Safety Algorithm

How We Calculate the Safety Score for Self-Storage

Our Safety Score is designed to help you understand how secure a location is for storing your belongings. It’s based on real crime data and weighted toward the risks that matter most for storage facilities.

1. We Adjust for Population

We convert crime data into rates per 100,000 residents so that both large cities and smaller communities can be compared fairly.

2. We Focus on the Crimes That Impact Storage Most

Not all crime affects self-storage equally. We calculate a combined score using:

• 70% violent crime — Indicates overall area safety and risk environment.
• 30% property crime — Directly relates to theft, break-ins, and storage unit risk.

This balance reflects both personal safety and property security.

3. We Benchmark Against Real-World Risk Levels

Instead of only comparing cities to each other, we evaluate crime levels against a fixed national benchmark.

This ensures that:

• Scores remain consistent across all locations.
• High-crime areas are clearly identified, even if compared to similar cities.

4. We Use a Curved Scoring Model

Crime levels are converted into a 1–10 Safety Score using a nonlinear scale:

• 10 = Very Safe — Low risk for stored items.
• 1 = Higher Risk — Greater chance of theft or damage.

This approach:

• Penalizes high-crime areas more strongly.
• Better reflects real-world risk differences.
• Avoids misleading average-looking scores.

5. We Keep Scoring Consistent and Reliable

All scores are standardized between 1 and 10, so you can easily compare locations across the country.

What the Score Means for Storage

• 8–10 → Low Risk
  Safer areas with lower likelihood of theft or break-ins.
• 5–7 → Moderate Risk
  Typical urban/suburban areas — standard precautions recommended.
• 1–4 → Higher Risk
  Increased likelihood of property crime — consider facilities with strong security features.

Why This Matters for You

Choosing the right storage location isn’t just about price — it’s about protecting your belongings.

Our Safety Score helps you:

• Identify lower-risk areas.
• Compare locations quickly.
• Make more informed storage decisions.

Important Note

This score reflects area-level crime trends, not the security of any specific facility. Features like gated access, surveillance cameras, and on-site staff can significantly improve security regardless of location.