HavenScore v1.1: what changed and why
A methodology change. Three things move in the scoring; the rest stays the same.
HavenScore ranks every U.S. ZIP on how far a homebuyer’s money goes. The May 2026 release sharpens three pieces of that ranking. Pillar weights, the 0–100 scale, and the four-pillar structure all stay the same.
Livability now counts toward HavenScore
Walkability, transit access, and job density already appeared on every ZIP detail page, surfaced as context. They now feed a new Livability input inside HavenScore. Inputs blend EPA Smart Location Database signals (walkability, transit access, job density) with demand fundamentals from the Census ACS and BLS (net migration, employment growth, owner-occupancy). ZIPs that command a price premium because of dense walkable amenities now register that premium in the score, not just on the page.
Physical hazards count toward Risk
Risk previously covered only financial risk — overvaluation, household stress, and market-clearing stress. It now also includes a wedge for physical hazard risk, sourced from FEMA’s National Risk Index composite score (flood, wildfire, hurricane). Coastal and wildfire-exposed ZIPs see a measurable Risk shift; most inland markets are unaffected.
Property tax reflects what a new buyer actually pays
The previous property-tax input was Census-derived — median property tax paid divided by median home value, which is anchored to assessments from purchases years earlier. In high-tax states (New Jersey, New York, Texas, California) that figure systematically understated what a new buyer would pay. The score now uses state-level effective property tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024 vintage). The Census-derived figure remains on every ZIP detail page as a transparency cell labeled “Current owners pay,” so both numbers are visible.
The full input structure, sources, and update cadence are on /methodology.
Every number names its public source.
Input structure, update cadence, and the full source list — published in one place.