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Methodology

The methodology for identifying communities of focus is currently in a draft, pre-decisional form that may change over time as more datasets become available.

Draft communities list (143MB)
The package includes the draft list of prioritized communities (.csv and .xlsx) and information about how to use the list (.pdf). Last updated: 09/20/21

Limited data sources — Datasets may be added, updated, or removed.

Datasets used in methodology

The datasets come from a variety of sources and were selected based on relevance, availability, recency, and quality. The datasets seek to identify a range of human health, environmental, climate-related, and other cumulative impacts on communities.

Area Median Income

Median income of the census block group calculated as a percent of the metropolitan area’s or state's median income.

Poverty

Percent of a block group's population in households where the household income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level

Education, less than high school education

Percent of people ages 25 years or older in a block group whose education level is less than a high school diploma.

Additional Indicators

These datasets provide additional information about each community.

Diabetes

People ages 18 years and older who report having ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professionals that they have diabetes other than diabetes during pregnancy.

Asthma

Weighted number of respondents people who answer “yes” both to both of the following questions: “Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have asthma?” and the question “Do you still have asthma?”

Heart disease

People ages 18 years and older who report ever having been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professionals that they had angina or coronary heart disease.

Life expectancy

Estimated years of life expectancy.

Traffic proximity and volume

Count of vehicles (average annual daily traffic) at major roads within 500 meters, divided by distance in meters (not km).

FEMA Risk Index Expected Annual Loss Score

Average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. It is calculated for each hazard type and quantifies loss for relevant consequence types: buildings, people, and agriculture.

Energy burden

Average annual energy cost ($) divided by household income.

Housing cost burden

Households that are low income and spend more than 30% of their income to housing costs.

Wastewater discharge

RSEI modeled Toxic Concentrations at stream segments within 500 meters, divided by distance in kilometers (km).

Lead paint

Percent of housing units built pre-1960, used as an indicator of potential lead paint exposure in homes.

Diesel particulate matter

Mixture of particles that is part of diesel exhaust in the air.

PM2.5

Fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

Methodology

The methodology for identifying communities of focus is calculated at the census block group level. Census block geographical boundaries are determined by the U.S. Census Bureau once every ten years. This tool utilizes the census block boundaries from 2010.

The following describes the process for identifying communities of focus.

  1. Gather datasets

    The methodology includes the following inputs that are equally weighted.

    Percent of Area Median Income

    If a census block group is in a metropolitan area, this value is the median income of the census block group calculated as a percent of the metropolitan area’s median income.

    If a census block group is not in a metropolitan area, this value is the median income of the census block group calculated as a percent of the state’s median income.

    Percent of households below or at 100% of the federal poverty line

    This is the percent of households in a state with a household income below or at 100% of the federal poverty line. This federal poverty line is calculated based on the composition of each household (e.g., based on household size), but it does not vary geographically.

    The high school degree achievement rate for adults 25 years and older

    The percent of individuals who are 25 or older who have received a high school degree.

  2. Determine communites of focus

    Under the existing formula, a census block group will be considered a community of focus if:

    (The median income is less than 80% of the area median income

    OR

    households living in poverty (at or below 100% of the federal poverty level) is greater than 20%)

    AND

    The high school degree achievement rate for adults 25 years and older is greater than 95%