Methodology
How We Calculate Affordability
LiveBetter ranks U.S. metropolitan areas based on affordability for your specific salary and household size. Our scoring methodology focuses on how much discretionary income you'll have left after covering essential monthly expenses.
Composite Scoring System
Affordability scores are linearly normalized where -$500/month scores 0% and $6,000/month scores 100%. Quality of life metrics are normalized to 0-1 scale and weighted by your preferences (0-10 each). The final score combines all factors based on your selected priorities.
Data Sources
Rent (HUD Fair Market Rents)
2-bedroom median rents from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Updated annually.
Regional Price Parities (BEA)
Bureau of Economic Analysis RPP data adjusts for regional cost differences. Index of 1.00 = national average, 1.12 = 12% more expensive.
Taxes (Approximated)
Effective income tax rates by state and salary band, combining federal and state taxes. For MVP, we use coarse salary bands (60k, 80k, 100k, 120k).
Utilities (EIA)
Baseline monthly utility costs derived from Energy Information Administration data on average electricity rates and usage patterns.
Groceries (Scaled Baskets)
Base monthly costs per person, scaled by household size and adjusted by RPP. Single: $350 groceries. Each additional person: +$150 groceries.
Transportation (Mode-Based)
Transportation costs vary by your chosen mode and city characteristics:
Population (U.S. Census Bureau)
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population data from official U.S. Census Bureau estimates. MSA populations include the entire metro region (city plus surrounding suburbs and counties), reflecting the actual labor market and cost-of-living area where people live and work.
Quality of Life Metrics
☀️ Weather Score (Open-Meteo API)
Climate comfort score (0-100) based on temperature ranges, precipitation frequency, and sunshine hours. Free weather API with no authentication required.
🌬️ Air Quality Index (EPA AirNow)
Current air quality index from EPA AirNow API. Lower values indicate better air quality (0-50 = Good, 51-100 = Moderate, 101+ = Unhealthy).
🎓 School Quality Score
Composite score based on standardized test performance and graduation rates in the metro area.
🛡️ Safety (Crime Rate per 100k)
Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Lower numbers indicate safer communities.
🏥 Healthcare Score
Healthcare access and quality rating based on hospital density, quality ratings, and physician availability.
🚶 Walkability Score
Walk Score® metric measuring pedestrian-friendliness based on proximity to amenities, pedestrian infrastructure, and walkable destinations. Scores range from 0-100 (90-100 = Walker's Paradise, 70-89 = Very Walkable, 50-69 = Somewhat Walkable).
🚗 Average Commute Time
Mean commute time in minutes for metro area workers, from Census Bureau data.
Limitations & Disclaimers
- Data reflects 2024-2025 estimates and may not capture rapid local changes
- Tax calculations are simplified and do not include all deductions or credits
- Individual costs vary significantly based on lifestyle and specific neighborhoods
- Quality-of-life data availability varies by metro; some cities may have incomplete QoL metrics
- Healthcare, childcare, and debt payments are not factored into affordability calculations
Planned Enhancements
- ✓Quality-of-life metrics (crime rates, schools, weather, air quality, walkability)IMPLEMENTED
- ✓Redis caching for fast response timesIMPLEMENTED
- •More granular tax calculations with deductions
- •Healthcare and childcare cost estimates
- •Cultural amenities scoring (restaurants, arts, entertainment)
- •User profiles and saved searches
- •Natural language city recommendations with AI