How we calculate Nabelly's city scores
Nabelly aggregates public data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zillow Research, GreatSchools, Walk Score, and the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program. This page explains exactly what each score means, how it is composed, and where the numbers come from.
The Nabelly Score (0–10)
The overall Nabelly Score is a weighted composite of four category scores. Each city's inputs are normalized against the full 30-city dataset so the score always reads relative to comparable mid-size US metros.
- Costs (30%) — home price, rent, and cost-of-living index vs. the national baseline (100).
- Quality of Life (30%) — schools, safety, walkability, bike and transit scores.
- Opportunity (25%) — job growth rate, major employer diversity.
- Demographics (15%) — population growth trajectory, age balance.
Cost Index
The Cost Index uses 100 as the U.S. national average. A city with an index of 88 is roughly 12% cheaper than the national average across a standard basket (housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare). Inputs are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey and reconciled against local pricing surveys.
Data sources
Population, area, demographics, median household income.
Job growth rate, unemployment, wage data.
Median home price, rent estimates, market trend indicators.
School quality ratings, aggregated to city level.
Walk, bike, and transit scores per city center.
Safety score inputs (violent + property crime per capita).
City hero imagery under the Pexels license.
Refresh cadence
City-level numbers are reviewed quarterly. Real-estate listings on individual city pages are pulled near-live from the RentCast API. Photography is sourced on demand via Pexels.
Limitations
Nabelly's scores are decision aids, not appraisals. Sub-city variation (neighborhood, school district, commute) is real and material — always visit and consult local professionals before making a move or purchase. All scores and calculator outputs are estimates.
Corrections
Spotted an inaccuracy? Email us — corrections are reviewed within 5 business days.