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
Brief Five Years of Capital Quality
In this brief, we examine how child care facilities’ participation in Capital Quality—DC’s Quality Rating and Improvement System—has changed over the first five years of implementation.
Research Report Model Estimates of Poverty in Schools 2.0
We built on the previous MEPS 1.0 methodology, making improvements and changes attributable to the lack of data previously used in the estimation process. MEPS 2.0 uses a multilevel (mixed effects) linear regression model to produce comparable estimates and to handle correlated and nonindependent
A mother and father pushing a baby in a stroller down a neighborhood sidewalk.
Portable mortgages offer current homeowners flexibility and savings on origination costs, but widespread implementation would be difficult, would raise interest rates, and would not solve housing affordability.
High rise apartment buildings on a sunny day
Emergency Rental Assistance programs supported more than 3 million renter households with lower incomes during the pandemic. How can state and local governments continue to support housing stability for renters while learning from these programs?
A real estate agent places a for sale sign in front of a home.
Assumable mortgages are a sound idea in theory, but they would likely result in higher monthly payments for borrowers without alleviating supply concerns.
Research Report Improving Health Coverage for Working People with Disabilities
In this report, we estimate the increased enrollment and the additional costs and savings in 2025, at both the federal and state levels, that would result if all states eliminated the income and asset thresholds that prevent more working persons with disabilities from enrolling in Medicaid.
A pick up truck drives through main street in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
If Social Security benefits are reduced, not only will people and families face hard decisions, but states and local businesses may also see increased budgetary pressures.