes countries engaging in unfair trade. 'But those goals can be contradictory,' Ashworth said. 'If tariffs are a punishment, then the once the country reforms its trade practices, we're expected to drop the tariffs, potentially ending the protection for domestic industries.' It's easy to feel powerless when trade policy shifts overnight. But for most consumers, the best response isn't control; it's adaptability. 'While tariffs can affect exchange rates and relative interest rates, most of those impacts aren't something everyday people can or should try to take advantage of,' Ashworth said. 'Unless you have direct influence over national policy, there's little you can do to change it. Instead, focus on staying flexible in this period of heightened uncertainty.' While there isn't much that can be done when it comes to government policy, consumers can take other actions to protect themselves and their finances. 'As with any pressure that raises prices, find ways to reduce consumption and spend less. While tariffs might contribute to a recession, individuals should still prioritize cutting back on spending and increasing savings,' Ashworth said. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. 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5 Things the Upper Middle Class Should Do To Prepare for Trump's Income Tax Plan

At over 1,000 pages long, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act certainly qualifies as 'big.' It includes dozens of provisions that affect upper-middle-class taxpayers, from preserving the child tax credit to eliminating income taxes on tips and overtime to most workers and more. But many of those provisions don't actually require any planning or preparation. Read Next: Check Out: So which tax changes should upper-middle-class Americans pay attention to now so they can prepare if the bill passes? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 nearly doubled the standard deduction and capped state and local tax (SALT) deductions at $10,000. Both of those changes led many upper-middle-class Americans to stop itemizing and just take the standard deduction. The new tax bill would make the double standard deduction permanent, and add an extra $1,000 from 2025 to 2028 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples. But the SALT cap would quadruple to $40,000 for all but the highest-income taxpayers. 'The controversial SALT deduction cap jumping to $40,000 would change the calculus on itemizing for many upper-middle class households,' explained Elina Linderman, accountant and owner of La Rusa. That means you should start saving receipts and tracking deductible expenses now, in case you can save more on taxes by itemizing deductions. Explore More: Health savings accounts (HSAs) come with many tax benefits. You can deduct contributions, the money compounds tax-free and you pay no taxes on withdrawals if they're used for qualifying expenses. The new bill would double the contribution limit from $4,300 to $8,600 for individuals making less than $75,000 per year and from $8,550 to $17,100 for families making less than $150,000 annually. However, the contribution limit would start phasing out for individuals earning an adjusted gross income over $100,000 ($200,000 for married couples). As GOBankingRates previously reported, the household income for the upper middle class is between $106,000 and $150,000, so certain households may qualify to contribute more to their HSAs with this provision. Keep an eye on these changes in the final bill, and consider either opening an HSA or contributing more to it if you can. Tax professor Annette Nellen at San Jose State University noted that upper-middle-class homeowners should jump on any solar panel installations they've been considering. 'Residential energy credits would end on 12/31/25, including the 30% credit for solar panels on your personal residence,' she said. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the gift and estate tax exemption. That higher exemption limit is currently scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025. In 2025, the exemption stands at $13.99 million per individual ($27.98 million for married couples). Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that would rise to $15 million and $30 million, respectively, in 2026 and be indexed to inflation thereafter. That may affect your estate planning as an upper-middle-class family, so speak with a financial planner about a personalized gifting strategy. Likewise, the new tax bill would extend another provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: bonus depreciation. Bonus depreciation allowed real estate investors to write off up to 100% of the cost of a building in the year they purchased it. The act scheduled it to phase out, however, from 100% in 2022 to 0% in 2027. Under the new law, bonus depreciation would revert to 100% from 2025 through January 1, 2030. That could add a huge tax incentive for private equity real estate investments. Investors can show losses on their tax return, even as they collect cash flow in real life — and they don't have to itemize to do it. Private equity real estate investments have historically served the wealthy, with high minimum investments in the $50,000-to-$100,000 range. But the upper middle class can invest with as little as $5,000 by joining a co-investing club to go in on them with other investors. 'The upper-middle class can capitalize on real estate investment and increased property ownership, whether they itemize deductions or not,' said Hector Castaneda of Castaneda CPA & Associates. The final bill that passes both houses of Congress will likely look different from the current bill, so sit down with a tax advisor to form a personalized plan when the final rules become law. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 This article originally appeared on 5 Things the Upper Middle Class Should Do To Prepare for Trump's Income Tax Plan Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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More Than One-Third of Americans Have Canceled or Delayed Big Purchases in 2025: Here's Why and What It Could Mean for the Economy

The U.S. economy has been a mixed bag so far in 2025, with stock market volatility and tariff anxiety largely overshadowing positive employment and inflation data. One central theme is that uncertainty has made many consumers wary of spending money on big-ticket items like homes and cars. Learn More: Read Next: More than one-third (35%) of Americans have delayed or canceled plans for a big purchase this year, according to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults from Guardian Service, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based insurance agency. Nearly one-quarter (22%) said they would delay or cancel buying a home. Another 8% said a car, while 5% said both. More than half of respondents (63%) cited economic uncertainty as the main reason. Many also cited high interest rates (57%) and high prices (55%). If these trends continue, they'll likely have a negative impact on the overall economy, experts say. GOBankingRates explore these financial trends more and break down that that means for the economic landscape. 'Across the country, Americans are second-guessing big purchases, dialing back on long-term dreams and even downgrading essential protections like insurance,' Guardian Service noted in a Jun. 3 report. 'The rising cost of living and fears of a looming recession are making many feel like they're walking a financial tightrope.' That tightrope is partly the product of President Donald Trump's tariff plans, which have roiled the stock markets and led to fears of trade wars and inflation. Trump has dialed back or delayed his tariff plans on several occasions, temporarily calming the nerves of both investors and economists. Consider This: But there's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding tariffs. Until the picture is clearer, many Americans have reined in their spending plans. An April report from Real Estate News noted that economic uncertainty and rising mortgage rates have caused many potential homebuyers to put on the brakes. 'A lot of buyers, especially first-timers, are backing off because they're nervous about a potential recession,' Redfin Premier agent Venus Martinez said a weekly report. In the Guardian Service survey, 12% of respondents said they've downsized their idea of a 'dream home.' Younger Americans have also raised the ages at which they expect to afford their first home. Meanwhile, a recent report from S&P Global indicated that May might be the last month of the year when auto sales increase on a yearly and monthly basis. 'Given the swirling tariff, consumer and auto inventory conditions, the expected May 2025 auto sales result will likely be the last period this year to post positive growth in year-ago and month-prior comparisons,' said Chris Hopson, principal analyst at S&P Global Mobility. 'Shifting tariff policies have automakers scrambling to produce vehicles while they can, but uncertainty abounds in the immediate term, and upcoming monthly sales levels are expected to decelerate further.' A slowdown in home and auto sales would have a negative impact on the U.S. economy simply because consumer spending plays such a big role in economic growth. 'Consumer resilience helps keep the economy on track,' U.S. Bank noted in a May 28 report, adding that during the 2025 first quarter, Personal Consumption Expenditures accounted for more than two-thirds of the nation's gross domestic product. How current U.S. policy and economic trends will play out is uncertain, but Americans can lean on sound financial advice and robust money habits to protect their wallet in the mean time. More From GOBankingRates 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money This article originally appeared on More Than One-Third of Americans Have Canceled or Delayed Big Purchases in 2025: Here's Why and What It Could Mean for the Economy Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data