What Is a BoomTown Score? Our Methodology Explained

Our Scoring Methodology

The BoomTown Score is a composite metric that combines four government data signals into a single 0-100 score. Here's exactly how it works.

The Four Signals

Population Growth (30% weight)

Source: US Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. We measure year-over-year population change percentage. Values are normalized from -5% to +10% on a 0-100 scale.

Building Permits (25% weight)

Source: Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. Year-over-year change in residential building permits authorized. Normalized from -20% to +50%.

Employment Growth (25% weight)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Year-over-year change in total employment. Normalized from -5% to +10%.

Net Migration (20% weight)

Source: IRS Statistics of Income Migration Data and Census ACS. Net migration rate per 1,000 residents. Normalized from -20 to +40.

Tier Classification

Based on the composite score, cities are classified into five tiers: Explosive Growth (85-100), Rapid Growth (70-84), Steady Growth (55-69), Emerging (40-54), and Stable (0-39).