Our Work - Measure of America: A Program of the Social Science Research Council

A Portrait of Newark

Report | April 24, 2024

A Portrait of Newark is an extensive study of well-being across race, place, and gender, and youth disconnection across Newark, New Jersey.

Well-Being in Rural California

Report | June 29, 2023

Well-Being in Rural California 2023 is a study of well-being across race, place, and gender.

Spotlight on Del Norte County

Report | January 16, 2023

The Spotlight on Del Norte County is an extensive study of county-wide well-being across race, place, and gender.

Spotlight on Mendocino County

Report | January 16, 2023

The Spotlight on Mendocino County is an extensive study of county-wide well-being across race, place, and gender.

Spotlight on the Inland Empire

Report | December 8, 2021

The Spotlight on the Inland Empire is an extensive study of well-being across race, place, and gender in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.

A Portrait of the Valley

Report | March 9, 2023

A Portrait of the Valley is an extensive study of well-being across race, place, and gender across the San Joaquin Valley.

Spotlight on Del Norte County & Spotlight on Mendocino County

Report | January 12, 2023

Spotlight on Del Norte County and Spotlight on Mendocino County paint a picture of well-being and access to opportunity in Mendocino and Del Norte Counties today.

A Portrait of California 2021–2022

Report | November 10, 2021

A Portrait of California 2021–2022: Human Development and Housing Justice, the third volume in Measure of America's Portrait of California series, takes a human development approach to understanding the country's most populous and diverse state.

Mapping America Tool

Data Tool | June 17, 2021

With over 100 indicators, Mapping America allows users to explore data like they never have before. Users can plug in their zip codes to locate human development levels within their own communities, compare places and indicators, and more.

A Portrait of Louisiana 2020

Report | October 29, 2020

A Portrait of Louisiana 2020: Human Development in an Age of Uncertainty uses the human development approach and the American Human Development Index to explore well-being and access to opportunity among different groups of Louisianans.

Strengthening the Data Capacity of NYC Nonprofits

Short Read | July 27, 2020

Measure of America launched Learning What Works (LWW), a free technical assistance program designed to increase nonprofit leaders’ capacity to use data.

OurHome.NYC

Data Tool | February 12, 2020

OurHome.NYC is a free, easy-to-use online mapping and data tool that depicts the relationship between health, as measured by life expectancy, and housing across more than 300 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments.

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.

A Portrait of New York City 2018

Report | June 21, 2018

A Portrait of New York City 2018: Well-Being in the Five Boroughs and the Greater Metro Area examines well-being and access to opportunity for different geographies and demographic groups in New York City and the greater New York–New Jersey–Connecticut metropolitan area using the human development framework and index.

Highway to Health

Report | October 4, 2017

Highway 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, 2017

Measure 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, 2015

Geographies 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.

A Portrait of California 2014–2015

Report | December 9, 2014

This 2014–2015 update of the 2011 California report allows us to compare outcomes from one place to another and to look at changes over time. The result is a comprehensive reference tool and a critical starting point for informed discussions on policy solutions.

A Portrait of Sonoma County

Report | January 26, 2022

A Portrait of Sonoma County: 2021 Update, a follow-up to our 2014 report, paints a picture of well-being and access to opportunity in Sonoma County today, identifies areas of positive change, and draws attention to both new and persistent challenges.

DATA2GO.NYC

Data Tool | October 28, 2015

Data2Go.NYC allows users to visualize where people in need are, what resources are available to assist them, where gaps exist, and how different factors interact to shape the choices and opportunities available to them.

The Measure of America 2013–2014

Report | June 19, 2013

This 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, 2013

The 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.

A Portrait of Marin 2012

Report | January 18, 2012

A Portrait of Marin highlights actions that Marinites can take to lock in human development successes today while setting the stage for significant budget savings and improved well-being tomorrow.

A Portrait of California 2011

Report | May 17, 2011

A Portrait of California goes beyond the state’s fiscal and budgetary woes to examine the well-being of its people using the American Human Development Index, a measure based on official government data in health, education, and living standards.

The Measure of America 2010-2011: Mapping Risks and Resilience

Report | November 10, 2010

The 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, 2010

Letter urges commission to hold a hearing on investments in prevention today that will provide significant returns in money saved or revenues added tomorrow.

A Century Apart: New Measures of Well-being for U.S. Racial and Ethnic Groups

Report | April 27, 2010

An entire century of human progress separates the worst-off from the best-off groups within the U.S., according to the latest update of the American Human Development (HD) Index.

A Portrait of Louisiana 2009

Report | September 17, 2009

This study examines disparities by parish, race, and gender in Louisiana, and calls for action to address the acute human vulnerability that persist four years after Hurricane Katrina.

A Portrait of Mississippi 2009

Report | January 26, 2009

A Portrait of Mississippi: Mississippi Human Development Report 2009 examines well being and access to opportunity for different geographies and demographic groups in the state of Mississippi.

The Well-O-Meter™

Data Tool | 2008

You have seen where your state and congressional district stack up in the American HD Index rankings, but what about you? Get a general sense of your own human development level by using The Well-O-Meter™.

The Measure of America 2008–2009

Report | July 2008

The 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.