What is AreaVibes?
AreaVibes is a website created by John Russo to help people identify the best places to live based on pre-defined criteria that are averaged to generate a livability score. They have developed a unique algorithm that takes into consideration available amenities, cost of living, crime rates, etc. to generate a livability score out of 100 possible points to help people find the best places to live based on their priorities.
The scores in each category, as well as the livability score, can be compared and ranked against benchmarked state and national averages.
AreaVibes has compiled an extensive database of 45,000 cities, neighborhoods, and zip codes This can be an invaluable tool for anyone looking to relocate or just increase their awareness of general trends in their own communities.
Once an area is chosen, the website will also pull up additional towns, cities, and communities in the general area along with their corresponding livability scores. The AreaVibes tool will even allow you to customize your search by
“weighting” the results of individual factors based on your priorities.
For those who are using AreaVibes as a relocation tool, it will even pull up homes and rentals that are available in the market.
But, sometimes numbers don’t always tell the whole story…
That’s why AreaVibes includes user ratings in their algorithm. This allows local residents to weigh in on the communities and provide feedback based on real-life experiences.
AreaVibes Review
Pros and Cons
Pros
- $0 Cost
- Custom Search Capability
- Large Database
- User Ratings
Cons
- Ads
- Limited In-Depth Data
What We Liked About Area Vibes
Price
First of all…we like the fact that you don’t have to shell out any upfront cash or subscribe to be able to use AreaVibes. It is a free tool!
Customization
In addition, it isn’t just a generic database where you have to sift through dozens of datasets to identify areas that might be suitable for your individual tastes priorities, and needs. It gives you the ability to customize the search so that you can quickly identify areas that are best suited to your individual situation.
Large Database
With over 45,000 cities, towns, zip codes, and communities included, you are sure to find information on almost any targeted area.
User Reviews
Not everything can be quantified in data and spreadsheets from national sources. Sometimes the best way to get a feel for a community is direct from the “horse’s mouth”. AreaVibes takes that into account. They provide a forum for local residents to weigh in and provide feedback. This is often where you’ll be able to rank the intangibles that make a community a great place to live!
Where AreaVibes Falls a Bit Short
Honestly, as a free online tool, there is not much to quibble about.
However, the pages are a bit cluttered with advertising which can be a distraction.
Additionally, it might be helpful to be able to more easily access more in-depth data…even if it were in the form of a paid upgrade.
AreaVibes Rating Categories
The following is a summary of each of the categories that are considered in the Livability Score. We used scores from Kansas City, MO to illustrate as it was ranked the “Most All-American City” seven times!
Amenities
One of the first considerations when considering a new location to relocate to is what type of amenities are available. AreaVibes will give an overview of amenities such as groceries, restaurants parks, and entertainment located within reasonable walking distance.
Cost of Living
Ever wonder how your community fares when it comes to the cost of living? This section takes a number of factors into consideration, such as housing, utilities, and groceries as well as sales, income, and property taxes…to generate a score that compares with state and national averages.
Crime
How safe is your community…or one you are considering moving to? AreaVibes uses FBI Uniform Crime Report Stats to generate an overall score.
Employment
Get an overview of the economic strength and job availability with AreaVibe’s Employment score. This score is a function of income, unemployment rates, and even the accessibility to public transportation.
Housing
Of course, many factors are likely moot, if the housing is not affordable. Here you can see just how affordable housing is in relation to the average household income.
Schools
If you have school-aged children, the quality of the school system is of paramount importance. See how the schools stack up at a quick glance.
AreaVibes User Ratings
Sometimes is difficult to quantify the quality of a community or measure the intangibles that make a great place to live. AreaVibes is unique in that they provide a forum, and factor in user ratings so that you can get a better “feel” for a community….that comes from those who actually live there!
Beyond The AreaVibes Research
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Common AreaVibe FAQs
Why trust this AreaVibes review?
Is AreaVibes a good tool to research the best neighborhoods?
Why You Can Rely on The Home Security Advisor Reviews
When it comes to personal safety and security, industry experience counts.
While many sites employ journalists and writers, Mike, The Home Security Advisor, spent 20+ years in the trenches of the home security industry. Working for 2 of the top home security companies in the nation, he has spent thousands of hours in the homes and living rooms of people just like you- listening to their concerns and helping them find the best security solutions to address their needs.
The Home Security Advisor was developed as a resource to share these insights and help our readers simplify the sometimes difficult task of finding the best products and solutions for anyone looking to enhance their lives and better protect their homes and families.
What makes this review of the AreaVibes by The Home Security Advisor different?
If you are looking for a tool to identify the best neighborhoods to relocate to or raise a family, you will not find a more comprehensive review.
Here are just some of the reasons The Home Security Advisor should be your “go-to” resource when you are looking into personal and home security products and services.
Hands-On Reviews
Many of the products we review are items that we have been sent for evaluation or even chosen to purchase for our own use. When evaluating tools to evaluate the best towns and cities…we took the time to fully “test drive” the program and see how well it works in everyday use.
We review hundreds of personal and home security products and companies and analyze thousands of customer reviews so that we can lay out both the good and the bad when we evaluate products or services that will help people keep their families safe from potential predators.
Whether it is a neighborhood watchdog tool, personal security device, or home security system, we provide additional sections of important things to consider to help you determine what makes the most sense for your situation.
Quick Link TOC
We try to be as thorough as possible in reviewing tools, products, and companies.
However, we recognize that your time is valuable and you may not always have time to get into all the “nitty-gritty” of all the factors we analyze regarding home security systems or neighborhood research tools….so we make it easy to jump ahead in our Table of Contents and get right to the sections that you are most interested in.
Common AreaVibes Q+As
You have questions…we have answers. When reviewing security systems, alarm companies, or neighborhood research tools such as AreaVibes, we do our best to anticipate and answer the most common questions that concerned and security-conscious families might have.
AreaVibes Video Summaries
Some people are more visual…so we frequently provide video summaries. For example, in this review, you’ll soon find a video summary, in addition to the infographics, that help to illustrate a variety of personal safety and neighborhood research and watchdog resources.
Forum for Customer Reviews
We make it easy to see how actual customers feel about their experiences with a monitored comments section and customer review sections. You can share your experiences as well, in our AreaVibes Reviews section.
How much does AreaVibes cost?
A great way to research the quality of a neighborhood, AreaVibes is a free service. While the information might be a bit more general than some pay sites that offer more specifics-such as detailed crime reports and locations, it certainly is an affordable way to get an overall picture of a community.
How accurate is AreaVibes?
AreaVibes compiles information from a variety of reputable sources, such as:
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- US Census Bureau
- National Center for Education Statistics
Of course, not all of the information in these resources are compiled annually. It is important to keep in mind that some communities may not report their crime statistics and that census data is compiled every 10 years.
Where does AreaVibes get their data?
AreaVibes data is compiled from a variety of resources. Those listed in their methodology are:
- Google Places
- C2ER (Cost of Living Index)
- United States Government
- Statistics Canada
- FBI Uniform Crime Report
- 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey
- Environics Analytics
- National Center for Education Statistics
And, of course, their user reviews and ratings are generated internally by users who take the time to take the AreaVibes survey to share their experiences.
How do I customize my results with AreaVibes?
One of the unique features of the AreaVibes tool is that it enables the user to customize the search results based on their own priorities and primary interests.
One merely needs to adjust the sliders in relation to the importance of the category. For instance, the quality of the school systems and area crime rates might be emphasized by a family with younger children who work remotely.
This is a great feature to be able to really dig deep to identify towns in an area that really shine in certain categories.
Summary- AreaVibes Provides Real Value
AreaVibes is an outstanding free resource that can help you better find the best places to live, play, and work. It provides a quantifiable livability score based on a variety of metrics which enables the user to get an overall view of an area and quickly compare other communities.
In addition, AreaVibes allows one to customize results based on individual interests and priorities.
This is particularly useful for one who is relocating and wants to identify areas that will closely align with their needs. By adjusting the importance of specific metrics in one’s search, one can quickly identify the areas that are best suited to their specific situation.
Moreover, AreaVibes provides information on similar communities and even shows available real estate in chosen neighborhoods.
Even if one requires more specific details, AreaVibes is a great tool to quickly pinpoint target areas, which can be researched in greater detail, if necessary.
If one doesn’t mind the distraction of a bit of advertising, it is hard not to give AreaVibes a big thumbs up.
Start your AreaVibes Search
To find the best communities in your area, click on the link below:
Top 5 Online Resources to Analyze Neighborhood Safety
Area Vibes – This website provides an analysis of various aspects of different cities and neighborhoods, including crime rates, the weather, school ratings, amenities, and the local housing market.
Family Watchdog – A free online tool for those who are concerned about their proximity to registered sex offenders.
LexisNexis – A free tool that gives users instant access to the latest crime reports and data compiled by local law enforcement agencies.
Neighborhood Scout – A website that enables the user to compare crime data and measure the crime rates in their neighborhood against similar areas in other cities and states.
SpotCrime – Offers both a website and an app that extracts data from police reports, local news, and user reports to create maps and crime reports that are specific to local communities.
Top 5 Neighborhood Watchdog Tools
If you are considering taking additional measures to help protect them in your home, we recommend that you check out our Top Rated Home security systems.
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Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by The Home Security Advisor
