• I tried every doughnut I could find at Tim Hortons and ranked them from worst to best.
• I didn't love the vanilla-frosted doughnuts I tried and thought they were too sweet.
• My favorites included the Canadian maple and Boston cream doughnuts.

I first became a fan of Tim Hortons after enjoying the chain's Boston cream doughnut. However, I realized I hadn't tried many of the brand's other offerings.

So, I decided to head to a location in Brooklyn to try all the flavors in stock. Here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.

The honey cruller was my least favorite.

The honey cruller had a different shape than the other Tim Hortons doughnuts I tried — a ring of puffy ridges coated in a sugary glaze. I hoped this might make for an interesting texture, but the doughnut was disappointingly squishy and airy inside.

The ratio of glaze to doughnut also felt too high to me, making it very sweet.

I was disappointed by the apple fritter.

This doughnut's description on the Tim Hortons website advertises "delicious apples and cinnamon in every bite." However, I didn't taste the apple at all and thought the cinnamon had no spice to it.

To me, this tasted more like what I'd expect from something wrapped in plastic, like a Little Debbie snack cake.

The Oreo doughnut was too sweet for me.

Tim Hortons' Oreo variety is a cream-filled doughnut topped with vanilla frosting and Oreo crumbles.

I love Oreos and typically enjoy Oreo-themed desserts. However, I thought the vanilla frosting and the sugary cream in this one made it too sweet.

The topping was also crumbled so finely that it didn't add any crunch.

I didn't love the filling in the strawberry-vanilla doughnut.

This was the only jelly-filled doughnut I found at Tim Hortons, and for that reason, it made for a nice change of pace. But again, the thick coating of vanilla frosting made the doughnut extremely sweet.

Though the jelly had a distinct strawberry flavor, the consistency was a little odd — it was more of a gel than a jelly.

My 7-year-old loves jelly doughnuts but called this one "too goopy."

The vanilla-dipped doughnut was the best of the varieties with vanilla icing.

Vanilla-frosted doughnuts make up most of the bottom of my list, as I found the thick, sugary coating to be a detriment.

However, the vanilla-dipped doughnut was our favorite of those with this frosting. Tim Hortons' doughnuts aren't as sweet as one might expect, so the balance of flavors was better on this one.

My 4-year-old, a passionate fan of rainbow sprinkles, called this one her favorite.

I've had better chocolate-glazed doughnuts.

I don't love chocolate as much as many people do, but I typically enjoy chocolate-glazed doughnuts. Tim Hortons' version wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't very exciting either.

This doughnut had a very mellow chocolate flavor and a thin coat of glaze. The aftertaste was a bit like a chocolate-flavored lollipop, which turned my wife off. However, I liked the way it paired with coffee.

Tim Hortons' vanilla-cream doughnut tasted a bit artificial.

Confusingly, Tim Hortons' vanilla-cream doughnut is covered in chocolate frosting with a swirl of vanilla-cream filling on top.

I enjoy Tim Horton's fudgy-chocolate frosting, but wasn't a big fan of the vanilla-cream filling. I found it reminiscent of Twinkie filling, only with a strong, somewhat artificial-tasting vanilla flavoring.

The old-fashioned plain doughnut tasted like it had a hint of nutmeg.

Even if it's not the most exciting option in the display case, a plain cake doughnut can be great when served with a hot cup of coffee.

However, this doughnut didn't taste as fresh as some of the others I tried. It also lacked the crunchy outer crust you might find on other cake doughnuts.

However, it had a pleasant hint of nutmeg, giving it a more nuanced flavor than its equivalents from other doughnut chains.

The maple-dipped doughnut was a pleasant surprise.

I'm normally ambivalent about maple flavoring, and the unnatural-looking orange color of the frosting didn't inspire a lot of confidence.

However, I actually enjoyed it. The maple frosting had a warm, caramel-like richness, and although it was definitely sweet, it was also very tasty.

I was a little confused by the honey-dipped doughnut, but it was tasty.

The honey dip is Tim Hortons' standard yeast doughnut in its most straightforward form: just glaze with no frosting.

Despite its name, however, nothing in the doughnut's flavor, texture, or online description suggested it involved actual honey.

The yeast doughnuts at Tim Hortons seemed a bit denser than those at Dunkin' (and far denser than those at Krispy Kreme), but this one was nice and soft.

My 4-year-old preferred it over any of the doughnuts that didn't have sprinkles.

The glazed old-fashioned doughnut was a little more moist than its plain counterpart.

I wasn't sure if I'd like the glazed version of Tim Hortons' old-fashioned doughnut better than the plain one. Often, I find that adding an extra layer of sweetness doesn't improve something that's already sweet.

But in this case, the old-fashioned doughnut wasn't overwhelmingly sweet on its own, and the glaze seemed to keep the doughnut a little more moist.

I loved the icing on the chocolate-dipped doughnut.

Of the three frosted ring doughnuts I tried, the chocolate-dipped version was the only one where the frosting proved an upgrade.

That's because Tim Hortons' chocolate frosting is delicious. It's got a thick, fudgy texture and is rich with chocolate flavor.

I didn't expect to like the Canadian maple doughnut as much as I did.

Tim Hortons' Canadian maple doughnut is identical to its Boston cream, except with maple frosting instead of chocolate. However, I liked this one more than I expected to.

The sweetness of the maple frosting was nicely balanced by the custard filling, which was surprisingly light and had a hint of tanginess. I wouldn't have guessed this one would land so close to the top of my list.

The Boston cream was my favorite.

I've had Tim Horton's Boston cream doughnut before, but I wasn't sure how it would compare to the chain's other offerings.

I found that the density of Tim Hortons' doughnuts makes them well-suited for filling since they're strong enough to withstand the weight without falling apart. And the combination of the chocolate frosting and custard is a time-honored one for a reason.

Amazingly, this was the favorite for me, my wife, and our 7-year-old.

This story was originally published on November 8, 2024, and most recently updated on December 18, 2025.

• LinkedIn, YouTube, Dunkin', Uber, and more joined Spotify in releasing year-end user recaps.
• My recaps felt more like a psychological evaluation than a moment of fun nostalgia.
• I didn't need to know that I was in the top 5% of LinkedIn users, or that my top YouTube genre was "reality TV recaps."

Spotify Wrapped could already feel humiliating. This year, there are more opportunities than ever to flip over the stone that is your phone habits and see what crawls out.

Last year, my top artist was Florence + The Machine. I stand by it; "What Kind of Man" is one of the best songs ever written. But why was I craving Florence Welch's scream about heartbreak and lust so desperately? What did that say about me?

The shame began.

This year, I can get rundowns from Dunkin' and Snapchat and YouTube. My colleague Sydney Bradley asked for a LinkedIn Wrapped — and then it appeared in my home feed.

"Saturday Night Live" made a sketch about the embarrassing potential of Uber Eats Wrapped. Then the company released it for real, just called YOUBER.

Scrolling these rundowns is starting to feel less like fun and more like a psychological evaluation. Here's what I learned from my roster of recaps.

LinkedIn made me feel like a try-hard

Thanks, LinkedIn, for letting me know that I have "true daytime energy" (as in: I use the app between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.).

2025 has been my year of becoming a LinkedInfluencer. Some of it is to develop connections and find new stories; some of it is to promote my work. Speaking of which: Follow me on LinkedIn!

Knowing how much I used the platform, though, was overwhelming. I didn't need to know that I was in the top 5% of LinkedIn users.

It's always a bit concerning to know that I'm being perceived. Knowing my profile was viewed 4,248 times? Woof.

Like most of these recaps, LinkedIn tried to give me a title. I got the "Catalyst," known for putting myself out there.

Many of my colleagues also got this title. I think it's just because we post, unlike the majority of my friends, who use LinkedIn to stalk their Hinge dates.

YouTube reminded me how rotted my brain was

I used to be a big YouTube watcher. Now, I mostly use the platform to watch NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts and compilations of my favorite Bravo shows.

I had never thought much about it, though, until my YouTube Recap showed my top interest was "Reality TV recaps." Oh no.

It kept getting worse. I was in the top 0.3% of viewers for a small "Real Housewives" compilation maker I like. It's not my fault that "Real Housewives moments that haunt me at 3 a.m." is perfect 3 a.m. viewing!

And then, the bombshell: My award was "most likely to quote iconic TV moments at the most random times."

You don't need to rub it in my face, YouTube.

YouTube's descriptors for me were "cultured," "observant," and "entertained." Entertained? On YouTube? I would hope so.

I was named "The Connector" because I was "drawn to content that sparks conversations and builds community."

YouTube's first example of that: reality TV recaps. Well, fine.

Spotify made me feel like a normie

You're looking at a guy who listened to 27,999 minutes of podcasts this year. That's 19 days' worth. Dear God.

I listen to podcasts everywhere. I listen to them going to and from work. I listen to them in the shower. I listen to them when I fall asleep at night. Did I need to know how many minutes that was? No.

Then came my top artists. I live in Brooklyn, where everyone keeps telling me about the tiny artist they've been streaming forever that everyone's just coming around to. (Please, do not talk to me about Geese.) Compared to that, my taste felt basic.

My top artist was Lady Gaga, and it was for the whole year. That game Spotify played where it raced your artists against each other? Gaga won the entire time.

My other top artists were Beyoncé, Lorde, Laufey, and Lucy Dacus. All great artists, no regrets there. But certifiably un-indie.

Partiful called me "codependent"

A couple of the rundowns didn't work for me. I spent a long time hunting for my "YOUBER" banner. I deleted and redownloaded the Uber app; I powered my phone off and on. Nothing worked — and it seems like I wasn't alone.

I can guess what would be on there, though. Uber would tell me that my primary trip was coming back from Bushwick at 3 a.m.. Uber Eats would tell me that I ordered far too much late-night Chinese food.

I rarely use Snapchat, so my Snap Recap had almost nothing in it.

The Dunkin' rewards recap also felt a bit empty. My "go-tos" were iced coffee and donuts. At Dunkin'? Shocking. At least it didn't tell me how much I could've saved by making coffee at home. That would be devastating.

I'm not a big Partiful user, though I did make my first invite this year to plan a housewarming. I co-created the invite with my roommate. For that honor, the app called me "codependent." Rude!

And the worst of them, of course, was Strava. I hate distance running. I will not be one of the gaggles of Gen Zers signing up for a marathon.

I logged one — count them, one — run on Strava this year. There weren't even enough to get a "Year in Sport."

• When my kids were growing up, Christmas was so busy and costly.
• This year, they now know Santa isn't real, so I'm approaching the holiday differently.
• I'm talking with my kids about the budget and letting them organize their wishlist.

It's the first year my kids know Santa isn't real, so I've never been more excited about Christmas.

I was told "the news" by my youngest kid, who cornered me in the kitchen mid-October. She said, "Mom. We know about Santa. You don't have to pretend anymore."

When I tried to argue about believing in the spirit of Christmas, I was shushed. For the first time, I didn't try to push that Santa was real. I just nodded my head. I then noticed a wave of excitement and relief wash over me.

That's when I knew I could cut back this year for the first time.

Christmas was all about making holiday magic — at a high cost

Since my kids were babies, I've tried to make Christmas magical. There have been Christmas outings to see lights, cookie-making, Nutcracker trips, and "Frozen on Ice." If it was holiday-themed, we did it.

Christmas Day would begin with a sea of presents on the living room floor. It was like Christmas consumerism gone bananas.

My husband and I did a lot to make this magic happen, finishing the season exhausted — only to slide into the new year with mountains of debt that lasted until March.

Christmas has only gotten more difficult over the last few years

Over the last three years, my school-aged kids have been suspicious that Santa isn't real. They would try to sneak and find gifts, opening closets and investigating the garage.

On Christmas Day, they would yell out when the "Santa" wrapping paper was different, looking closely to scrutinize the handwriting on gift tags. They were trying to catch us in the act.

I have always loved Christmas, but the holiday started to feel more like a trap and a lot less fun. I couldn't hide it, and I suppose my kids could feel this, lovingly referring to me as the Grinch. Compared to the moms on Instagram who made cookies from scratch and sewed their own stockings, my Scrooge-ness made me feel like a mom failure.

We can now approach holiday budgeting differently

Now that Santa has been unveiled, I find myself looking forward to Christmas more than I have in years. I'm hoping we can scale back this holiday season by setting some guardrails on their Christmas lists and our spending, taking a more practical approach.

We've shared with our kids what a Christmas budget can look like: things they want, need, and big asks.

While having honest budgeting conversations during the holiday season may not seem spirit-filled, our kids are learning that making smart budgeting choices is important all year long.

Of course, we'll still surprise them with a few fun items, Santa-style, but being clear about our budget helps our kids with their own financial literacy.

Honest conversations about the holidays will help us all find more joy in the season

Since Santa is no longer a secret, we hope this helps our family discover what brings true joy and how to be intentional throughout the holidays. In being honest about our budgets and reining in spending, we understand that one person can't make holiday magic; it's something we create together.

We plan to make better holiday decisions, focusing on spending more time together and, most importantly, giving more than we receive.

Christmas has always been a special time for our family. Even though our kids are older, I'm hopeful that we can still experience holiday magic, but with a greater emphasis on meaning. I am excited to create new traditions and memories in the spirit of the season — without any help from Santa.

• A US Navy warship in the Middle East just launched a one-way attack drone for the first time.
• A commander described it as a milestone in the effort to deploy cheap drones.
• The launch comes as the Pentagon tries to keep pace with new technology in modern warfare.

A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East launched a one-way attack drone at sea this week, marking a first for the American military as it pushes to deploy this new technology.

The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara launched the drone, a Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, in the Arabian Gulf on Tuesday, 5th Fleet said in a statement on Wednesday.

Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, the head of US Naval Forces Central Command, said the "first successful launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a significant milestone in rapidly delivering affordable and effective" drones to American military personnel.

The drone launched from the Santa Barbara belonged to a new squadron based in the Middle East that operates the LUCAS systems, one-way attack drones that resemble the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 widely used by Russia in attacks against Ukraine.

LUCAS, developed by the American engineering firm SpektreWorks, has an "extensive" range, can be launched by catapults and from vehicles and mobile ground stations, and has rocket-assisted takeoff capabilities.

The system's classification as a one-way attack drone, also known as a loitering munition, indicates that LUCAS can remain airborne in a target area for a period before diving down at its target and detonating.

"This platform will undoubtedly enhance regional maritime security and deterrence," said Renshaw, who oversees the American naval presence in the Middle East.

Littoral combat ships, such as the Santa Barbara, are equipped with naval cannons, machine guns, and missiles. The ability to launch attack drones from the flight deck would give the vessels more firepower, though it's unclear whether the LUCAS systems would be used this way during combat operations.

The launch this week, which took place in waters near Iran, comes as the US seeks to rapidly produce and deploy inexpensive drones amid a rise in robotic and autonomous systems in modern warfare.

The Trump administration has made it a priority to boost the production of drones to keep pace with Russia and China. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a plan envisioning a substantial $1 billion investment over two years to make and field hundreds of thousands of cheap attack drones.

US Central Command, which oversees US operations in the Middle East, announced on December 3 the establishment of a new task force for the military's first one-way attack drone squadron — using LUCAS drones — in the region.

The delta-wing shape is a popular design for one-way attack drones. Some models, like the LUCAS or Russia's Geran-2, appear to have derived their profiles from the notorious Iranian Shahed.

Russia used Iranian-made Shaheds against Ukraine early in the war, but it has since started manufacturing its own versions. The Gerans carry small warheads and travel much slower than cruise and ballistic missiles, but they are significantly cheaper, allowing Moscow to launch dozens or hundreds in a single night. These weapons augment strike packages and make defense more difficult.

In May, President Donald Trump praised the Shahed for its low cost — estimated to be roughly $35,000 to $40,000 — and speed. He said the drone has proven extremely deadly in Ukraine.

One-way attack drones, like the Shahed, have been used in recent years by Iran-backed militants, who have launched them at American forces in the Middle East, as well as Israel and ships sailing off the coast of Yemen.

• After years of a minimalist life, my wife and I decided to try living without furniture.
• We noticed physical benefits, and we also love that our house often looks clean and uncluttered.
• This lifestyle isn't for everyone and there are downsides, but it's been great for us.

My wife and I live in a pretty garden apartment that's almost entirely devoid of furniture. The closest things we have are a bamboo laptop table and two single camping mattresses.

At our ages — 57 and 60 — we're expected to invest in matching La-Z-Boys and TV trays, but we spend most of our time on the floor on yoga mats. Honestly, we've never been happier.

If you'd told me this was what the future held for us back when we were lounging on our L-shaped couch in 2020, I'd have suggested you reduce the strength of your edibles. As much as we still dream about that comfortable couch, though, we wouldn't take it back.

Life without furniture comes with an array of benefits, both expected and unexpected, and they're not worth trading for modern-day creature comforts.

Adopting a minimalist lifestyle made us open to new and different ways of living

Ever since inadvertently becoming minimalists in 2008, we've made a point of engaging in lifestyle experiments, but it had never occurred to us to eschew furniture.

Then, I listened to a podcast about furniture-free living. I was immediately intrigued, but my wife wasn't as easily convinced.

The idea wasn't one we could entertain anyway, since we were about to move to a fully-furnished cottage in the middle of nowhere. Life has a way of giving you what you need, though, and the country wasn't for us.

Five months later, we were back in Cape Town's city bowl, on the hunt for new digs.

Finding an almost-empty apartment to rent felt like our sign to give furniture-free living a try

When a stunning, affordable, and unfurnished apartment showed up in my inbox, I took it as a sign that it was time to give furniture-free living a try.

The lush, bee-friendly garden with a towering pine tree won my wife over immediately. I didn't even have to say a word; I suspect she'd have agreed even if it meant sleeping outside in a tent.

We made some mistakes at first. Initially, we bought a cheap, low-level futon to sleep on, but it proved a poor choice for our backs, and we soon ditched it in favor of our camping mattresses.

Our intention was always to buy a tatami sleeping mat down the line, but our frugal "if it ain't broke" selves keep deferring the purchase.

Right from the get-go, we both loved hanging out on the floor, and it just felt right.

This lifestyle comes with several benefits

Within about a month, we began to feel physically stronger — probably because we were constantly getting up and down from floor level and forced to work on our posture.

Without a cushy office chair to sink into for hours at a stretch, we're naturally reminded to change position or get up and move.

Plus, our balance has improved because we've trained ourselves to get up and sit down without the help of our hands. We can also sit unsupported for extended periods.

Practically, no furniture makes moving homes — something we've done more than once in the past few years — a breeze. It makes sense for us to live in a way that supports our perpetual desire for change.

With nothing to move, housework is also ridiculously easy. Plus, our apartment always looks neat.

Probably the best benefit, though, is that our quirky rescue kitty seems to love our furniture-free life. He prefers to tunnel under our legs rather than sit on our laps — and being on the floor gives him a lot of chances to do this.

It's not for everyone, and that's OK

When we tell people about our lifestyle, the same concern always comes up: How do you entertain? The truth is, we don't.

This way of life isn't for everyone, and the last thing we'd want is to make our guests feel uncomfortable. So, we've found middle ground by meeting for walks or going out for coffee or a meal. It might not work for everyone, but it works for us.

Ironically, our next lifestyle experiment — which we're tentatively planning for late 2026 — means going back to a bed and couch, but only because you can't do without either when you live in a van.

Well, technically you could … but even we're not up for that level of discomfort.

• Henley & Partners says soaring private healthcare costs now shape where wealthy families move.
• A global index reveals stark healthcare cost gaps that are reshaping millionaire migration.
• Experts say Europe offers strong care value as US and Asian hubs push private costs higher.

A surge in global wealth migration seems to be colliding with an overlooked but increasingly decisive factor: the soaring cost of private healthcare.

Henley & Partners, an investment migration firm, said its client data and new cost comparisons from a global health index show wealthy families are no longer choosing where to live solely on tax or lifestyle, but are increasingly factoring in the long-term cost of private healthcare.

The firm said in a press release this month that it has received applications from 92 nationalities in 2025, supporting clients across more than 50 residence and citizenship programs.

Applications jumped 43% year-over-year in the first three quarters of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, it said.

"Global mobility is becoming a core risk-management strategy for wealthy families," said Christian H. Kaelin, the firm's chairman. Clients "are scrutinizing not only access to residence and citizenship, but also the real cost of sustaining that lifestyle — especially the price of reliable private healthcare."

"Destinations that look attractive on paper can become far less so once true healthcare exposure is understood," he added.

Where healthcare is most — and least — affordable

Henley & Partners cited the SIP Health Cost Index 2025, from the SIP Medical Family Office in Switzerland, a global benchmark released earlier this month, which ranks 50 countries by the true cost of private healthcare using international private medical insurance (IPMI) premiums as of August 2025.

The findings are stark:

• The United States has the most expensive private healthcare market in the world, it found, with an average annual IPMI cost of $17,968 per person.
• Hong Kong and Singapore follow closely, the report said, with $16,175 and $14,231 in average healthcare costs, respectively.
• China, Thailand, and Taiwan now all rank among the top 12 most expensive markets, driven by demand for premium hospitals and rising inpatient costs, the report said.

In Europe, the UK ($11,726) and Greece ($9,654) sit at the pricier end due in part to insurance taxes, it said. while Switzerland ranks mid-table at $8,912. The UAE ranks 10th globally, with an average of $9,680.

Some of the mid-range markets include South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Monaco, which range from roughly $7,100 to $7,600.

Hidden cost shocks

Kevin Bürchler, CEO of SIP Medical Family Office, which is behind the SIP Health Cost Index 2025, said inflation in private healthcare "is rising worldwide, but the pace and pattern differ dramatically."

Speaking to Business Insider, he pointed to "value" destinations such as Italy, Portugal, and Austria, which offer lower costs and proximity to top-tier medical hubs like Switzerland and Germany.

While ultra-high-net-worth individuals can absorb steep premiums, the cost gap matters for affluent families, especially those planning toward retirement, he said.

"It can make a significant difference whether you pay $30,000 plus for private health insurance versus $10,000," or whether "a doctor consultation costs $500 or $50," he added.

Growing demand for healthcare resilience

That pressure, among other factors, is reshaping behavior, especially among Americans.

"US citizens were 5% of our client base in 2018, whereas today they comprise 40%," Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner at Henley & Partners North America, told Business Insider — a shift he described as part of a broader hedge that includes healthcare resilience.

He said healthcare costs are explicitly cited in at least 15% of client decisions, making it a top-five factor behind geopolitical risk, global mobility, legacy planning, and tax optimization.

Interest is rising in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Malta, and in cost-effective Latin American options such as Panama and Costa Rica, he said, adding that Turkey also attracts clients for affordable private medical tourism.

Mohr-Elzeki said many aging clients are increasingly seeking alternative healthcare options abroad — not only because of the cost, but also to access different medical opinions and treatments outside the US system, which he said, while "top-tier," may have a "commercial bias."

Henley & Partners said the SIP Index is helping clients "avoid hidden high-cost traps" as healthcare becomes a central part of global mobility planning.

• TikTok is telling US staff that they will need to return to the office five days a week next year.
• The move is affecting several large teams, including advertising sales, marketing, and product.
• Return-to-office mandates are ramping up across the corporate world.

For many TikTok employees, the days of working from home are numbered.

The company has told US staffers across several large divisions that they will need to return to the office five days a week next year, two affected workers told Business Insider.

The return-to-office push, which kicks off in September, will affect US employees across a wide set of roles, including staffers who work on advertising sales, marketing, and product, the employees said. A third staffer said they expected that much of TikTok's US cohort would be back in the office five days a week next year.

TikTok and its owner, ByteDance, set in-office attendance rules by team. The company's e-commerce division, TikTok Shop, already has a five-day return-to-office requirement that at one point involved tracking the number of hours workers were physically in the office, Business Insider previously reported.

RTO is very much in vogue across corporate America. After easing up on in-office requirements during the pandemic, companies like Dell, JPMorgan, and Amazon have all ramped up in-office mandates over the past couple of years.

TikTok competitor Instagram announced plans to bring US workers back into the office five days a week beginning in February.

"I believe that we are more creative and collaborative when we are together in-person," Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri wrote in a memo explaining the policy.

Other companies like Spotify have been more lenient about RTO. The company's former HR chief said last year that its work-from-anywhere policy was rooted in the idea that "you can't spend a lot of time hiring grown-ups and then treat them like children."

The idea of returning to the office full-time has sparked mixed reactions among workers, both inside and outside TikTok. Young employees who started their careers working from home during the pandemic have begun romanticizing the idea of commuting to work in social-media posts, for example. On the flip side, there's Amazon, which has taken a more aggressive approach to RTO by forcing staffers to relocate to hubs, and has struggled to recruit new hires, Business Insider previously reported.

Some executives view their employees' attitudes toward RTO as a signal of their alignment with the company.

After AT&T instituted a five-day RTO earlier this year, CEO John Stankey said in August that workers who felt virtual or hybrid work was "essential" would have trouble aligning their priorities with the company and its culture.

TikTok's RTO plans, set for the end of 2026, could change if the company winds up selling its US business to a new owner next year. Its current owner, ByteDance, is required to sell most of its US assets to comply with a divestment law passed in 2024.

In September, the Trump administration said it was prepared to approve a $14 billion sale of the US business to a buyer consortium that could include Oracle, its executive chairman Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and Rupert Murdoch.

TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.

• A recent WalletHub study ranked the best small cities in America.
• Of the over 1,300 cities and towns in the study, 19 ranked in the top percentile.
• The best small cities strike a balance between affordability and a high quality of life.

While some live for the city hustle, others find the best place to be somewhere quiet, calm, and away from urban chaos.

As more Americans turn to rural towns and suburbs to settle down in, local charm is regaining its luster.

A recent WalletHub study surveyed 1,318 small cities across the US — defined as cities with populations sized between 25,000 and 100,000 people — and compared them across categories including affordability, economy, health, education, and quality of life.

The affordability rank of each city was determined by looking at its average housing cost, homeownership rate, household income, and cost of living, among other metrics, according to the study's methodology section.

Economic health was measured using metrics such as population, income, and job growth rates, as well as unemployment rates, average debt and bankruptcy rates, and median credit scores.

For the education and health rankings, WalletHub examined metrics such as graduation rates, rates of obese and physically inactive adults, insured population, and other health indicators. They also used a school-system quality metric based on previous WalletHub research.

The quality of life ranking took into account factors such as average commute time and work hours, as well as the number of restaurants, bars, clubs, and other attractions per capita. Each city's safety ranking was determined using rates like violent and property crime, car crashes, pedestrian deaths, and drug poisoning deaths.

The study utilized data from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as data from companies such as Areavibes, TransUnion, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and WalletHub.

Of the over 1,000 cities, 19 received scores that ranked in the top percentile across the various categories.

See the places that WalletHub ranked as being the top small cities in the US in 2025.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had the highest quality of life ranking among the top cities, placing within the top 10 nationwide.

Arlington, Massachusetts

Although Arlington, Massachusetts — located six miles outside Boston — is among the top five most unaffordable cities in the top-performing cities, it ranked second-best in education and health out of all 1,318 cities in the study.

Lexington, Massachusetts

Lexington, Massachusetts, was ranked as having the best education and health in the nation in the study. The city, located 10 miles from Boston, was also ranked among the highest performers in the safety category among top-percentile cities.

Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs was ranked as having the second-highest quality of life ranking among the top-performing cities, ranking as 40th highest nationwide

Franklin, Tennessee

Franklin's Economic Health Rank of 134 is stronger than that of more than half of the top-19 cities.

Its Safety Rank of 71 is mid-group.

Affordability (410) and Education & Health (104) place it roughly in the middle.

Holland, Michigan

Holland has the third-best Quality of Life Rank (47) in the top 19 group.

Economic Health Rank 135 is also middle-strong.

Its Education & Health Rank of 556 and Affordability Rank of 296 place it in the lower half of this cohort.

Holland's profile is defined by strong livability and weaker school metrics.

Milton, Massachusetts

Milton's Education & Health Rank of 24 is the fourth-best in the group.

Safety Rank 50 is upper-middle.

Its Quality of Life Rank of 751 is the second-worst in the entire top-19.

High academic strength paired with weak livability sets its profile.

Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton's Quality of Life Rank of 60 ranks fourth-best among the 19 cities.

Its Economic Health Rank of 210 places it in the middle group.

Safety (263) is the fourth-weakest safety score among the top-19.

Appleton mixes strong livability with weaker safety.

Brentwood, Tennessee

Brentwood's Economic Health Rank of 99 is the sixth-best among the top 19.

Safety Rank 49 also places it in the top half.

Its Quality of Life Rank of 377 is near the median of the group.

Brentwood performs above average across categories without hitting extremes.

Leesburg, Virginia

Leesburg's Education & Health Rank of 15 is the third-best among the top 19 cities.

Its Safety Rank of 86 is mid-tier.

Affordability Rank 125 places it in the top half of the cost spectrum.

Leesburg is one of the strongest education-focused cities in the dataset.

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Brookfield's Economic Health Rank of 40 is the third-best among the top 19, behind Apex and Lehi.

Its Education & Health Rank of 39 is also top-tier.

Affordability Rank 93 is mid-high for the group.

Brookfield is one of the most consistently strong cities across categories.

Castle Rock, Colorado

Castle Rock's Economic Health Rank of 97 is the seventh-best in the group.

Its Safety Rank of 44 places it in the top third.

Quality of Life Rank 436 sits near the group midpoint.

A generally strong, balanced performer.

Lehi, Utah

Lehi's Economic Health Rank of 5 is the second-best in the top 19 and nationally.

Its Safety Rank of 10 makes it the second-safest city in this cohort.

Quality of Life Rank 890 is the third-worst in the group.

Lehi is an economic powerhouse with lifestyle trade-offs.

Noblesville, Indiana

Noblesville's Education & Health Rank of 47 is the sixth-best in the group.

Its Safety Rank of 38 places it within the top five safest cities here.

Quality of Life Rank 595 sits in the lower half.

Affordability Rank 89 is mid-pack.

Carmel, Indiana

Carmel's Education & Health Rank of 32 places it fifth-best in the group.

Safety Rank 37 places it fourth-best.

Its Affordability Rank of 32 is the third-best among the 19 cities.

Carmel is one of the most consistently strong performers in the dataset.

Kaysville, Utah

Kaysville's Safety Rank of 9 is the best in the group.

Its Economic Health Rank of 44 is the fifth-best.

Quality of Life Rank 1086 is the worst among the top 19.

Kaysville tops the group in safety, but ranks last in livability.

Fishers, Indiana

Fishers' Affordability Rank of 26 is the third-best, behind Apex and Westfield.

Its Education & Health Rank of 33 ranks seventh-best among the 19.

Quality of Life Rank 609 sits near the lower-middle of the group.

Safety is also a strength at Rank 36.

Westfield, Indiana

Westfield's Affordability Rank of 25 is the second-best among the top 19.

Its Economic Health Rank of 29 is the third-best, trailing only Apex and Lehi.

Quality of Life Rank 1048 is the second-worst.

Westfield excels economically while lagging in livability.

Apex, North Carolina

Apex's Economic Health Rank of 1 is the best in the national study and the highest among the top 19.

Its Affordability Rank of 20 is also the best in the group.

Safety Rank 146 and Education & Health Rank 244 position it in the lower-middle tier.

Apex wins on the basis of pure economic strength and cost advantages.

• An Alaska Airlines passenger tried to open a plane's door midflight, an affidavit says.
• Other passengers said they had heard the man talking to himself and moved away from him.
• After the plane landed safely, the man apologized to the crew, the affidavit said.

An Alaska Airlines flight descended into chaos as passengers restrained a man who was trying to open an emergency exit, an affidavit says.

The incident occurred on last Wednesday's Flight 87 from Deadhorse, Alaska, to Anchorage, a journey that takes about an hour and a half.

During the flight, several passengers had moved seats away from the passenger, named by police as Kassian Fredericks, after becoming concerned by his behavior.

Two men who sat behind him said they heard him talking to himself. One of them told investigators that he mentioned invisible people trying to take over the plane.

He then also took a pill and drank some Gatorade, the witness said.

The Boeing 737 had only been in the air for about eight minutes, climbing through 18,000 feet, when one of the pilots said he got the first call from the cabin crew about their concerns over a passenger's behavior.

Shortly after that, the pilot said, he saw the cockpit light indicating someone was trying to open the emergency exit.

The passenger had managed to move the door's arm upward when another passenger grabbed him.

They called for help, and another two passengers came to restrain him.

"[He] was so strong it took him and the other two male passengers to restrain him and sit him down," the affidavit says.

While it is a frightening situation, it's actually impossible to open a plane door at a high altitude, because the pressure differences inside and outside the aircraft keep the door sealed.

Fredericks is then said to have requested a cigarette, asked about how to break a plane's window, and said he wanted to call his mom.

When one of the passengers asked him why he was trying to open the door, he is said to have replied that he "needed air and to get out of here."

The pilot had considered diverting to an airfield in nearby Fairbanks, but continued onto Anchorage as they were only 18 minutes away, per the affidavit.

Local police then boarded the plane and arrested the passenger.

After landing, the affidavit says, he appeared to have calmed down as he apologized to the crew while he was being escorted away.

Fredericks was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday and charged with one count of interference with a flight crew, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Companies can use artificial intelligence to enhance brand storytelling and attract talent.
• AI analyzes brand sentiment, employee feedback, and social media to inform recruitment strategies.
• This article is part of "How AI is Changing Talent", a series exploring how AI is reshaping hiring, development, and retention.

Before applying for a position, job seekers often want to know factors beyond the role's responsibilities, like a company's values, employee experience, and growth opportunities. Like many areas of the workforce, artificial intelligence can help with this.

Brand image "sets the tone for how people view your company long before they ever interact with you," she adds. It gives job candidates "clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction" about whether an organization is a good fit.

"AI can make it easier for companies to understand how they're being perceived and where they need to improve," says Victoria Bracco, CEO of Encore Media Agency and cofounder of the Strategic Executive Alliance, a business consulting firm.

Human resources leaders also see value in AI for talent acquisition. For instance, some companies, including Unilever and L'Oreal, use AI chatbots to answer job applicants' questions and provide personalized responses based on their preferences and skills.

Beyond that, AI can help companies learn what job seekers think about them and use data-driven storytelling to attract talent, Bracco says. Here's how.

Streamlining brand sentiment analysis

Brand sentiment is composed of a range of inputs from a wide variety of sources, and AI can be a boon to consolidating, gathering, and analyzing that content.

For example, AI can mine social media, online reviews, and internal feedback to uncover what customers, the public, and current and former employees say about the company, known as a sentiment analysis, Bracco says.

AI tools can also track metrics, such as employee sentiment and retention rates, as well as social media engagement, adds Kaz Hassan, principal of community and insights at Unily, an AI intranet software.

"AI can identify patterns in what current employees say about your organization, revealing brand strengths to amplify and weaknesses to address," Hassan says. "This real-time intelligence allows companies to respond quickly to emerging issues before they become reputation problems."

Shaping a data-informed story

AI can synthesize several different data points, including brand sentiment, employee performance insights, and the skills the company currently needs. Using that information, AI can then help write job descriptions, career pages, and social media messaging that will resonate with the right candidates, Bracco says.

Organizations can also use employee data to showcase how they value their people, such as through internal upskilling, mobility rates, leadership styles, or employee check-ins, says Lana Peters, chief revenue and experience officer at Klaar, a performance management software.

AI can "shape an unbiased story," she says. That story should focus on "culture, purpose, and growth," Bracco adds.

Just make sure the story is authentic and honest; coming across as disingenuous is a turn-off, adds Polina Dimitrova, global head of people at Make, a visual development platform. "The truth is: your brand is how you hire, how you develop people, how leaders behave, and where your teams show up in the world."

Centering the human experience

By using AI to analyze employee performance, development, and engagement patterns, organizations can identify employees with compelling stories to showcase in recruitment efforts, Peters says.

This can illustrate "the employee experience you offer as a company," says Tom Moran, CEO of Addison Group, a staffing and recruiting firm.

"Real stories from real people within the organization discussing their experiences within the organization will resonate with job seekers," Hassan says.

Peters adds that, "Candidates aren't just choosing a job; they're choosing a story they want to be a part of," including companies whose values align with theirs and where they'll be recognized and appreciated.

However, AI isn't the "end-all, be-all," Dimitrova says. It should be used to optimize brands for attracting talent; it's not a substitute for a brand strategy, Bracco adds.

AI is there to "speed things up and provide insights, but the final message still needs and must have your voice, your judgment, and your direction," Bracco says. "Keep the human side front and center, because candidates can spot a forced or overly polished message a mile away."