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.

Get Involved
State and community data tools
Explore our work by state
photo of freeway with multiple driving lanes
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but most of that money went toward highway projects, not public transit or rail infrastructure.
photo of three diverse African businesswomen talking together during a casual meeting in the lobby of a modern office
Research has indicated the stressors of incarceration for caregivers, including stigmatization, especially if their loved one’s crime was violent.
A family eating at the dinner table
As the cost of living rises nationally, local leaders need, more than ever, data on the financial health of their residents to ensure they have the wealth to weather unexpected expenses.
Brief Lessons Learned from the CTE CoLab and Future Directions
The Career and Technical Education CoLab (CTE CoLab) aimed to advance racial equity by reducing disparities in academic and career outcomes for historically marginalized students—especially students who are Black, Latinx, or Indigenous—enrolled in online and hybrid postsecondary career-focused
A young woman in a long, tan trench coat, blue jeans, and a dark red scarf steps aboard a public train from a covered platform.
Yonah Freemark, an urban development and transportation expert at the Urban Institute, spoke with the Associated Press about how developing housing near public transit can efficiently address both affordable housing shortages and the effects of increased car traffic.
Public Comment Public Comment on Housing Production Targets
In response to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s request for public comment, I provide recommendations based on recent Urban Institute research on how the state should approach its design and implementation of housing production targets, as mandated by the “Housing