Methodology
BestCityFor is designed as a transparent decision engine. Every score is computed from public data, with explicit weights and “why it ranks” drivers.
Want the exact sources? Sources.
How the score is computed
- We select a set of metrics for each vertical (Remote Work, Retirement) and assign default weights.
- For each metric, we winsorize outliers (clamp to the 5th–95th percentile) and normalize onto a 0–100 scale.
- We apply weights and compute a weighted average. If a metric is missing for a city, its weight is removed and remaining weights re-normalize.
- We map the 0–100 score into a grade (A+ through F) and derive “drivers” from the biggest weighted contributions. Grades are assigned from score percentiles within the current city set (to avoid skewed distributions from metric outliers).
Remote Work weights
Defaults for the top 200 cities (ACS 2023).
| Metric | Weight | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rent (2BR) | 30 | Lower is better |
| Broadband subscription | 15 | Higher is better |
| Work-from-home share | 15 | Higher is better |
| Median household income | 15 | Higher is better |
| Bachelor’s+ rate | 10 | Higher is better |
| Commute 45+ min share | 5 | Lower is better |
| Climate comfort | 10 | Higher is better |
Retirement weights
Defaults for the top 200 cities (ACS 2023).
| Metric | Weight | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rent (2BR) | 20 | Lower is better |
| Typical home value | 15 | Lower is better |
| Age 65+ share | 10 | Higher is better |
| Median household income | 10 | Higher is better |
| Broadband subscription | 5 | Higher is better |
| Commute 45+ min share | 5 | Lower is better |
| Climate comfort | 35 | Higher is better |
Young Professionals weights
Defaults for the top 200 cities (ACS 2023).
| Metric | Weight | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | 25 | Higher is better |
| Bachelor’s+ rate | 15 | Higher is better |
| Work-from-home share | 10 | Higher is better |
| Broadband subscription | 5 | Higher is better |
| Typical rent (2BR) | 20 | Lower is better |
| Age 25–34 share | 15 | Higher is better |
| Below poverty line | 5 | Lower is better |
| Commute 45+ min share | 5 | Lower is better |
Limitations
- City-level averages can hide neighborhood differences.
- Some important factors (tax policy, healthcare access, walkability) aren’t included in v1.
- Data is updated on the ACS release cycle; NOAA may be included when available.
FAQ
›Is this a subjective ranking?
It’s a model: we pick measurable proxies, normalize them across cities, apply explicit weights, and publish the components. You can disagree with the weights — that’s the point.
›Why normalize instead of using raw values?
Raw metrics aren’t comparable across different units. Normalization maps each metric onto a common 0–100 scale so weights behave predictably.
›What about neighborhoods or metro areas?
This is city-proper (incorporated places) and city-level averages. Neighborhood-level and metro-level choices can differ a lot.