WellLanded profiles 150 U.S. metros across 14 dimensions. Everything is in the public dataset, /data/metros.json (dated 2026-08-16). The rankings, comparisons and metro pages are static pages made from that dataset. This page describes what the dataset contains. It doesn't claim more than that.
9 dimensions come from 8 named public data sources. Each metro record includes a source note for these:
| Dimension | Source | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), June 2026, metro level | $K |
| Effective property tax | Tax Foundation state effective rate (owner-occupied) | % |
| Winter mildness | NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals (heating degree days at a named station) | 1–10 |
| Summer comfort | NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals (cooling degree days at the same station) | 1–10 |
| Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk) | FEMA National Risk Index, per-capita expected annual loss by county | 1–10 |
| Airport connectivity | FAA calendar-year 2024 enplanements | 1–10 |
| Healthcare | CMS Care Compare hospital star ratings by county | 1–10 |
| Walkability | EPA National Walkability Index (county block groups) | 1–10 |
| Growth trajectory | Census county population estimates, 2020–2024 | 1–10 |
NOAA is the source for two dimensions (winter and summer), so 9 dimensions come from 8 sources.
4 dimensions are editorial estimates: outdoor access, culture & food, schools and safety. They're our judgment calls on a 1–10 scale, not measured data. No public source is linked to them yet.
Tax friendliness (1–10) is a single score per state: every metro in a state gets the same value. The dataset doesn't record a source or formula for it, so we don't describe it as sourced or composite.
That accounts for all 14: 9 sourced, 4 editorial and 1 state-level tax score. Earlier versions of the dataset note said "Sourced (10 of 14)". That was wrong, and the note now reads "9 of 14, from 8 public sources".
Each record also has a size field and a short written note. Neither is counted as one of the 14 dimensions.
The salary equivalence calculator runs in your browser. It compares two metros on two levers. The first is state income tax, using a fixed top-marginal-rate table, or 5% for states not in the table. The second is the yearly carrying cost of the median home: price × (6.5% + effective property tax). It's a rough estimate, not tax or financial advice.
Scores are relative 1–10 ratings for comparing metros. They aren't guarantees about any neighborhood or home. Check current figures with the original sources before you decide anything.