How It Works

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Set Priorities Adjust sliders for what matters most
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Add Locations Enter up to 3 addresses or zip codes
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Compare Scores See personalized livability scores

Your Priorities

Adjust sliders to reflect what matters most to you.

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Quick presets:

Locations to Compare

Enter up to 3 addresses or zip codes to score and compare side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a neighborhood livability score?

A neighborhood livability score is a personalized rating from 0 to 100 that measures how well a neighborhood matches your priorities across five key categories: safety, schools, walkability, affordability, and commute time. Higher scores indicate a better fit for your lifestyle. Unlike generic rankings, our scores are weighted by what matters most to you.

What data sources are used to calculate livability scores?

We use publicly available data from trusted sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics for safety, national school rating aggregates (test scores, graduation rates, student-teacher ratios) for schools, Walk Score API data for walkability and transit access, and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data for affordability (median home prices, rent, cost of living) and commute times.

How many neighborhoods can I compare at once?

You can compare up to 3 neighborhoods side by side. Enter addresses or zip codes for each location and the tool generates personalized scores for all of them, complete with a radar chart, detailed breakdown table, and insights highlighting the best match for your priorities.

Is this neighborhood comparison tool free?

Yes, the Neighborhood Livability Scorer is completely free to use. There are no sign-ups, subscriptions, or hidden costs. Compare as many neighborhoods as you like, export results as PNG or CSV, and share comparison links with friends and family.

Can I customize which factors matter most?

Absolutely. Use the priority sliders to adjust the weight of each category — safety, schools, walkability, affordability, and commute — on a scale of 0 to 10. Or choose a quick preset like Balanced, Family, Young Professional, Budget-Friendly, or Urban Explorer to set your priorities instantly.

Can I save or share my comparison results?

Yes! After scoring neighborhoods, you can save comparisons locally for later reference, copy a shareable link that preserves your locations and priority weights, export as PNG for easy sharing on social media, or download a CSV for your own analysis.

How are the category scores calculated?

Each category (safety, schools, walkability, affordability, commute) receives a raw score from 0 to 100 based on public data. Your overall livability score is a weighted average of these category scores, using the priority weights you set. For example, if you set Safety to 10 and everything else to 2, safety will dominate your final score.

How do I find the best neighborhood for my family?

Use the Family preset to automatically weight safety and schools highest. Enter your top candidate zip codes, and the tool will show you which neighborhood scores best for family priorities. Pay close attention to the Schools category (based on test scores, graduation rates, and student-teacher ratios) and Safety category (based on FBI crime statistics).

Can I look up a walkability score by zip code?

Yes. Enter any US zip code in the location field and the tool will return a walkability score (0-100) based on Walk Score API data, measuring pedestrian friendliness, transit access, and bike infrastructure. You can compare walkability across multiple zip codes side by side.

How does affordability scoring work?

The affordability score uses U.S. Census Bureau ACS data including median home price, median rent, and cost-of-living index. Neighborhoods with lower housing costs relative to the national median receive higher affordability scores. The score card also shows the actual median home price and rent so you can compare exact dollar amounts.

What makes a neighborhood safe?

Our safety score is calculated from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics, including both violent crime rates (assault, robbery) and property crime rates (burglary, theft) per capita. A score of 80+ indicates significantly below-average crime rates. For a complete picture, we recommend supplementing this score with local police department data and community feedback.

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