Method for analyzing demographic data

Abstract

A computer implemented method of generating an ordered list of geographical locations having similarities in preselected categories relative to a first geographical location.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, at a computer system, one or more descriptors that identify desired characteristics for a geographic location;   comparing, by the computer system, the desired characteristics with data for a plurality of geographic locations;   generating, based on the comparing, results that include a group of geographic locations that best match the desired characteristics; and   causing the results to be displayed in a user interface.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected by a user from search categories that are displayed to the user in the user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a search area from which best matches with the desired characteristics will be drawn,   wherein the plurality of geographic locations that are compared with the desired characteristics are in the search area.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the search area is defined, at least, by (i) a search radius and (ii) either (a) a specified city and state or (b) a specified zip code. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the data describes one or more of: demographics, crime, schools, housing characteristics, employment, climates, and geography. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, costs of housing. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, schools. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, crime. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, one or more of: building age, building size, building type, and building ownership. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, one or more of: resident age, resident lifestyle, resident education, resident income, and resident occupation. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the results are displayed as an ordered list of best matching geographic locations. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the results comprise information about available houses. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of geographic locations comprise neighborhoods. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying, by a computing device, a user interface that includes characteristics of geographic locations;   receiving, through the user interface, user selection of one or more descriptors that identify desired characteristics of a geographic location;   submitting the one or more descriptors, wherein results that include a group of geographic locations that best match the desired characteristics are generated based on comparisons of the desired characteristics with data for a plurality of geographic locations; and   displaying the results in the user interface.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 displaying, in the user interface, selectable fields for a search area;   receiving user selection of the search area from which best matches with the desired characteristics will be drawn;   submitting the search area, wherein the plurality of geographic locations that are compared with the desired characteristics are in the search area.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the selectable fields for the search area include (i) a field for a search radius and (ii) either (a) a field for a specified city and a field for a state or (b) a field for a specified zip code. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the characteristics that are displayed in the user interface include, at least, one or more of: costs of housing, schools, and crime. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of geographic locations comprise neighborhoods. 
     
     
         26 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, at a computer system, user selection of a base location;   causing a user interface that includes descriptors of characteristics of the base location to be displayed;   receiving, at a computer system, modified search criteria that includes, at least, one or more modifications to the descriptors of characteristics for the base location, wherein the modified search criteria identifies desired characteristics for a geographic location that is similar to but different from the base location;   comparing, by the computer system, the desired characteristics with data for a plurality of geographic locations;   generating, based on the comparing, results that include a group of geographic locations that best match the desired characteristics; and   causing the results to be displayed in a user interface.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the user selection of the base location includes one or more of: a street address, a zip code, a city and a state, and one or more geographic locations that are depicted on a map; and   the plurality of geographic locations comprise neighborhoods.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more modifications to the descriptors are selected from one or more categories of characteristics that include, at least, costs of housing, schools, and crime. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of geographic locations comprise identifiable geographic areas. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein the identifiable geographic areas include named geographic areas. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the results comprise information incorporating scores that indicate how closely geographic locations from the group of geographic locations match the desired characteristics. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the data comprises data that indicates school quality. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the results are displayed in the user interface as part of a list.