Reply #3: That's why you have to get high-tech: [View All]

[ellisonz]

Zillow Analysis Reveals Prime Trick-or-Treating Neighborhoods

By John C Abell
October 30, 2009

Kids always seem to know where the best trick or treating is, and how to avoid the worst places (hint: look for TP’d trees in the front yard). But online real-estate site Zillow has come up with a high-tech way for goblins, freaks and pirates (and those just dressed up as them for Halloween) to zero in on the most target-rich environments.

Los AngHELLes and SHRIEK!attle were the first whose top five neighborhoods Zillow outed for the doorbell-ringing hordes that will fan out Saturday night. On Friday they added BOO!ston, ChicaGHOUL and San FREAKcisco.

Zillow isn’t using any crowdsourcing methods to create its Trick-or-Treat Housing Index, such as intel from last year’s Halloween — maybe look for that next year. Nor is it just pointing out the best neighborhoods in town based on zip codes and comps of recently sold homes — no, that would be too 1.0. In addition to just letting everyone know where the rich people live (you’re welcome, rich people), Zillow factors in three other key variables:

There is a common belief that wealthy neighborhoods are the Holy Grail for harvesting the most Halloween candy. However, to provide a more holistic approach to Halloween trick-or-treating, the Zillow Trick-or-Treat Housing Index was calculated using four equally weighted data variables: Zillow Home Value Index, population density, Walk Score and local crime data. Based on those variables, this Index represents neighborhoods that will provide the most candy, with the least walking, and minimum safety risks.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/zillow-halloween/

Happy Looting!:sarcasm: