Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Key West lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Key West sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Key West fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Key West's strongest factors are Drinks, Eats and Coffee. Its heaviest drawbacks are Crime, Going-Out Cost and Disaster Risk.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Key West
The Key West read Free
A written read on Key West, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Key West scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Key West, FL is a "Very Fun" city with a Fun Score of 71, tied for #33 nationally out of 134 cities, and is particularly notable for its exceptional Drinks scene.
Why it scores high
Key West, FL stands out for its vibrant social scene, particularly in its food and drink offerings. The city boasts an outstanding Drinks scene, scoring 92 and ranking tied for #2 nationally out of 134 cities. This high score suggests an abundance of quality bars, pubs, nightclubs, and craft breweries, making it a prime destination for those looking to enjoy a lively night out. Complementing this is an excellent Coffee scene, with a score of 91, tied for #5 nationally. This indicates a rich selection of cafes, perfect for starting the day or enjoying a relaxed afternoon.
The culinary landscape in Key West is equally impressive, with Eats scoring 91 and ranking tied for #5 nationally. This means residents and visitors can expect a diverse array of high-quality restaurants, offering a wide range of dining experiences. Beyond its gastronomic delights, Key West also shines in its natural and cultural offerings. Its Outdoors score of 90 (tied for #8 nationally) points to ample opportunities for enjoying nature, from parks and beaches to nature reserves. Similarly, the city's Culture scene scores 90 (tied for #8 nationally), indicating a rich presence of museums, galleries, and historical landmarks, providing engaging experiences for those interested in arts and history.
Furthermore, Key West, FL benefits from a pleasant Climate, scoring 87 and ranking tied for #16 nationally. This suggests a high number of comfortable days throughout the year, enhancing the enjoyment of both indoor and outdoor activities. The city is also quite Walkable, with a score of 86 (tied for #18 nationally), making it easy and enjoyable to explore on foot. When it comes to daily life, residents can appreciate the minimal Traffic, which scores an impressive 98, tied for #3 nationally, indicating very short commute times. The city also offers a relatively safe environment, with a Crime score of 65, tied for #47 nationally, suggesting a safer-than-average community.
Where it falls short
Despite its many strengths, Key West, FL has some areas where it doesn't perform as strongly. The city scores low in unique entertainment options, with Unique Hangouts at 3, tied for #125 nationally out of 134 cities. This suggests a limited number of venues like escape rooms, arcades, or karaoke spots. Similarly, the Events scene is not a major draw, scoring 4 and tied for #124 nationally, indicating fewer festivals, fairs, or ticketed events compared to other cities.
The overall City Vibe also scores low at 5, tied for #127 nationally, which might suggest a less dynamic or less talked-about atmosphere in news and online trends. In terms of larger-scale entertainment, Live Music scores 31, ranking #93 nationally, and Star Power is quite low at 14, tied for #115 nationally, indicating fewer major headliner performances or notable residents. The city's Higher Education presence is also minimal, scoring 5 and tied for #127 nationally, suggesting limited university or college activity. Finally, public Transit Quality scores 11, tied for #119 nationally, meaning residents and visitors might find public transportation options to be less comprehensive or efficient.
Who it's for
Key West, FL is ideal for individuals who prioritize a vibrant dining and drinking scene, appreciate a strong cultural presence, and enjoy abundant outdoor activities in a pleasant climate. It's particularly suited for those who prefer a walkable city with minimal traffic and a generally safe environment, and who don't rely heavily on public transit or a bustling calendar of large-scale events.
Cities like it
- Telluride, CO is similar in its strong outdoor and cultural offerings, appealing to those who enjoy a blend of natural beauty and enriching experiences.
- St. Petersburg, FL shares a similar coastal vibe and good scores in local amenities, making it a good fit for those who enjoy a relaxed, sunny environment.
- Santa Barbara, CA offers a comparable mix of pleasant climate, good food, and cultural attractions, appealing to a similar demographic seeking a high quality of life.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Key West’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Key West, FL: 71/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/key-west-fl
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.