Our Work
Measuring America: 10 Years and Counting
Report | December 14, 2018“Measuring America: 10 Years and Counting” explores trends in American Human Development Index scores over the past decade by race and ethnicity, gender, and U.S. state, revealing the uneven nature of America’s rebound from the 2007 financial crisis.
NYC Community Portraits
Short Read | June 21, 2018This site features the community portraits created by nearly 20 NYC-based human services organizations to illuminate important well-being challenges and unmet human needs in their neighborhoods or fields using the indicators found in DATA2GO.NYC.
A Portrait of Los Angeles County
Report | November 29, 2017A Portrait of Los Angeles County is an exploration of how LA County residents are faring in terms of well-being and equity.
Highway to Health
Report | October 4, 2017Highway to Health: Life Expectancy in Los Angeles County reveals up-to-date life expectancy calculations for cities and unincorporated areas within Los Angeles County, the first release of such data in more than a decade.
Measure of America at the Smithsonian
Short Read | September 30, 2017Measure of America work was featured in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum's third exhibition in a series about socially responsible design, "By the People: Designing a Better America."
Geographies of Opportunity
Report | April 22, 2015Geographies of Opportunity: Ranking Well-Being by Congressional District is an in-depth look at how residents of America's 436 congressional districts are faring in three fundamental areas of life: health, access to knowledge, and living standards.
Historical Report of Opportunity
Report | June 24, 2014“Historical Report of Opportunity,” the first statistical measure of national and state opportunity levels over the past four decades, uses publicly available data to provide a holistic picture of how the climate for opportunity has changed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The Measure of America 2013–2014
Report | June 19, 2013This third volume in the Measure of America series measures well-being in three vital areas—health, education, and earnings—that shape the opportunities available to us and enable people to invest in their families and live to their full potential.
State of the Congress 2013
Short Read | January 28, 2013The 113th Congress is the most diverse group of representatives in history. Yet its members are still significantly more likely to be male, white, and over 65 than other Americans. And in terms of basic well-being and access to opportunity, members of Congress are far ahead of the average in earnings and education but lag in life expectancy.
The Measure of America 2010-2011: Mapping Risks and Resilience
Report | November 10, 2010The book contains American Human Development Index ranking for all 50 states, 435 congressional districts, major metropolitan areas, racial and ethnic groups, as well as men and women.
Open Letter to the Bipartisan Fiscal Commission, October 7, 2010
Short Read | October 7, 2010Letter urges commission to hold a hearing on investments in prevention today that will provide significant returns in money saved or revenues added tomorrow.
29 Reasons for Optimism on Health Care Spending
Short Read | March 10, 2010A report by American Human Development Project ranks the 50 states and Washington, D.C. against 80 countries in the world on life expectancy at birth, infant death rates, and annual per person spending on health care.
Goals for the Common Good
Report | May 13, 2009This report is a companion piece to the online Common Good Forecaster,™ a joint product of United Way and Measure of America. It takes a closer look at the ten indicators featured on the Forecaster and makes the case for why education matters to each of these critical areas.
The Measure of America 2008–2009
Report | July 2008The Measure of America is the first-ever human development report for a wealthy, developed nation. It introduces the American Human Development Index, which provides a single measure of well-being for all Americans, disaggregated by state and congressional district, as well as by gender, race, and ethnicity.