Local-Level Data to Inform
Our Voting Choices

The purpose of this catalog is to help individuals across the U.S. to make informed election choices – both related to candidates and voter propositions. Perhaps by letting individuals reflect on facts about the communities in which they live, work, and play, they won’t be as attuned to the cacophony of political advertising, social media posts, and other messaging “noise” that proliferates in the runup to elections.

From the list below, you’ll find local data for issues that may matter to you as a concerned citizen, then you can examine related policy stances of the candidates you’re considering for public office.

Children’s Issues

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions:Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “social and economic factors” section.

  • U.S. Child Care Deserts

    Sponsor: Center for American Progress

    Access Instructions:Type in your zip code to see child care supply, from adequate to scarce.

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “social and economic factors” section.

  • Healthiest Community Rankings

    Sponsor: U.S. News & World Report

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “education” section to see per-pupil spending.

Economic Issues

  • Financial Health and Wealth Dashboard

    Sponsor: Urban Institute

    Access Instructions: Type in your zip code, and scroll down below the map. In the “financial health metrics” section, click on “daily finances.”

  • Map the Meal Gap

    Sponsor: Feeding America

    Access Instructions: Choose a state from the dropdown menu, then click on your county to see related data.

  • Census Reporter

    Sponsor: Census Reporter

    Access Instructions: Type in place name, and on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “economics” section.

Health (Physical and Emotional)

  • Places

    Sponsor: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Access Instructions: Choose the “depression” button above the map, then view data for your region. 

  • Places

    Sponsor: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Access Instructions: Choose the “diabetes” button above the map, then view data for your region.

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “additional health behaviors” section, and click the + icon. 

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “clinical care” section.

  • Places

    Sponsor: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Access Instructions: Choose the “heart disease” button above the map, then view data for your region. 

  • Places

    Sponsor: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Access Instructions: Choose the “high blood pressure” button above the map, then view data for your region.

  • Places

    Sponsor: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Access Instructions: Choose the “obesity” button above the map, then view data for your region. 

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “health outcomes” section. 

Crime

  • Healthiest Community Rankings

    Sponsor: U.S. News & World Report

    Access Instructions:Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “public safety” section.

Demographics

  • Census Mapper

    Sponsor: Pitch Interactive

    Access Instructions:Type in your zip code to see demographic changes by race/ethnicity from 2010 to 2020

  • Census Reporter

    Sponsor: Census Reporter

    Access Instructions:Type in a place name, and on the resulting data page, scroll down toward the bottom to the “place of birth” section.

Environment Issues

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “physical environment” section. 

  • AARP Livability Index

    Sponsor: AARP

    Access Instructions: Enter your address, city, or zip code, and scroll down to the “environment” header on the resulting data page. Once there, click on the “view indicators” link.

  • Healthiest Community Rankings

    Sponsor: U.S. News & World Report

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “environment” section. 

Housing

  • AARP Livability Index

    Sponsor: AARP

    Access Instructions: Enter your address, city, or zip code, and scroll down to the “housing” header on the resulting data page. Once there, click on the “view indicators” link. 

  • County Health Rankings

    Sponsor: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin

    Access Instructions: Type in your county or zip code, then on the resulting data page, scroll down to the “additional physical environment” section at the bottom of the page. Click the + icon to see related data.