DwellCheck

NYC Address Intelligence

How We Calculate Livability Scores

DwellCheck uses a transparent, data-driven approach to evaluate NYC addresses. We believe you should know exactly how scores are calculated.

Scoring Algorithm

Every address starts with a baseline score of 100. We then apply penalties for negative factors (violations, complaints, crime) and bonuses for positive factors (transit access, parks, amenities).

Final scores are clamped between 0-100 and converted to letter grades:

A
85-100
B
70-84
C
55-69
F
0-54

Scoring Categories

Building Health

High Weight

Analyzes HPD violations, DOB violations, heat/hot water complaints, bedbug reports, and elevator issues at the specific building.

Impact: Up to -30 points for severe violations

Safety

High Weight

Evaluates NYPD crime data, arrests, and safety-related 311 complaints within walking distance of the address.

Impact: Up to -25 points for high crime areas

Nuisance

Medium Weight

Measures noise complaints, trash issues, rodent sightings, and construction permits in the immediate area.

Impact: Up to -20 points for persistent issues

Commute/Transit

Medium Weight

Calculates proximity to subway stations and bus stops, with bonuses for multiple transit options.

Impact: +3 to +8 points for excellent transit

Amenities

Medium Weight

Evaluates access to parks, grocery stores, restaurants, and other conveniences.

Impact: +3 to +10 points for walkable amenities

Environment/Wellness

Low Weight

Assesses sensory environment including quiet zones, third places, and street vitality.

Impact: +5 to -15 points based on factors

Data Sources

All data comes from official NYC government sources through the NYC Open Data Portal and the US Census Bureau.

Building Health

HPD Violations
Housing violations from NYC Housing Preservation & Development
Dataset: wvxf-dwi5
HPD Complaints
Tenant complaints filed with HPD
Dataset: uwyv-629c
DOB Violations
Building code violations from Dept of Buildings
Dataset: 3h2n-5cm9
Bedbug Reports
Annual bedbug infestation filings
Dataset: wz6d-d3jb

Safety

NYPD Complaints
Historic crime complaint data
Dataset: 5uac-w243
NYPD Arrests
Arrest records by location
Dataset: 8h9b-rp9u

Nuisance

311 Service Requests
Noise, trash, rodent, and other complaints
Dataset: erm2-nwe9
DOB Active Permits
Construction and after-hours variance permits
Dataset: ipu4-2vj7

Transit

Subway Stations
MTA subway entrance locations
Dataset: kk4q-3rt2
Bus Stops
MTA bus stop locations
Dataset: various

Amenities

Parks Properties
NYC Parks Department properties
Dataset: enfh-gkve
Retail Food Stores
Licensed grocery stores and supermarkets
Dataset: 9a8c-vfzj

Environment

FDNY Firehouses
Fire station locations (noise factor)
Dataset: hc8x-tcnd
Air Quality
EPA and NYC air monitoring data
Dataset: various

Demographics

US Census ACS
American Community Survey 5-year estimates
Dataset: census-api

Confidence Score

Each report includes a confidence percentage that indicates how much data was successfully retrieved. A 100% confidence means all 11 scoring modules returned data. Lower confidence may occur if:

  • NYC Open Data APIs are temporarily unavailable
  • The address is very new and not yet in all databases
  • Rate limiting affects data retrieval

We recommend treating low-confidence scores with appropriate skepticism and re-checking later.

Limitations & Disclaimers

  • Not real estate advice: DwellCheck is an informational tool. Always visit addresses in person and consult professionals before making housing decisions.
  • Data lag: Government data may be days to weeks old. Recent incidents may not be reflected.
  • Address precision: Some data sources use approximate locations. We use building-level (BBL) data where available.
  • Subjective factors: Scores cannot capture personal preferences, neighbor quality, or future changes.
  • No guarantee: A high score does not guarantee a positive living experience, and a low score does not mean an address should be avoided.

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