Skip to content
Indiana Housing Dashboard logoIndiana Housing Dashboard

Data Sources

American Community Survey (ACS), 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau. The American Community Survey (ACS) produces a wide range of demographic, socioeconomic, and housing data at many geographic levels, including down to the local level. The U.S. Census Bureau administers the ACS to about 3% of all U.S. households every year and uses this sample to make estimates nationwide. ACS 5-year estimates represent data collected over five years, denoted by the last year in that period. With more years of data, the 5-year estimates provide a more detailed and reliable picture of the population than the 1-year estimates but include less recent data. The breadth of available data makes the ACS a useful resource for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand population characteristics and housing supply. Data are currently available through 2022. HR&A accesses ACS data from the U.S. Census Bureau's ACS application programming interface (API).

Building Permits Survey (BPS), U.S. Census Bureau. The Building Permits Survey (BPS) provides monthly data on new permits for residential construction. The U.S. Census Bureau collects voluntary monthly data from the jurisdictions that issue 99% of permits, imputes monthly data for the remaining permit-issuing jurisdictions based on their annual data submissions, and seasonally adjusts the final reported data. BPS data is used to analyze trends in construction activity, which can provide insights into economic growth, urban development, and housing market dynamics. For the most accurate building permits data, refer to local data sources. Data are currently available through 2024. HR&A accesses BPS data from the U.S. Census Bureau's BPS website.

Current Population Survey (CPS), U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Current Population Survey (CPS) measures national employment and unemployment. Through a joint sponsorship, the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produce this data on a monthly basis. The CPS's labor force statistics shed light on national economic trends. Data are currently available through 2024. HR&A accesses CPS data from the BLS's CPS website.

Decennial Census of Population and Housing, U.S. Census Bureau. The Decennial Census is a comprehensive population count carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau every ten years as required by the U.S. Constitution. In addition to counting U.S. residents, the census also collects demographic data on every individual living in the country, including age, race, gender, and household information. The data gathered influences political representation, allocation of resources, and decision-making at various levels of government. Data are currently available through 2020. HR&A accesses Decennial Census data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Decennial Census API.

LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES), U.S. Census Bureau. Under the Local Employment Dynamic (LED) data partnership, the U.S. Census Bureau combines detailed, longitudinal, geographic data about employers and employees from several federal and state data sources. Once combined, the resulting Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data are used to produce the LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES). LEHD data are particularly useful for analyzing labor market dynamics across space and time. By mapping the data, policymakers and researchers can visualize geographic concentrations of employment and identify commuting patterns. This spatial analysis helps in understanding workforce movements, urban development, and the impact of economic policies on local and regional labor markets. Data are currently available through 2021. HR&A access LODES data from the U.S. Census Bureau's LODES website.

Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) monthly to help policymakers and researchers track employment and unemployment at local levels. LAUS estimates are produced based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, and state unemployment insurance (UI) data systems. Data are currently available through 2024. HR&A accesses LAUS data from the BLS's LAUS website.

Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSP) Income Limits, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSP) Income Limits set the maximum incomes for households to qualify for affordable housing funded by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and tax-exempt bonds. Federal mandates require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update income limits annually based on the median family income for households of different sizes in each HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) Area across the country. HUD's income limits are critical for understanding the supply of, need for, and development of affordable housing. Data are currently available through 2023. HR&A accesses MTSP Income Limits from the HUD website.

National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD), Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC) and National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). The National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD) compiles data on federally assisted---and some state-assisted---rental housing properties in the United States. As a longitudinal and deduplicated database, NHPD data tracks the supply of affordable housing over time, including each property's location, funding source(s), and physical conditions. NHPD sheds light on potential affordability expirations, helping policymakers and researchers identify affordable housing in need of preservation. Data are currently available through 2024. HR&A accesses NHPD data from the NHPD website.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) provide employment and income data for each occupation at a variety of geographic levels. Based on its annual survey of employers and federal-state cooperation for data collection, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates OEWS estimates each year. OEWS data inform policymakers and researchers about labor market conditions, employment, and wages in different jobs across the country. Data are currently available through 2022[RC3] . HR&A accesses OEWS data from the BLS's OEWS website.

Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates (PLACES), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates (PLACES) dataset provides small area estimates for chronic health conditions and their risk factors. PLACES data are derived from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which incorporates data from ongoing telephone surveys administered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with state health departments. Data are currently available through 2021. HR&A accesses PLACES data from the CDC's PLACES website.

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau. The Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) is a subset of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). Instead of the ACS's data which are pre-tabulated at the geography level, PUMS data are anonymized and published at the individual and housing unit levels. PUMS allows researchers to access detailed demographic, economic, and housing data for customized analyses while protecting respondents' privacy. Data are currently available through 2022. HR&A accesses PUMS data from the Census Bureau's PUMS API.

Statistics of Income (SOI) Migration Data, Internal Revenue Service (IRS). By linking individual income tax returns filed over time, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) identifies address changes from the prior year. The Statistics of Income (SOI) Migration Data counts these residential moves as inflows and outflows from county-to-county and state-to-state, breaking down counts by individuals and households and providing the total adjusted gross income for movers to and from each geography. SOI Migration Data are perhaps the best publicly available data source tracking internal migration within the United States. Data are currently available through 2021. HR&A accesses the SOI Migration Data from the IRS website.

Zillow Housing Data, Zillow Research. Zillow Research is a division of the online real estate marketplace Zillow that focuses on conducting and publishing housing market indexes, analyses, and reports. Zillow's data covers various aspects of the housing market, such as home values, rent prices, for-sale listings, and market predictions, using data collected from their platform and other sources. Data are currently available through 2024. HR&A accesses Zillow Research's Housing Data from the Zillow website.