Methodology
How our neighborhood scores work
Every score on NeighborhoodIntelPRO traces back to public data. Here's how we get from raw datasets to a 0–100 view of a place — and why each score ships with a confidence indicator.
1. Source the data
We aggregate public, authoritative datasets:
- U.S. Census Bureau
Demographics, household income, education attainment, housing characteristics (ACS 5-year estimates).
- FBI Crime Data (UCR / NIBRS)
Reported crime aggregated at agency and county level. Coverage and reporting cadence vary by jurisdiction.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Public water system violations and compliance. Mapped to the nearest available water system serving each county.
- Public education datasets
School counts, enrollment, and aggregate performance signals derived from public state and federal sources.
- Public housing market signals
Affordability, ownership rates, and price-level indicators derived from public datasets and Census housing tables.
2. Map data to your location
Census geographies, county FIPS codes, school districts, and EPA water-service areas don't always line up perfectly with a single address. We map your query to the closest available reporting unit for each category and label approximations honestly — for example, “Mapped to nearest available water system based on public EPA data.”
3. Normalize and score
Each input is normalized against national distributions, then combined into category scores — livability, safety, affordability, schools, environment, and momentum. Weights reflect how strongly each input correlates with the category in well-known research, not arbitrary judgment.
4. Attach confidence
Every score ships with a confidence indicator so you can decide how much weight to give it:
Confidence is calculated from three signals: completeness (how many inputs were available), recency (how fresh the data is), and precision (how closely the data maps to the area you asked about).
5. Interpret responsibly
Scores are interpretive — not certifications. They are a research starting point. For decisions about housing, finances, schools, or relocation, combine them with on-the-ground research and qualified professional advice.