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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photo of a woman with umbrella waiting at a bus stop during rainy weather
A proposal to eliminate federal public transit funding would not only fail to address the existing funding gap but would also leave millions of Americans, particularly those in small rural communities, without transportation options.
A building on a corner.
A proposed shift in federal funding away from permanent supportive housing solutions could push tens of thousands of people out of their housing program overnight.
A muralist in a red shirt and straw hat stands on a short wooden ladder, holding a palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, adding on to a mural of colorful homes.
Created in 2017, the Opportunity Zone program was intended to spur private investment toward low-income communities. Since then, the program has been made permanent, with added compliance and reporting standards to better evaluate the program’s outcomes.
Aerial photo of reconstruction after wildfire damage in Coffey Park, Santa Rosa, California
A bowl of soup, ladled from a large, metal pot sitting next to a plastic bag of limes, is handed from one person to another.
As food and grocery prices increase, so do reports of food insecurity among Americans nationwide.
A bus drives under an underpass and beside a construction area
Federal policymakers should consider three strategies to guide deliberations around reauthorization and improvement of Americans’ quality of life.
photo of pedestrian, traffic, bus, and bicycle lanes in downtown area to reduce congestion and emissions
New Urban Institute analysis shows that although federal agencies increased total spending to disadvantaged counties following the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these increases lagged overall funding changes for some agencies.