Real Estate Glossary

Definitions of terms used across our city rankings, comparisons, and methodology.

Crime & Safety

Crime Tier

One of seven categories (Very Low to Very High) assigned to each city based on FBI crime data per 1,000 residents.

FBI Crime Data Explorer

The FBI's public portal for crime statistics collected from law enforcement agencies nationwide via the NIBRS reporting system.

Demographics

American Community Survey (ACS)

An annual survey by the U.S. Census Bureau providing demographic, housing, and economic estimates for communities across the country.

Cost of Living Index

A composite index where 100 equals the national average, measuring relative expenses across housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare.

Housing

Median Home Value (ACS)

The midpoint home value from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, where half of homes are worth more and half less.

Housing Affordability

A scoring factor that compares a city's typical home value to the national benchmark — lower values score higher.

Income-to-Housing Ratio

The ratio of local median household income to local median home value, used to measure relative affordability.

Methodology

Walk Score

A 0–100 index measuring the walkability of any address or city based on proximity to nearby amenities.