Examples of Our Work
Did you know that data and tools exist that allow you to analyze local migration data, building density and history, and commuting patterns of residents and workers? Below are some examples to get you thinking about what is possible.
Housing Production History
American Communities Survey
This chart looks at the age of buildings by their tenure (rental or ownership). From a national perspective, at least two stories emerge: The first is that rental housing production peaked in the 1970s and has steadily declined since then, while ownership production's high point was 2000-2009.
In both rental and ownership housing, the current survey period of 2020 to 2024 shows a dramatic decline in production. With only 4 years of data in, it is possible this trend reverses. This data provides an opportunity to examine current national and local economic indicators to see if such a reversal can be expected that would affect housing production.
Workforce Commute Pattern
LEHD OnTheMap
This data uses a different Census Bureau tool, LEHD OnTheMap. Here we're analyzing the City of Fairfield, CA, 47 miles northeast of San Francisco. The data shows where new workers come from to work in Fairfield: from what direction, and how far away. We can see that compared to 2002, just over 1,000 new workers travel to work from over 50 miles away from the South East, while another approximately 900 travel from less than 10 miles to the South West. Combined with other LEHD analyses, and American Communities Survey data, LEHD OnTheMap is a powerful data tool to combine transit, workforce, economics, and more.
Occupational Median Income
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics nationally, down to metropolitan and non-metro areas. This analysis counts all workers currently employed in a job and the median wage for that job. This visualization is the mid-career earning expectation for workers, and a useful way to explore broad area affordability. It shows that most American workers are currently in an occupation whose median wage is between $30,000 and $57,000 a year - and helps explain, for example, why more workers are traveling greater distances than ever (see above).
Rental Cost Burden by Age
American Communities Survey
Gross Rent as a Percentage of Income (GRAPI) is here broken down by the age of the head of household for renters. Furthermore, we are visualizing the chart on a percentage basis, to show that there is a much higher likelihood of a senior (65+) renter household paying over 30% of their income to rent a month (or GRAPI), than a middle aged renter household. Fully 60% of America's renting senior households meet the federal definition of "cost burdened", when GRAPI is over 30%. A similar story emerges for young renters, between the age of 15 and 24.
These data are four of thousands available at Sound Data Solutions that can be brought together to tell the story of your jurisdiction through data, and explain individual experiences and observations.