Urban across the Country

Urban’s researchers partner with state and local leaders to provide the evidence, tools, and support they need to improve lives and strengthen communities. This work includes strategic advising to translate research into action, program evaluations to measure effectiveness, and research and data analysis to inform decisionmaking. Our experts develop custom data tools and modeling to support equitable resource allocation and lead community-engaged research and convenings to ensure policies reflect local priorities.

Use this page to explore Urban’s work. Search by region to see examples of our research, and filter by evidence and products to narrow results by topic or type of work.

Dive deeper into your state and community with our data tools. View highlighted tools below, select “Data tools” under “Filter by Product Types,” or head directly to our data tools page.

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State and community data tools
Explore our work by state
photo of nicotine patch on arm
Explore national and state-level data on the latest trends in Medicaid-covered prescriptions for cessation medications.
Photo of apartment buildings in the Columbia Heights neighborhood and along 14th Street NW in Washington, DC.
DC’s incoming leaders can increase affordability by targeting assistance to the communities most burdened by high electricity costs, strengthening oversight of rate setting plans, and increasing enrollment in existing electricity affordability programs.
Brief How the Basel Re-Proposal Will Impact the Mortgage Market
On March 19, 2026, the US banking regulators released a proposal to revise the Basel framework that will govern bank capital requirements. In this paper, the authors discuss how the revised framework would affect the mortgage market.
Public Comment Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access ACF-2026-0364
In this letter, senior fellow Diane Schilder and senior research associates Justin Doromal and Catherine Kuhns offer comments on the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families’ proposed rulemaking on Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access
People collect food items at a community distribution table, with volunteers placing packaged items into a green bag; boxes and loaves of bread are visible nearby.
As DC prepares to elect a new mayor and council, it is crucial for candidates to understand that a vibrant nonprofit sector is increasingly important to the overall vitality of the DC region.
Light rail train arriving at a modern outdoor station with curved canopy structures and city buildings in the background.
As currently drafted, BUILD America 250 would likely reinforce the United States’ car dependence, depriving Americans of affordable travel options and degrading the environment.