PriceWeather uses sourced, dated, and reproducible data. Every number in every report traces back to a specific public source, with a specific refresh cadence. No anonymous submissions. No hidden algorithms.
Every metric on every PriceWeather report is subject to four rules:
We use public and authoritative sources only. PriceWeather is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any of the organizations listed below — we cite their data with appropriate attribution.
Tools like Numbeo, Expatistan, and Areavibes rely heavily on anonymous user submissions. That approach creates specific problems we structurally avoid:
Their approach: anonymous user submissions can be manipulated by anyone with an agenda — a landlord bumping their city's rent numbers, a chamber of commerce boosting a positive metric.
Our approach: sourced data only. Every number traces back to a named public dataset. Community signals (when we introduce them) are visibly labeled separately and never mixed with authoritative data.
Their approach: vague metric definitions like "meal at a good restaurant" mean different things to different users.
Our approach: precise scope on every metric. Groceries shown in three tiers — budget basket, mid-tier, premium — with example items so users know exactly what they're comparing.
Their approach: stale prices from years ago that no one has refreshed, with no visible timestamp on the metric.
Our approach: every metric ships with a last-updated timestamp on the card. Outdated metrics fade visually and trigger a refresh in our data pipeline.
Their approach: the "crime index" is a survey of resident perception, not an actual crime count.
Our approach: official FBI UCR crime statistics and resident-perception scores shown separately. Users can compare what the numbers say to what residents feel — never blended into a single misleading figure.
Their approach: metro-level averages hide material ZIP-level variance.
Our approach: ZIP code is our atomic unit of data where the source supports it. Metro averages exist as a headline rollup only. Property taxes in Mt. Lebanon vs. East Pittsburgh are not the same number, and we don't pretend they are.
Every metric on a PriceWeather report can be traced back to its origin. If you ever see a number you'd like to verify:
Email hello@priceweather.com with the city, metric, and date you're checking. We'll reply within 5 business days with the specific source, the refresh cadence, and the calculation methodology behind that figure.
This isn't a marketing promise — it's a commitment to reproducibility. If we can't trace it, we shouldn't have published it.
When we materially change how we source or calculate metrics — for example, adding a new data provider, changing tier definitions, or updating refresh cadences — we update this page with a new "last reviewed" date and log the change in our internal audit trail. Subscribers to the weekly Price Weather Report receive an email notification for material changes.
For any questions about our methodology, our data sources, or our approach to a specific metric, contact us at hello@priceweather.com or through the contact form.