The Neighborhood Vitality Index is a 0–100 score that measures how healthy and thriving a census tract is — based entirely on US Census Bureau data that you control.
🔬
Transparent Formula
Every metric, every weight, every calculation is visible. No black box. You choose what matters to you.
🏛️
Authoritative Data
Powered by the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) — the gold standard for demographic data.
📊
5-Year History
See how neighborhoods evolved from 2019 to 2023. Trends tell a story a single number can't.
American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Annual survey data from the US Census Bureau covering demographics, income, housing, employment, and education for every census tract in the United States. Updated annually with 5-year rolling averages.
Source: census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
Census Geocoder
Official Census Bureau geocoding service that converts street addresses to census tract geographies using the most current geographic boundaries.
Source: geocoding.geo.census.gov
TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Census tract boundary geometries from the US Census Bureau's Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing system. Used to render the interactive map overlays.
These are the default weights. Every user can customize which metrics are included and how heavily they are weighted.
Higher household income signals a stronger local economy and greater purchasing power. Scaled against $150,000 benchmark.
Census variable: ACS B19013_001E
Property values reflect market confidence and investment activity. Scaled against $500,000 benchmark.
Census variable: ACS B25077_001E
Owner-occupied housing percentage. Homeowners tend to invest more in their neighborhoods, driving stability.
Census variable: ACS B25003_002E / B25001_001E
Percentage of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree. Higher education correlates with economic mobility and civic engagement.
Census variable: ACS B15003_022E / B15003_001E
Population density signals neighborhood activity and demand. Scaled against 5,000 benchmark.
Census variable: ACS B01003_001E
Inverse poverty metric — lower poverty rates score higher. Measures families below poverty line relative to population.
Census variable: ACS B17001_002E / B01003_001E
Employment rate as a share of the labor force. Lower unemployment = stronger local job market.
Census variable: ACS B23025_004E / B23025_006E
Vacant housing units as percentage of total. High vacancy signals declining demand or disinvestment.
Census variable: ACS B25002_003E / B25002_001E
Users can enable these metrics in the Customize NVI panel. All sourced from ACS data.
Rent Affordability
Rent as percentage of household income
Housing Stability
Residents who remained in the same home 1+ years
Housing Age
Median year structures were built
Vehicle Access
Vehicle ownership as economic mobility proxy
Family Households %
Family vs non-family household ratio
Graduate Degrees %
Master's, professional, or doctoral degrees
Public Transit Access
Commuters using public transportation
Median Gross Rent
Rental market strength indicator
Thriving neighborhood with strong economic indicators across the board.
Healthy neighborhood with solid fundamentals. Minor areas for improvement.
Transitional area. May have mixed signals — some strengths, some concerns.
Showing signs of economic stress. Could represent opportunity or risk depending on strategy.
Significant economic challenges. High poverty, low investment, high vacancy.
TractSavvy uses publicly available data from the US Census Bureau. NVI scores are calculated using user-configurable metrics and weights. Scores are intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for real estate, investment, or relocation decisions. Census data is collected through surveys and estimates — it may not reflect real-time conditions. TractSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US Census Bureau.