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How Local R U?

Calculate your L.O.C.A.L. variables and get your local score (0–10, 10 being the most local). It's like a Buzzfeed quiz, but nerdier and infinitely more tedious!

01LOCATION

Where are you taking this quiz?

Enter your zipcode so we can tailor the questions to your city.

02LIFESPAN

How long have you been living in this place?

While you do get a small boost for being able to claim heritage somewhere, we think time in a place is one of the most important driving factors for being a local.
03OUTREACH

How about town were you in your area in the last week?

Excludes work/school.

Parks, gyms, trails, sports leagues, yoga studios

Restaurants, cafes, bars, farmers markets

Thrifting, going to the movies, concerts, art markets

Clubs, meetups, community centers, classes, religious services

Volunteering, local government meetings, community organizing

This variable rewards both how often you engage in local activities and the diversity of your engagement across different categories. Being active in multiple categories shows you're well-integrated into your community.
04HYPERLOCAL FACTOR

What is the average radius you travel outside your home daily (in miles)?

What mode(s) of transit do you use to commute?

Check all that apply

  • Walking
  • Bicycle
  • Bus
  • Light rail
  • Subway / Metro
  • Car
  • Other:
The "hyperlocal" factor rewards smaller numbers, so if you live a smaller (more hyperlocal) life, you will get a boost. However, it does not penalize you for traveling further if your lifestyle requires it (e.g. commuting to another city).
05COMPASS

How good is your lay of the land?

Where 1 is "not really" and 5 is "completely."

  • I can give directions without my phone
  • I know lots of shortcuts
  • I can orient myself based on local landmarks
  • I regularly navigate without GPS
  • I can name most neighborhoods/boroughs
This variable is self-reported based on your spatial understanding of neighborhood boundaries, navigation, and internal "compass."
06AUTHENTICITY

This is your proof of life — do you have a read on the local vibes? What are the neighborhood hot takes?

  • I know at least one local gripe or have my own neighborhood rant
  • I can claim I went to X spot when it was still Y
  • I'm regular enough somewhere that someone who works there knows my name
  • I've personally introduced someone to a local tradition
  • I know a local joint or event a tourist would never find on Yelp or IG reels
This is another self-reported variable based on your closeness to the issues that plague your neighborhood. Think: "When is construction on that lot finally going to end?" "I can't believe they haven't fixed that traffic light yet!" "I wonder what's going to open where that business closed..."
07LORE

Do you know the lore?

0 · don't know shit 5 · practically a tour guide
0
This can be contemporary or historical lore. Lore can be the history of a building, and it can be a notorious policy failure that everyone remembers (e.g. did your city also kill a proposed light rail or transit extension? Ours too... and yeah we ALL remember that shit).
YOUR L.O.C.A.L. SCORE
0.0/10

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THE FORMULA
about the equation
The function that underlies your score is a logistic growth curve, a mathematical model that produces a distinctive S-shaped (sigmoid) graph, commonly used to describe growth, spread, or probability that starts exponentially but slows down and eventually levels off as it reaches a maximum limiting value.
about local archetype
Your archetype is assigned based on your years lived, whether you were born in the area, your civic engagement patterns, how often you visit local places, and your knowledge of local lore.
show your math

The Local Formula was developed by K. L. Graywill for the Hyperlocal Dispatch July 2026 edition "The Hyperlocal Habit: A Practical Guide to Finding Belonging Anywhere." Additional math-y support from Alex Kritchevsky and Andrew Evans.