Score a neighborhood before you sign a lease

A structured checklist of 40 observable features that affect daily life. Walkability, transit, groceries, green space, and more. Free, printable, no signup.

Start Scoring

Neighborhood Details

Neighborhood or address

City

Date of visit

Category Weights

Adjust sliders to match what matters most to you. Higher weight means that category counts more toward the total score.

Evaluation Checklist

Check each feature you can confirm by walking around or checking a free map. When in doubt, leave it unchecked.

Compare Two Neighborhoods

Score two places side by side. Useful when you are deciding between apartments or want to see how your current area stacks up against a new one.

Neighborhood A

Name

Neighborhood B

Name

Quick Compare Checklist

For each item, check the neighborhood that has it. Leave blank if both or neither have it.

How to Use This Checklist

Before your visit

Open the checklist on your phone. Look at a map of the area and note the nearest transit stops, grocery stores, and parks. This gives you a head start before you walk the streets.

During your visit

Walk a loop of at least 15 minutes from the address you are checking. Look for sidewalks, crosswalks, and whether stores are actually open. Check if bus or train stops are within a 10-minute walk.

After your visit

Fill in any items you could not confirm on foot. Print the scorecard or copy the summary. If you are comparing two places, use the comparison section to see the side-by-side scores.

Why this approach works

Most people choose a neighborhood based on a listing photo or a 10-minute drive. That misses the things that shape your everyday routine. Can you walk to get milk? Is there a clinic nearby? Can your kids walk to a park? This checklist makes you look at the features that actually affect your time, money, and stress level. The score is not a rating. It is a way to compare options with the same criteria so you can make a decision based on facts instead of first impressions.

Common mistakes when evaluating a neighborhood

Trusting listing language. Words like "vibrant" and "up-and-coming" mean different things to different people. Look at the actual amenities instead.
Only visiting on a Saturday. A neighborhood can feel very different on a weekday evening. Try to visit at least twice at different times.
Ignoring the last mile. A subway station 12 minutes away on paper might mean a steep hill or no sidewalk in practice. Walk the route.
Counting a feature you will not use. A fancy gym two blocks away does not help if you run outside. Weight the categories around your actual habits.
Forgetting about evening safety. Walk the same route at night if you can. Good lighting and foot traffic matter after dark.

Questions people ask

How do I know if a feature counts?

Each item includes a short description. If you can confirm it by walking around or checking a free map, count it. If you are not sure, leave it unchecked. Under-scoring is better than guessing.

Can I use this outside the US?

Yes. The criteria are based on universal urban features. Some items may not apply in every country. Skip those and the score adjusts.

What counts as a good score?

Above 70 means most daily needs are within walking distance. 50 to 70 means decent coverage with some gaps. Below 50 means you will likely need a car for most errands. These are rough guides.

Is my data saved?

Results are saved in your browser automatically. Nothing is sent to a server. Clear your browser data and the scores disappear.

Can I share my results?

Use the Copy Summary button to get a text version you can paste into an email or message. You can also print the scorecard.