Urban across the Country: Tools, analysis, and insights drawn from communities across the United States

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

photo of woman standing holding child in front of grocery aisle

Data Tool

The American Affordability Tracker

April 2, 2026

Colorful illustration of graphs, pie charts, bar charts, etc

Data Tool

Nonprofit Trends Tracker

March 5, 2026

A family unpacks groceries at the kitchen table. A young girl holds up a bag of oranges.

Data Tool

State of the Safety Net

March 2, 2026

Explore our work by state

A 'For Rent' sign is posted near a home on February 07, 2022 in Houston, Texas

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act the Senate passed promises to expand housing supply but contains a provision that will undermine an important source of rental units.

Research Report

Update 2023: Measuring the True Cost of Economic Security

This report updates and enhances the true cost of economic security (TCES) for 2023.

March 16, 2026

Research Report

An Innovative Approach to Expanding Homeownership in Underserved Communities

In this report, we document the Inspire100 mortgage’s theory of change and logic model, the evidence base for the Inspire100 mortgage, and implementation hurdles and solutions the EHC used to address challenges.

March 16, 2026

Resource

Skills, Competencies, and Contextual Factors of Interest

This noncomprehensive list highlights the mobility drivers SUMI is prioritizing in its second RFP.

March 16, 2026

Resource

Informing the National Governors Association about High Schoolers’ Readiness for Success

Ensuring high-quality education is part of a state’s commitment to a robust economy, thriving communities, and civic well-being. The National Governors Association, chaired by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, launched the Let’s Get Ready initiative to help states take up this charge. Given our work to

March 16, 2026

Research Report

Evaluating Paths to Building Black Wealth through Education and Entrepreneurship

This report looks at two paths to becoming a professional—educational attainment and entrepreneurship—and finds that both coincide with greater wealth compared with nonprofessionals.

March 13, 2026

Journal Article

Trends in Selection Into Medicare Advantage

This study examines trends in selection into MA from 2009 to 2020 using administrative and survey data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

March 13, 2026

High school students sit together outdoors.

After the state’s investment, hundreds of Pennsylvania schools increased mental health coverage, and ratios of students to mental health staff dropped.