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Healthy Economy Data Methods, Limitations, and References

General information

This section contains information on methods, limitations, and references from Healthy Economy in San Mateo County maps.

Community Vulnerability Index

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the County of San Mateo County Manager’s Office analysis of U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
  • The index is composed of seven indicators: health insurance coverage, education, supplemental security income, gross rent as a percentage of income, poverty, unemployment, and disability status. The indicators that have been standardized and combined to create dimension scores, on a scale from zero to 100, for each of the census tracts within San Mateo County.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S. 
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.  
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

Median Household Income

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included all households.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S. 
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.  
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

Per Capita Income

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included the total population.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S. 
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

Self-Sufficiency

Methods

  • Data were obtained from the Insight Center’s 2014 Self-Sufficiency Standard for California.
  • The Insight Center used multiple public data sources to create this measure, including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing (HUD), 2012 Regional Market Rate Survey of California Child Care Providers, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Transit district data, U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Internal Revenue Services (IRS).

Limitations

  • The Insight Center’s measures assume all adults in a given household have full-time employment outside the home and therefore assume costs associated with this employment, such as transportation.
  • The Insight Center’s calculations assume two adults are married in a given household and include associated tax breaks in their calculations.
  • These assumptions will vary based on household, and actual living wage requirements may fluctuate.

References

Unemployment

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included all labor force participants 16 years and over.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S. 
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

Poverty

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.
  • Data included the total population.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S.
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References

Income Inequality

Methods

  • Data were obtained from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates at American FactFinder.
  • Data were mapped using ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Online.

Limitations

  • Approximately 295,000 households are selected to participate in the annual American Community Survey, or less than 1 percent of all households in the U.S.
  • Data were estimated from survey responses.
  • Estimates have some chance of error.

References