Homebuyers and renters throughout the nation are changing their must-have lists to include more facets of the neighborhood in which they want to live. From walkability to nearby amenities, the neighborhood checklist stretches much longer than school ratings.
Watch any house hunting show and you’ll see the trend: people want charm.
RentLingo, an apartment search site, launched its Charm Index which utilizes big data to offer a visualization of the best and worst places to live in a specific city. The index pulls information on local businesses, crime, bike trails, gyms and more.
“We created the Charm Index with the belief that local businesses are what define a neighborhood’s charm. They offer the flavor of the area,” said Dan Laufer, RentLingo’s co-founder and CEO.
“We wanted to show this to everyone, so that whether you are moving from a different state, different city, or even just across town and finally out of your parents’ home, you can find the neighborhood that would provide access to the inspiration of local culture.”
In Chicago, it’s not hard to find a neighborhood with loads of charm. Obvious suspects like Gold Coast, Magnificent Mile and Wicker Park have loads of charm.
Check out RentLingo’s interactive map:
