About Close
Proximity governs how we live, work, and socialize. Close is an interactive travel time map for people who want to be near the amenities that matter most to them.
Close builds on two core principles:
- Different people will prioritize being near different amenities
- A neighborhood is only as accessible as its most distant important amenity
When you select multiple amenities in Close, the map shows the travel time to the furthest of those amenities. You can set your preferred travel mode to get to each amenity.
Close is currently in public beta, with more features and destination types coming over the next few months. The reliability of destinations will continually improve as new data sources and user feedback are incorporated.
Close is built and maintained by Henry Spatial Analysis. You can stay up-to-date on the latest improvements to Close by subscribing to the newsletter.
How to use Close
Close includes travel time information for cities across the United States. To view a different location, select the search icon on the top left of the screen and enter a city or county name.
To access map details, including a link to this About page, click the menu icon in the top left corner of the map.
Zoom in and out of the map using the - and + buttons on the top left of the map.
Select destination types in the bottom left box. You can add up to six destination types with the Add destination button. To change the settings for each destination type:
- Travel mode: Select from walking, biking, or a combination of walking and public transit.
- Travel time visible: To hide a destination's effect on combined travel time, uncheck the box to the right of the travel mode.
- Destinations visible: Selected destinations are visible as points on the map. You can hide these by unchecking the box to the right of the point icon.
- Removing a destination: To remove a destination type from the list, click the close button to the right of the destination type name.
On small screens, the destination selection box and travel time legend can be hidden and re-expanded using the ← and → arrows.
Select a block on the map to see travel times to each destination type.
Select a destination point on the map to see its name, address, and type. You can report incorrect destinations by clicking the ⚠ icon in the destination pop-up.
By default, unpopulated blocks are shown on the map, but very large blocks are hidden. You can toggle these settings using the check boxes at the bottom of the destination selection box.
Destination details
Close aims to classify amenities using the same standards nationwide. Some details for particular destinations are laid out below:
| Destination | Details |
|---|---|
| Supermarkets |
Close distinguishes supermarkets from convenience stores and other markets using two criteria:
|
| Convenience stores | Includes general stores, corner stores, gas station stores, bodegas, and other markets that do not meet the criteria for a supermarket |
| Farmers markets | Includes both produce markets and weekly farmers markets |
| Libraries | Public libraries, not including university libraries |
| Public transit |
Subway/light rail: Also includes trams and streetcars Passenger rail: Includes both inter-city and commuter rail Frequent stop: Stop on a route that meets the following criteria:
|
| Public schools |
Alternative schools, career and technical schools, schools focused on special education, and charter schools are split into separate categories.
Travel time is calculated to the nearest matching school in the same school district. Some districts determine school attendance using smaller geographic zones; these attendance zones have not yet been added to Close, so school travel time estimates should be cross-checked against attendance zone maps provided by the district. |
| Playgrounds | Designated play spaces for toddlers and children, usually including playground equipment. Must be open to the public. Does not include playfields for organized sports. |
Contact
For inquiries about Close or the underlying travel time database, please contact Henry Spatial Analysis. If Close helped you make a decision about where to live, work, or travel, send us an email—we would love to hear about your experience.