To customize how much each factor matters, adjust the percentages above the table. The page will help you keep the sum equal to 100%, but if you go over or under it's alright. Once you change a percentage, it won't update automatically anymore. The URL of the site updates automatically as you change the numbers so if you find a set of values you like, it's easy to share by copying the URL.
Cost of Living: Compiled from multiple sources: - Economic Policy Institute - Payscale - AdvisorSmith - Numbeo - BestPlaces, in order of preference.
Food Awards: James Beard awards excellent restaurants and chefs.
Arts Vibrancy: Data sourced from SMU DataArts' Arts Vibrancy Map, based on counties. If a city lies in multiple counties, the score is proportionally assigned.
Park Walkability: Percentage of residents within a 10-minute walk to a park, sourced from the Trust for Public Land (TPL). Initially tried Walk Score, but it overemphasized downtown areas.
Climate Risk: Based on the ProPublica article's table. The score is calculated by summing six different scores for each county, then converting from county to city proportions as mentioned above.
Days above 90F & Days Below 32F: Counted the number of days above/below for the last 10 years and then divided giving an average of the number of days.