Publications
JUST LAUNCHED!
A PORTRAIT OF MARIN 2012
Commissioned by the Marin Community Foundation, this new report takes a closer look at human development at the census tract level. A Portrait of Marin is also the first county-level report in the Measure of America series. Learn more.
THE OPPORTUNITY INDEX

Created by AHDP, the Opportunity Index was unveiled at a national summit in NYC on Friday, 11/04. Intended to jump-start dialogue on creating opportunity in the United States, the Index measures ingredients essential for opportunity, by state and by county. Read more.
MEASURE OF AMERICA SERIES WINS TOP DESIGN AWARD
The Measure of America Series was selected as the overall winner in the category of Social Affairs at the 2011 International Institute of Information Design Award (IIIDaward). The Series, which includes two national and three state reports, was designed by Humantific | Understanding Lab.
JUST LAUNCHED! A PORTRAIT OF CALIFORNIA
WHICH CALIFORNIA DO YOU LIVE IN? From the high-ranking Silicon Valley Shangri-La to the bottom ranked Forsaken Five Percent, the Five Californias represent the wildly divergent realities facing residents in the state. Read more | Explore Maps
MARCH 2011 RELEASE:
THE COMMON GOOD FORECASTER™
Updated with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, the revamped Forecaster is better than ever! Education is more than just better jobs and bigger paychecks, but what else? Explore the interactive site | Read the release.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA 2010-2011: MAPPING RISKS AND RESILIENCE
How is opportunity distributed in America? Are we falling behind other affluent democracies? Which groups are surging ahead and which face the greatest risks? Which congressional districts enjoy the highest—and lowest—levels of well-being?
Read more | Order from NYUP | Kindle edition
An entire century of human progress separates the worst-off from the best-off racial and ethnic groups within the U.S., according to the latest update of the American Human Development (HD) Index. Read the report.
Residents of 29 countries live longer lives, on average, than Americans—while spending up to eight times less on their health. A new report ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C. against 80 countries on health care inputs and outcomes. Read the report: Health Care Doesn’t Have to Cost an Arm and a Leg.
A PORTRAIT OF LOUISIANA
Louisiana faces many challenges. This human development report, with health, education, and income data by parish, race, and gender, aims to question priorities, foster accountability, and support action to reverse the trends of the past.
Read More | Order Free Copy | Create Maps
A PORTRAIT OF MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi ranks last among U.S. states on the 2008-09 American Human Development Index. But some groups in the state enjoy well-being levels similar to those in top-ranked Connecticut. This study examines disparities by county, race, and gender. Read the report | Order a copy | Create maps
TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE MEASURE OF AMERICA
Lesson plans for high school teachers to use The Measure of America for teaching topics in U.S. government, civics, history, and census data. Includes worksheets, full-color maps, assessment rubrics, and more. Read More | Order free copies
Interactive Maps & Data
In The News & Events
- » Creating Opportunities - Marin Independent Journal
- » Budget Cuts Force Closure of Longtime Sausalito Infant, Toddler Center - Marin Independent Journal
- » Truthful ‘Portrait of Marin’ - Marin Independent Journal
- » A Disturbing Glimpse of GOP’s Low Tax/Limited Regulation Utopia - Huffington Post
See all In The News & Events
Endorsements
“The maps and charts are a quick and accurate way to get a lot of information that is in an intuitive and readable format. I sometimes use it to check against my own data and research and other times to check on my understanding of certain demographic trends and aspects of our country.”
– Sylvia A. Allegretto, PhD, Institute for Research on Labor & Employment at the University of California, Berkeley
“Congratulations and thank you for doing such significant work. I am not sure if others have described it as patriotic, but to me, that seems the most fitting adjective. As the data so clearly demonstrate, we have our work cut out for us if everyone is to realize the promise of America. Fortunately, your work has the potential to spark a constructive national conversation and chart a course for positive change.”
– Karenann Carty, Ed.D., Dean of Academics at Monroe College
“Thanks to all of you at Measure of America. This is such an excellent analysis of the people of California. I’m certain it will initiate a great deal of discussion in my class.”
– Denise Spooner, Professor of History at California State University, Fullerton, and Co-editor of H-California
“The two issues of The Measure of America are an impressive demonstration of the improvements that have occurred in both the quantity and quality of data relating to the well-being of the population of this country…Your reports should serve as a basic resource for courses on American society in both our senior high schools and universities.”
– Denis Johnson
“We’re very impressed with your work and we are looking at it closely to see how we might do a better job of setting what we call the ‘performance context’ for banks to measure their lending to low-income areas.”
– David Erickson, PhD, Manager, Center for Community Development Investments at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Rated an Outstanding Title by the Association of American University Presses:
“This book, with its well-written narratives and understandable graphics, is a clear concise picture of our communities. Useful for a variety of research purposes, this holistic look at the country should be required reading for the current administration and public policy makers.”
—Karen Pangallo, American Association of School Librarians.
“I highly recommend this book for all public libraries.”
— Tina Maria Beaird, Public Libraries Association






The second volume in the Measure of America series, with new rankings of the 50 states, 435 congressional districts, major racial and ethnic groups, and men and women.