About Scout’s Demographics Data

Only NeighborhoodScout Demographics uncover the unique character revealing the DNA of place by quantifying the attributes of its people. NeighborhoodScout provides demographic analytics for every state, city, and neighborhood in the U.S., as well as trends and forecasts at the micro-neighborhood level.

Unlike standardly available Census demographics, NeighborhoodScout uses dozens of custom models to transform 8.5 million raw demographic data elements from government sources into proprietary indices and insights. NeighborhoodScout provides full national coverage and uses patented algorithms to compare the lifestyle characteristics and special character of locations throughout the U.S.

Perhaps you’re looking for a place where access to high paying jobs is readily available, and incomes are relatively high to ensure the rentability of an investment property. Or maybe your investment formula relies on Walkability or proximity to Retirement Areas.  NeighborhoodScout provides theses keen demographic insights not available in raw regurgitated Census data.

 

The 130+ demographic elements at the neighborhood level include:

Lifestyle & Special Character

bar chart displaying lifestylesPeople have personalities, and so do neighborhoods. A neighborhood’s character describes its personality and the feeling one gets when experiencing the neighborhood as a true resident. Quiet and sophisticated? Hip and walkable? The length of the bars indicate how well a specific neighborhood meets the characteristic when compared against all other neighborhoods in the country.

How you can use this data:

Match the neighborhood character of your top performing property investments. Understand precisely how your neighborhood’s character and lifestyle attributes stack up against other locations. Is the area ideal for vacation rentals? Or is it a vibrant college student community?

How this data is unique:

  • Lifestyle and Special Character attributes are developed exclusively by NeighborhoodScout using patented algorithms to match characteristics across all US neighborhoods
  • The ratings are normalized to be comparable any property by address throughout the US
  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

NeighborhoodScout’s Lifestyle and Special Character analytics draw from the United States Bureau of the Census raw data, then using patented matching algorithms each micro-neighborhood in the United States is ranked for comparison and categorized into proprietary classifications that are meaningful to property investors.


Age, Marital, College/Military Status, and Household Type 

Any deep dive look at a Neighborhood should cover fundamental demographics.  NeighborhoodScout captures and reports these as part of the full picture of the Neighborhood. Age represents groups present in the neighborhood, as a percentage of the total population. Marital status is defined based on the percentage of residents who are 18 and over. Marital statuses include: married, divorced, widowed and single (Never Married). Military Status is the percent currently active in the military, College Status is the percent currently attending a college or university. Household Type defines the particular living arrangements of a household in the neighborhood as a percentage of the total households.

Graphs displaying neighborhood demographics

How you can use this data:

  • Target Market Validation. Perhaps you are looking to invest in a rental property. Will you be targeting families or individuals? Do the people in the neighborhood match the profile of  your ideal renter?

How this data is unique

  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

Bar charts showing household typesThe data NeighborhoodScout is the latest neighborhood statistics available from several leading government sources, including the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Geological Service, among others. We bring information from these different agencies together in one giant database and then we use our PhD-level expertise to create new, useful profiles and insights about neighborhoods, cities, and towns all across America.


Occupations & Employment

What we do for a living affects who we are. NeighborhoodScout provides a bi-directional perspective of employment: what are the types of employers that residents work for, and what occupations have those residents chosen.

Employment industries bar chartHow you can use this data:

  • Mitigate Investment Risk. Is there a major company in the area providing the majority of employment for the residents?
  • Target Market Validation. Depending on your investment objectives, the types of local employers help shape the neighborhood’s character. Do the occupations in the area match the target profile for renters or buyers?

Bar chart showing the types of occupationsHow this data is unique:

  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

The data NeighborhoodScout is the latest neighborhood statistics available from several leading government sources, including the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Geological Service, among others. We bring information from these different agencies together in one giant database and then we use our PhD-level expertise to create new, useful profiles and insights about neighborhoods, cities, and towns all across America.

Income & Unemployment

NeighborhoodScout Income and Unemployment rates help investors and homebuyers determine the strength of the local employment economy.

Comparative bar charts displaying income rangeHow you can use this data:

  • Determine the Job Market Strength: Whether you’re looking for a single-family home to own or an investment property to rent or sell, understanding the strength of the job market in your desired neighborhood is crucial to success.

How this data is unique:

  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

The data NeighborhoodScout is the latest neighborhood statistics available from several leading government sources, including the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Geological Service, among others. We bring information from these different agencies together in one giant database and then we use our PhD-level expertise to create new, useful profiles and insights about neighborhoods, cities, and towns all across America.

Commute & Mobility

Charts showing how residents get to workWhere we work is usually a leading factor in the selection of where we live.  NeighborhoodScout’s analytics provide insight for average communing times, availability of different transportation modes and a view of migration and mobility for the neighborhood.

How you can use this data:

  • Choosing the Best Locations. Whether renting a property for investment or selecting your next primary residence, commute time is key. Are you close enough to attract renters? Will your proximity help you fetch a higher rent or re-sale price?

How this data is unique:

  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

The data NeighborhoodScout is the latest neighborhood statistics available from several leading government sources, including the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Geological Service, among others. We bring information from these different agencies together in one giant database and then we use our PhD-level expertise to create new, useful profiles and insights about neighborhoods, cities, and towns all across America.


Ancestries & Ethnic DiversityChart comparing neighborhood ethnicities

NeighborhoodScout’s proprietary Diversity Index provides a nationally comparable, unique score for each and every neighborhood in America.  The higher the score, the more diverse the neighborhood.

Most common ancestries and languages

How this data is unique:

  • Diversity Index is a unique measure for the neighborhood developed exclusively for NeighborhoodScout.
  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

NeighborhoodScout’s Diversity Index analytics draws from the United States Bureau of the Census raw data, then using patented matching algorithms each micro-neighborhood in the United States is ranked for comparison and a score is generated for each specific neighborhood.

Higher Education Attainment

Charts showing educational statusNeighborhoodScout’s Education analytics provide a snapshot of the educational attainment of residents in the neighborhood.  The Income & Education chart is an exclusive feature of NeighborhoodScout’s demographics.  It shows how two of the most defining dimensions for a neighborhood—how the educational attainment level of adults living in the neighborhood and household income align.

How you can use this data:

  • Understand Neighborhood Character. One would expect that higher education means a bigger paycheck right? Not so fast. What if the neighborhood has high education but low wages—or the opposite, high wages with low education.  This can provide key insights to the history and character of the specific neighborhood.

How this data is unique:

  • The Income & Education graph is a unique measure for the neighborhood developed exclusively for NeighborhoodScout.
  • 100% complete, seamless national coverage

Where this data comes from:

The data NeighborhoodScout is the latest neighborhood statistics available from several leading government sources, including the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Geological Service, among others. We bring information from these different agencies together in one giant database and then we use our PhD-level expertise to create new, useful profiles and insights about neighborhoods, cities, and towns all across America.