How NeighborScore Works: Crime, School & Home-Value Scores Explained

NeighborScore rates every U.S. ZIP code on a single 0–100 scale by blending the three things buyers and renters weigh most: safety, schools, and home value. The formula is deliberately simple — overall score = crime × 0.40 + school × 0.35 + value × 0.25 — and across all 26,276 scored ZIP codes the national average lands at about 58.

The three components

The crime score, weighted 40%, measures how a ZIP's reported violent and property crime compares with its state average, using FBI county- and city-level data. A ZIP running at roughly half its state's crime rate earns about 95; one well above average scores closer to 25. Because the benchmark is the state, the crime score answers "how safe is this ZIP for its state," not a raw national rate.

The school score, weighted 35%, combines grade-level coverage with math and reading proficiency from federal education data. ZIPs with strong, well-rounded public schools score highest, and the national average sits near 58.

The value score, weighted 25%, reflects how a ZIP's typical home price compares with its state median, drawn from Zillow's home-value index. Lower relative prices push the score up, so an affordable ZIP with decent schools and safety can outscore a far pricier one.

What counts as a good score?

Since the average ZIP scores 58, anything in the 70s is clearly above average and the 80s and 90s are exceptional. For a sense of the ceiling, see the profile for Ada, Minnesota (56510), which scores 91 on the strength of a 95 crime score and a 100 school score.

Where the data comes from

Crime comes from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, schools from the NCES Common Core of Data, demographics from the Census American Community Survey, and home prices from Zillow Research.

Frequently asked questions

Is a higher NeighborScore always better?

Higher means better on the blended index, but the right ZIP depends on your priorities. A renter who cares little about schools should look at the crime and value components directly rather than the headline number.

How current is the data?

Home prices update monthly, school and demographic data annually, and FBI crime data roughly a year after each calendar year closes — so the crime component typically reflects the most recent fully released year.

Why do some small rural ZIPs score so high?

Low crime relative to their state and affordable homes lift many small towns to the top of the rankings. We break this down in our guide to the highest-scoring ZIP codes in America.

NeighborScore is a research tool, not personal advice. Always tour a neighborhood and consult local professionals before making a housing decision.