METHOD FOR ANALYZING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

1 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a computer system, a request to identify one or more unspecified geographic areas based on one or more characteristics of geographic areas;

comparing the one or more characteristics with data that is associated with a plurality of candidate geographic areas, wherein the data indicates whether or degrees to which the plurality of candidate geographic areas have the one or more characteristics;

selecting, by the computer system, one or more geographic areas from among the plurality of candidate geographic areas based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics with the data; and

providing, by the computer system and in response to receiving the request, information that identifies the one or more geographic areas.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein:

the one or more characteristics are designated by a user through a user interface that is presented on a client computing device, and

information identifying the one or more characteristics is received as part of the request.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:

providing, to the client computing device for presentation in the user interface, categories of characteristics from which the one or more characteristics are designated by the user, wherein each of the categories are presented in the user interface with an initial default setting that is different from the one or more characteristics that the user has designated to be included as part of the request.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, information that identifies a particular geographic area or location;

selecting, using data that is associated with the particular geographic area or location, characteristics of the particular geographic area or location; and

providing, to a client computing device, at least a portion of the characteristics of the particular geographic area or location in a manner such that the portion of the characteristics are presented and modifiable in a user interface on the client computing device,

wherein the request is received in response to providing the at least a portion of the characteristics to the client computing device,

wherein the one or more characteristics for the request are different from the portion of the characteristics that are provided to the client computing device.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein:

the request includes information that identifies a particular geographic area or location from which the one or more characteristics are to be derived so that the one or more unspecified geographic areas that are identified bear at least a threshold similarity to the particular geographic area or location,

the method further comprises:

selecting, using data that is associated with the particular geographic area or location, the one or more characteristics of the particular geographic area or location, and

the one or more geographic areas that are selected and provided have at least the threshold level of similarity to the particular geographic area or location.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to schools.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to one or more of: home prices and home sizes.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to density of residents including, at least, urban, suburban, and rural densities.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to crime.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to one or more of: education levels of residents, ages of residents, professions of residents, lifestyles of residents, and income levels of residents.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of candidate geographic areas each include residents and a plurality of distinct dwellings in which the residents live.

19 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of candidate geographic areas comprise neighborhoods.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of candidate geographic areas include one or more of: zip codes and cities.

21 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein:

the request further specifies a search area within which the one or more geographic locations are to be identified, and

the method further comprises:

identifying the plurality of candidate geographic areas based on the search area.

22 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the search area comprises a state.

23 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the search area comprises a city.

24 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the search area comprises an area that has (i) a center area or point that is a particular geographic area or location and (ii) a perimeter that is a specified distance from the center area or point.

25 . The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the search area is based on a geographic area is depicted in a map that is displayed on a client computing device from which the request is received.

26 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more characteristics are related to residing in geographic areas.

27 . A computer system comprising:

one or more computing devices that each include one or more processors and memory;

one or more interfaces that are programmed to receive a request to identify one or more unspecified geographic areas based on one or more characteristics of geographic areas; and

a geographic area identifier that is programmed to:

compare the one or more characteristics with data that is associated with a plurality of candidate geographic areas, wherein the data indicates whether or degrees to which the plurality of candidate geographic areas have the one or more characteristics, and

select one or more geographic areas from among the plurality of candidate geographic areas based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics with the data, and

provide, in response to receiving the request, information that identifies the one or more geographic areas.

28 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, by a client computing device, a user interface that includes user input features;

receiving, at a client computing device, user input through the user input features that designates one or more characteristics of geographic areas that are related to residing in geographic areas;

transmitting, by the client computing device and in response to receiving the user input, a request to identify one or more unspecified geographic areas based on the one or more characteristics;

receiving, in response to transmitting the request, information that identifies one or more geographic areas; and

displaying, by the client computing device, the information that identifies the one or more geographic areas.

29 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of candidate geographic areas is defined by one or more predefined boundaries.

30 . The computer-implemented method of claim 29 , wherein the one or more predefined boundaries are based on named geographic areas.

31 . The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the one or more characteristics is related to school quality.

32 . The computer-implemented method of claim 28 , wherein:

the information further includes matching information that identifies how well each of the one or more geographic areas match the one or more characteristics input by the user, and

the one or more geographic areas and the matching information are depicted on one or more maps that are displayed by the client computing device.

33 . The computer-implemented method of claim 28 , wherein the information is displayed in one or more lists.