Editorial policy

BestCityFor is built to be auditable. Rankings are computed from public datasets with explicit weights — no pay-to-play placements.

Principles

Traceable data: Every metric is sourced and linked.
Transparent math: We publish weights and normalization in Methodology.
Explainability: City pages show drivers and “watch-outs,” not just a rank.
Scope clarity: v1 uses city proper (incorporated places), not metros.

How we choose metrics

We prioritize metrics that are (1) national in scope, (2) comparable across cities, and (3) updated on a predictable cadence. When a factor can’t be measured well nationwide (like neighborhood safety perception or culture), we call that out as a limitation instead of faking precision.

See Sources and Methodology for details.

Corrections and updates

If you spot a data issue, we want to fix it. The quickest way is to share the city + metric, and the source you believe is correct.

Visit Data updates for the current build date and ACS year.