Brian Olsen's open source census-based [B-districting][1] algorithm aims for:

> Across all districts and all people, The best district map is the one
> where people have the lowest average distance to the center of their
> district.

Comparative pictures, using [North Carolina's House of Representatives][2] districting.  North Carolina using current method:

[![Picture of NC's jaggy rambling districts.][3]][3]

B-districting, based on 2010 census:

[![B-district NC picture, resembles patio stones.][4]][4]


  [1]: http://bdistricting.com/about.html
  [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives
  [3]: https://i.sstatic.net/RKL5z.png
  [4]: https://i.sstatic.net/lxgTI.png