DataByArea.com
DataByArea is a planning tool for comparing places. It separates city-specific public data from state benchmarks and estimated planning values so users know what to trust and what to verify locally.
The index is a 0-100 planning score derived from household income versus estimated monthly housing burden. Rent is used when available; otherwise the estimate uses a conservative monthly ownership proxy from home value and property tax. Higher scores indicate more budget room.
The index is not a lender rule, quote, or guarantee. It is a fast comparison signal for screening cities before checking address-level costs.
The V1 score starts with monthly household income, then estimates monthly pressure from rent or an ownership proxy, property tax, and a simple utility allowance when a state electricity benchmark exists. Housing burden is converted into a 0-100 score, capped so unusually weak or strong inputs do not create misleading extremes.
Formula summary: score = 100 - estimated burden percent x 1.75, bounded from 0 to 100. Rent is preferred for renter-side comparability; when rent is missing, home value is converted into an ownership proxy and paired with property tax where available.
City-specific values come from cached place-level public records, primarily Census ACS city metrics where a matching place row exists.
State benchmark values, such as EIA electricity or BLS unemployment, describe statewide context and should not be read as city utility tariffs or address-level labor data.
Estimated values are planning calculations from public inputs. Needs address verification means the user should check parcel records, utility providers, insurance quotes, school boundaries, commute routes, and local fee schedules.
DataByArea uses public-data caches and generated source notes from Census ACS, EIA, BLS, BEA/FRED where configured, and service-cost estimate assumptions. Exact contractor quotes, insurance premiums, utility bills, and tax bills can vary by address and provider.