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Common Information Needs > Datasets Resource Page

Socioeconomic Characteristics

This application is organized around the concept of priority socioeconomic information needs that are organized into the following general categories: crime, demographics, employment locations, housing, K-12 school data, location of services, and transportation issues. Data sources that meet the following general specifications are included: sub-city resolution, annual updates, and 10-year or longer times series.

To use this resources page, first choose to show data sorted by Information Need Category or by Data Source. Then choose whether to view all the data or just one category or data source. To learn more about the data source, simply click on the source name to open a page about that source.

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Building Permits
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Building Permits - Housing Building Permits City Monthly
Building Permits - Housing Building Permits City Annually
Building Permits - Non-residential Construction Building Permits Address Annually

Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP)
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Employment Locations - Demographics Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years
Employment Locations - Home of workforce Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years
Employment Locations - Jobs Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years
Transportation issues - Commute mode Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years
Transportation issues - Home / work places Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years
Transportation issues - Transit dependent needs Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) TAZ 10 years

County Business Patterns
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Employment Locations - Industry County Business Patterns Zip Code Areas Annually

County Community Services Departments
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Use of services (welfare, etc) County Community Services Departments Address Annually

County Sheriff Departments
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Property Foreclosure County Sheriff Departments Address Continuous

County to County (and MCD to MCD) Worker Flows
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Transportation issues - Commute mode County to County (and MCD to MCD) Worker Flows City and County 10 years
Transportation issues - Home / work places County to County (and MCD to MCD) Worker Flows City and County 10 years
Transportation issues - Transit dependent needs County to County (and MCD to MCD) Worker Flows City and County 10 years

Current Population Survey
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Health Insurance Status Current Population Survey State Annually

Economic Census
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Employment Locations - Sales Economic Census ZIP Code Areas < Annually

Excensus
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Age Excensus Block Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Household Type & Size Excensus Block Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Migration patterns Excensus Block Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population Estimates - current Excensus Block Annually
Housing - Household Type & Size Excensus Block Annually
Housing - Number of units Excensus Block Annually
Housing - Turnover Excensus Block Annually
Transportation issues - Access to transit Excensus Block Annually

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Loan approvals/rejections Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Tract Annual

HousingLink
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Affordable housing HousingLink Address Continuous

Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Location of services - Food Shelves Hunger Solutions Minnesota Address N/A

Independent School Districts
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
K-12 School data - College matriculation Independent School Districts School Annually
K-12 School data - Location of kids Independent School Districts Address Continuous
K-12 School data - Projected enrollment Independent School Districts School Annually
K-12 School data - Travel distances Independent School Districts Address Continuous

InfoUSA
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Age InfoUSA Address Monthly
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Race / Ethnicity InfoUSA Address Monthly
Employment Locations - Individual Businesses InfoUSA Address Monthly
Employment Locations - Jobs InfoUSA Address Monthly
Employment Locations - Sales InfoUSA Address Monthly

MetroGIS
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Number of units MetroGIS Address Quarterly
Housing - Price (sales) MetroGIS Address Quarterly
Housing - Value MetroGIS Address Quarterly
Housing - Year Built MetroGIS Address Quarterly
Location of services - Schools MetroGIS Block Quarterly

MetroMSP
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Employment Locations - Available Properties MetroMSP Address Continuous
Employment Locations - Business Types MetroMSP Block Annually
Employment Locations - Individual Businesses MetroMSP Address Annually
Employment Locations - Industry MetroMSP Block Annually
Employment Locations - Jobs MetroMSP Block Annually

Metropolitan Council
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population Estimates - current Metropolitan Council City and township Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population Projections Metropolitan Council City and township Periodically
Employment Locations - Business Types Metropolitan Council Block Periodically
Employment Locations - Forecast jobs Metropolitan Council City and township Periodically
Transportation issues - Commute mode Metropolitan Council Region 10 years
Transportation issues - Home / work places Metropolitan Council Region 10 years
Transportation issues - Transit dependent needs Metropolitan Council County 10 years

MetroTransit
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Transportation issues - Access to transit MetroTransit Block Continuous
Transportation issues - Park and Ride Usage MetroTransit Address Annually
Transportation issues - Transit Data MetroTransit Bus/LRT route and segment Continuous
Transportation issues - Transit Surveys MetroTransit Bus/LRT route or metro-wide Biannual

MN Child Care Resource and Referral Network
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Location of services - Child Care Providers MN Child Care Resource and Referral Network Address Continuous

MN Department of Education
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Poverty MN Department of Education School and District Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Race / Ethnicity MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Dropout rate MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Enrollment MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Free / reduced lunch MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Graduation rate MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Language spoken at home MN Department of Education District Annually
K-12 School data - Public/private/home school MN Department of Education District Annually
K-12 School data - Race / ethnicity MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Student Perception and Behavior MN Department of Education County Every 3 years
K-12 School data - Test scores (MCA) MN Department of Education School and District Annually
K-12 School data - Turnover / mobility MN Department of Education School and District Annually

MN Department of Employment and Economic Development
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Unemployment Insurance Statistics (UI Stats) MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Region Monthly/Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Unemployment, employment, labor force (LAUS) MN Department of Employment and Economic Development City Monthly
Employment Locations - Benefits MN Department of Employment and Economic Development State Periodically
Employment Locations - Employment and wages by occupation (OES) MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Region Semi-Annually
Employment Locations - Employment Projections MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Region Biennially
Employment Locations - Job Vacancies (JVS) MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Region Semi-Annually
Employment Locations - Number of jobs, number of employers and wages by industry (CEW) MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Minor Civil Divisions Quarterly
Location of services - Workforce Centers MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Address Continuous

MN Department of Health
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Births / deaths MN Department of Health City Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Disease / injuries MN Department of Health City Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Health Insurance Status MN Department of Health County Periodic
K-12 School data - Student Perception and Behavior MN Department of Health County Every 3 years

MN Department of Human Services
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Use of services (welfare, etc) MN Department of Human Services County Monthly
Location of services - Licensed Human Service Providers MN Department of Human Services Address Monthly

MN Department of Public Safety
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Crime - Crime type by location MN Department of Public Safety City Annually

MN Department of Revenue
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Income Tax Returns MN Department of Revenue Block group in Metro, Counties and larger Cities in greater MN Annually
Employment Locations - Sales MN Department of Revenue Block group in Metro, Counties and larger Cities in greater MN Annually
Taxes - Income Tax MN Department of Revenue Block group in metro, Cities in greater Minnesota Annually
Taxes - Sales Tax MN Department of Revenue Block group in metro, Cities in greater Minnesota Annually

MN Department of Transportation (MNDOT)
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Transportation issues - Traffic Volumes MN Department of Transportation (MNDOT) Road Segment Annually

MN Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Location of services - Schools MN Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo) Address Annually

MN State Demographic Center
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population Estimates - current MN State Demographic Center City and Township Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population Projections MN State Demographic Center County Periodically

Realtors
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Price (sales) Realtors MLS Areas Annually
Housing - Rent Realtors Address Continuous
Location of services - Commercial Property Sales Realtors Address Continuous

US Bureau of Economic Analysis
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Gross State Product US Bureau of Economic Analysis State Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Personal Income US Bureau of Economic Analysis Metropolitan Area Annually/Quarterly

US Census Local Employment Dynamics
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Number of Workers US Census Local Employment Dynamics Block Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Place of Work US Census Local Employment Dynamics Block Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Wage Rates US Census Local Employment Dynamics Block Annually
Employment Locations - Industry and Wages US Census Local Employment Dynamics Block Annually
Employment Locations - Jobs US Census Local Employment Dynamics Block Annually

US Census of Population and Housing
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Age US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Day care needs US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Density US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Disability status US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Education/literacy US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Employment status US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Household Type & Size US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Income (median & spread) US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Languages skills US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Migration patterns US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Number of Automobiles US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Number of Workers US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Place of birth US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Place of Work US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Population US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Poverty US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Previous residence US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Race / Ethnicity US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - School enrollment US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Unemployment US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Use of services (welfare, etc) US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Wage Rates US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Employment Locations - Wage Rates US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Housing - Affordable housing US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Housing - Density US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Housing - Household Type & Size US Census of Population and Housing Block 10 years
Housing - Number of units US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Housing - Rent US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Housing - Turnover US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Housing - Vacancy US Census of Population and Housing Block and up 10 years
Housing - Value US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Housing - Year Built US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Transportation issues - Commute mode US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years
Transportation issues - Transit dependent needs US Census of Population and Housing Block group, tract, and up 10 years

US Internal Revenue Service
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Income Tax Returns US Internal Revenue Service Zip Code Areas Annually
Demographics (Place of Residence) - Migration patterns US Internal Revenue Service County Annually
Taxes - Income Tax US Internal Revenue Service Zip Code Areas Annually

US Postal Service
Category & Info Need Data Source(s) Minimum Mapping Resolution Update Frequency
Housing - Vacancy US Postal Service Tract Quarterly



Other Sources
Four comprehensive sites provide a variety of useful information:

  1. Twin Cities Compass presents key indicators in nine different areas: e.g., economy and workforce, housing, public safety, environment.  Disparities are shown across central cities and suburbs, races, etc.
  2. M3D is based on workplace/residence connections, but includes significant other information about economic activity and services across the region and state.
  3. MetroMSP provides GIS-based access to commercially produced data about demographics, consumer expenditures, workforce, businesses, employers, available commercial properties, and redevelopment areas through user defined searches within the region.
  4. Metropolitan Council GIS Site provides access to an interactive mapping tool with many layers of data available.  The site also provides access to Council data and reports about the region and its municipal components.


Learn more about this page

This resources page is provided to help users locate data sources that meet or exceed a broad range of common socioeconomic information needs identified by the MetroGIS community. Click here to learn more about the MetroGIS community's Socioeconomic Characteristics Information Need, how the cited data sources were decided upon, and efforts to expand upon the cited existing data sources. For roles and responsibilities related to the Socioeconomic Characteristics Information need, click here.

Users are encouraged to provide feedback on this page and/or its content. Help us make this page easier to use, remove errors, and identify new/better data sources. To do so, please fill in our Feedback Form.

   
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