Our Data &
Methodology
Transparency matters. Here's exactly where our data comes from, how we process it, and what you should know about its limitations.
Last updated: January 2026
Our Philosophy
Home Risk Report aggregates publicly available data that any person could access themselves. We don't have special access to private databases or proprietary information. Our value is in aggregation, analysis, and presentation — saving you weeks of research across dozens of government websites and databases.
Data Sources
Property & Fiscal Data
County Tax Assessor Records
Property valuations, tax assessments, ownership records, and historical value changes. Updated annually when counties release new assessment data.
Coverage: County-by-county basis
Municipal Zoning Records
Zoning classifications, permitted uses, height restrictions, setback requirements, and ADU eligibility from local planning departments.
Building Permit Records
Historical permits for construction, renovation, and improvements. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Environmental & Risk Data
FEMA Flood Maps
National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) data including flood zones, base flood elevations, and floodway boundaries. Updated as FEMA revises maps.
Source: FEMA Map Service Center
EPA Environmental Data
Air Quality Index (AQI), Superfund sites, toxic release inventory, brownfield locations, and water quality reports from the EPA's public databases.
Source: EPA ECHO, AirNow, EJSCREEN
USGS Geological Data
Seismic hazard data, soil composition, karst/sinkhole risk areas, and geological survey information.
Source: USGS National Map
Wildfire Risk Assessment
Wildfire hazard potential from USDA Forest Service data and state fire agencies.
Source: USDA Wildfire Hazard Potential
Radon Data
EPA radon zone classifications and state-level radon survey data.
Source: EPA Radon Zone Map
Weather & Climate
Historical weather patterns, severe weather frequency, and climate data from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.
Source: NOAA NCEI
Education Data
Department of Education
School performance data, enrollment statistics, student-teacher ratios, and demographic information from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
State Education Agencies
State-specific school ratings, test scores, and accountability metrics where publicly available.
School Boundary Data
School attendance zone boundaries from NCES School Attendance Boundary Survey and local school district publications.
Economic & Community Data
U.S. Census Bureau
Demographic data, income statistics, housing characteristics, and population trends from the American Community Survey and decennial census.
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Local employment data, unemployment rates, and industry composition.
Source: BLS QCEW
USPTO Patent Database
Patent filings by geography to measure innovation and intellectual capital concentration in an area.
Source: USPTO PatentsView
FEC Campaign Finance
Political donation data aggregated by ZIP code to understand community political composition and civic engagement.
Source: FEC Individual Contributions
Healthcare Data
CMS Provider Data
Hospital locations, Medicare-certified facilities, and healthcare provider information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Source: CMS Provider of Services File
HRSA Health Resources
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations and community health center locations.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse
Our Methodology
Data Collection
We continuously collect data from public sources via official APIs, public data portals, and FOIA-obtained datasets. We prioritize authoritative government sources over third-party aggregators.
Address Matching
We geocode and standardize addresses to link data across multiple sources. This process isn't perfect — some properties may have incomplete data if address matching fails or if the property isn't in our source databases.
Analysis & Scoring
Where we provide scores or ratings (like environmental risk levels), we use transparent methodologies based on the underlying data. We don't use black-box algorithms — our assessments are derived directly from source data.
Presentation
We present data in context with explanations of what it means. Raw data without context can be misleading — we aim to help you understand the significance of each data point.
Data Limitations
Important Disclaimers
- ⚠ Data may be outdated. Public records have varying update frequencies. Tax data may be 6-12 months old. Environmental data may be several years old.
- ⚠ Coverage varies by location. Some jurisdictions provide more comprehensive public data than others. Rural areas may have less data available.
- ⚠ Errors exist in source data. Government databases contain errors. We present what's in the public record, which may not reflect current reality.
- ⚠ This is not professional advice. Our reports are for informational purposes only. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult professionals before making real estate decisions.
What We Don't Have
- ✕ Private transaction history or sale prices (unless publicly recorded)
- ✕ Interior condition, renovations, or upgrades not in permit records
- ✕ Private inspection reports or appraisals
- ✕ HOA rules, fees, or community restrictions
- ✕ Future development plans not yet in public record
Update Frequency
| Data Type | Typical Update Cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Assessments | Annually | After county releases new values |
| FEMA Flood Maps | As revised | FEMA updates vary by region |
| EPA Air Quality | Daily/Annually | AQI daily; other metrics annually |
| Census Data | Annually (ACS) | 5-year estimates most reliable |
| School Data | Annually | After school year ends |
| Political/FEC Data | Quarterly | Following FEC filing deadlines |
Questions about our data?
We're committed to transparency. If you have questions about our sources or methodology, we're happy to explain.
Contact Us