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
Image of a row of brick homes in the Fort Totten neighborhood in Washington, DC.
Urban experts offer DC mayoral and council candidates insights on child care, public safety, housing, upward mobility, and more.
Research Report Bridging the True Cost of Living Gap in New York City
The TCOL goes beyond measuring acute need. It captures the challenges millions of families have paying for food, housing, health care, and other basic expenses, while still trying to set aside money for the future.
The façade of a middle or high school.
School district secessions affect students’ access to educational resources and opportunities. Yet, across states, community members and policymakers often approve and implement secessions with incomplete and inconsistent information.
Row of historic brick houses with columned porches and a garden in front.
When homeownership passes between generations without clear legal title, it can quietly unravel—leaving families with assets they can’t sell, repair, or borrow against. Catapult Greater Pittsburgh’s CLEAR program offers an integrated solution.
Brief Outcomes of the VictimConnect Resource Center
With funding from the National Institute of Justice, Urban Institute researchers conducted an outcome evaluation of the VictimConnect Resource Center from 2023 to 2025. This brief summarizes our evaluation findings.