{
  "project": "gpu-pilot",
  "doc": "tlccosts/PUBLIC_METHODOLOGY.md",
  "title": "True Lifestyle Cost Index \u2014 Public Methodology (press)",
  "oneline": "The citable methodology for journalists and answer engines: framework, every source with vintage, validation r=0.90 \u2014 no model coefficients.",
  "tldr": [
    "One question, stated quotably: what share of a household's income does it really take to live in a place AND get to work? TLC% = 12\u00d7(H+U+C)/income; affordable \u2264 48% (30 housing + 15 commute + 3 utilities).",
    "Every layer sourced with vintage: ACS 2020\u20132024 housing/incomes/workers-per-HH; DOE LEAD 2022 energy trended by EIA monthly prices; HUD FY2026 income limits; FCC 2026 Urban Rate Survey broadband; BLS CEX 2024 water/cell; posted fares/tolls/CRZ/parking/fuel for the commute.",
    "The income basis is the reader's choice and every number is labeled \u2014 HUD AMI (default) runs ~47% above metro median household income in the NYC pilot; the same county can pass one basis and fail another, and the index shows it rather than hiding it.",
    "Validation stated plainly: r = 0.90 (rank 0.87) vs CNT's H+T\u00ae on the comparable construct, with the difference explained (they model all travel incl. car ownership; we price the commute leg-by-leg); engine times validated vs schedules + OpenTripPlanner; fares vs posted tariffs.",
    "Honest boundaries: publishes framework, sources, tiers and full component breakdowns; does NOT publish routing-engine internals or calibration parameters; data-quality tiers admit the water-rate gap (national surveys paywalled/discontinued) with posted-tariff anchors."
  ],
  "updated": "2026-06-12 04:47",
  "sections": [
    {
      "level": 1,
      "title": "True Lifestyle Cost Index \u2014 Public Methodology"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "What the index measures"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "The income question \u2014 you choose the denominator"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "Affordability line and tiers"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "Sources (all public, all citable)"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "Validation"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "What we publish \u2014 and what we don't"
    },
    {
      "level": 2,
      "title": "One paragraph for citation"
    }
  ],
  "stats": {
    "lines": 145,
    "words": 1262
  },
  "html": "https://board.certihomes.com/project-docs/gpu-pilot/tlccosts-PUBLIC_METHODOLOGY.html",
  "out_name": "tlccosts-PUBLIC_METHODOLOGY.md",
  "comments_api": "https://board.certihomes.com/api/doc-comments?project=gpu-pilot&doc=tlccosts/PUBLIC_METHODOLOGY.md"
}