Data

The data in the Mapping Broadband Health in America 2025 platform is extracted from leading data sources for broadband, chronic disease, opioids, and maternal health measures as well as demographic metrics. The five data tables below briefly identify each of the measures (as denominated in the platform), its definition, the primary data source, and the data year. Hyperlinks in the tables direct users to the primary data sources.

For broadband, we focus on two key dimensions – broadband connectivity – in addition to critical sub-measures on rurality and speed. Increasingly, adoption and speed are critical to understanding the full picture of broadband connectivity in a community.

Broadband Connectivity
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Adoption Broadband Adoption FCC - 2024 Section 706 Report (Appendix B-7) (2024) (opens new window) The number of fixed terrestrial connections at 100/20 Mbps or higher divided by the number of households in which fixed terrestrial services are available at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds. Data for this variable is currently only available at the state level.
Internet Adoption - Any Speed FCC Form 477 County-Level Connection Data (2023) (opens new window) The number of residential (consumer) connections over 200 Kbps per 100 households.
Internet Adoption - High Speed (Self-Report) Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Self-reported percentage of households with a high-speed Internet connection through subscription including cable, DSL, fiber-optic.
Broadband Access Access to Fixed Broadband Providers FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of the population with access to three or fewer fixed broadband providers within their BSL.
Fixed Broadband Access Percentage of population with access to fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Fixed Broadband and Mobile Access FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and Mobile Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population with access to both fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds and outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Mobile Access FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Mobile Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population with access to outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Mobile Broadband Only Percentage of county area with mobile-only broadband access of any speed (3G, 4G, 5G).
Most Common Download Speed (All Fixed Wireless) FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) The most commonly advertised download speed by population via fixed wireless technology. Download speeds are categorized into five values: 1000+ Mbps, 1000–250 Mbps, 250–100 Mbps, 100–25 Mbps, or < 25 Mbps.
Most Common Download Speed (Any Terrestrial) The most commonly advertised download speed by population via any terrestrial technology. Download speeds are categorized into five values: 1000+ Mbps, 1000–250 Mbps, 250–100 Mbps, 100–25 Mbps, or < 25 Mbps.
Most Common Upload Speed (All Fixed Wireless) The most commonly advertised upload speed by population via fixed wireless technology. Upload speeds are categorized into five values: 100+ Mbps, 100–25 Mbps, 25–20 Mbps, 20–3 Mbps, or < 3 Mbps.
Most Common Upload Speed (Any Terrestrial) The most commonly advertised upload speed by population via any terrestrial technology. Upload speeds are categorized into five values: 100+ Mbps, 100–25 Mbps, 25–20 Mbps, 20–3 Mbps, or < 3 Mbps.
Number of Mobile Broadband Providers FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Mobile Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Number of 5G mobile broadband providers offering any 5G speed.
Percentage Served FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Using the BEAD allocation areas defined by statute (47 U.S.C. § 1702 (2021)), percentage of the population that is served (low-latency broadband greater than or equal to 100/20 Mbps).
Percentage Underserved Using the BEAD allocation areas defined by statute (47 U.S.C. § 1702 (2021)), percentage of the population that is underserved (low-latency broadband less than 100/20 Mbps but greater than or equal to 25/3 Mbps).
Percentage Unserved Using the BEAD allocation areas defined by statute (47 U.S.C. § 1702 (2021)), percentage of the population that is unserved (low-latency or less than 25/3 Mbps).
Device Ownership Households - Desktop or Laptop Only Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of households with a desktop or laptop only. These households do not have any other type of computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer.
Households - No Device Percentage of households without a computing device (e.g., smartphone, desktop or laptop, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer).
Households - Smartphone Only Percentage of households with a smartphone only. These households do not have any other type of computing device, such as a desktop or laptop, tablet or other portable wireless computer, or other type of computer.
Funding All Eligible Entities (Total) Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Health Care (RHC) Commitments and Disbursements (FCC Form 462/466/466A) (2025) (opens new window) The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable represents the total committed funds provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating entities to provide telecommunications and broadband services necessary to provide healthcare (2019-2024).
Community Health Centers The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating community health centers providing health care to migrants (2019-2024).
Community Mental Health Centers The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating community mental health centers (2019-2024).
Consortia The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating consortia of not-for-profit hospitals and rural health clinics (2019-2024).
Dedicated Emergency Rooms The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating dedicated emergency rooms of rural for-profit hospitals (2019-2024).
Educational Institutions The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating post-secondary educational institutions offering healthcare instruction (2019-2024).
Local Health Departments The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating local health departments (2019-2024).
Not-For-Profit Hospitals The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating not-for-profit hospitals (2019-2024).
Other Entities The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating to off-site data centers and off-site administrative offices that help eligible Health Care Providers to function (2019-2024).
Rural Health Clinics The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating rural health clinics (2019-2024).
Skilled Nursing Facilities The FCC's Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible healthcare providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. The variable includes committed funding provided by the Universal Service Administration to the FCC's Rural Health Care Funding Program to support eligible, participating skilled nursing facilities (2019-2024).
Rural Access Rural Fixed Broadband Access FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Rural Fixed Broadband and Mobile Access FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Fixed Broadband Availability Data and Mobile Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to both fixed terrestrial broadband service at 100/20 Mbps or higher advertised speeds and outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.
Rural Mobile Access FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Mobile Broadband Availability Data and FCC Staff Block Estimates (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population living in rural census blocks with access to outdoor stationary mobile 5G-NR service at 35/3 Mbps or higher advertised speeds.

For health, and as a part of the 2024 update, the platform now includes recent chronic disease data as well as data on opioids and maternal health. For chronic disease, we focus on four critical dimensions – health outcomes, access to care, quality of care, and health behaviors – where broadband has been shown to enable effective and cost-saving interventions.

Chronic Disease and Health Behaviors
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Access to Care Cardiovascular Disease Provider Rate Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Area Health Resource File (AHRF) (2023) (opens new window) Crude rate of cardiovascular disease providers per 100,000 population.
Dental Providers County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Number of dentists.
Mental Health Provider Shortage Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs) (2024) (opens new window) Population-weighted average score of Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in a county. Higher scores indicate greater need or shortage. Counties with a score of zero do not have a designated geographic or high-needs geographic shortage area.
Number of Hospitals with Chemotherapy Services Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Area Health Resource File (AHRF) (2023) (opens new window) Number of hospitals with chemotherapy services.
Number of Hospitals with Mammography Services Number of hospitals with breast cancer screening/mammography.
Number of Hospitals with Oncology Services Number of hospitals with oncology services.
Outpatient Oncology Providers Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems (2024) (opens new window) Number of outpatient oncology providers.
Physician Access County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Ratio of population to primary care physicians.
Health Outcomes All Cancer Incidence U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) Data (2024) (opens new window) Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
All Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of all cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Breast Cancer Incidence Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, in females, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Breast Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of breast cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Cerebrovascular Disease Mortality Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) (2024) (opens new window) Crude rate of deaths by underlying cause per 100,000 population for ICD-10 codes I60-I69 (Cerebrovascular Disease). 3-year span.
Colon Cancer Incidence U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) Data (2024) (opens new window) Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of new colon and rectum cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Colon Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of colon and rectum cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Diabetes County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 18 and older) with diagnosed diabetes (age-adjusted).
Heart Failure Mortality Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) (2024) (opens new window) Crude rate of deaths by underlying cause per 100,000 population for ICD-10 code I50 (Heart Failure). 3-year span.
High Blood Pressure Prevalence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES (2024) (opens new window) Model-based estimate of age-adjusted prevalence (%) of high blood pressure among adults aged >=18 years.
High Cholesterol Prevalence Model-based estimate of age-adjusted prevalence (%) of high cholesterol among adults aged >=18 years who have ever been screened.
Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Natality) (2024) (opens new window) Crude rate of deaths by underlying cause per 100,000 population for ICD-10 codes I20-I25 (Ischemic Heart Disease). 3-year span.
Ischemic Heart Disease Prevalence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES (2024) (opens new window) Model-based estimate of age-adjusted prevalence (%) of coronary heart disease among adults aged >=18 years.
Lung Cancer Incidence U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) Data (2024) (opens new window) Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of new lung and bronchus cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Lung Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of lung and bronchus cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Obesity County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 18 and older) that report a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted).
Other Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) (2024) (opens new window) Crude rate of deaths by underlying cause per 100,000 population for ICD-10 codes I00-I02 (Acute Rheumatic Fever), I05-I09 (Chronic Rheumatic Heart Diseases), I10-I15 (Hypertensive Disease), I26-I28 (Pulmonary Heart Disease and Diseases of Pulmonary Circulation), I30-I51 (Other Forms of Heart Disease), or I70-I78 (Diseases of Arteries, Arterioles and Capillaries). 3-year span.
Poor/Fair Health County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults reporting fair or poor health (age-adjusted).
Premature Death Years of potential life lost before age 75 per 100,000 persons (age-adjusted).
Prostate Cancer Incidence U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) Data (2024) (opens new window) Age-adjusted incidence rate of the total number of new prostate cancer cases diagnosed in 2017-2021 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Prostate Cancer Mortality Age-adjusted death rate of the total number of prostate cancer deaths during 2018-2022 for all ages, all races and ethnicities, and all male and female, divided by the at-risk population for that category and multiplied by 100,000.
Sick Days County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Average number of physically unhealthy days reported in the past 30 days (age-adjusted).
Stroke Prevalence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES (2024) (opens new window) Model-based estimate of age-adjusted prevalence (%) of stroke among adults aged >=18 years.
Quality of Care Preventable Hospitalization County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Rate of hospital stays for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions per 100,000 Medicare enrollees (age-adjusted).
Risk Factors Colorectal Cancer Screening Prevalence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES (2024) (opens new window) Model-based estimate for crude prevalence of colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years, including a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) within the previous year, a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-DNA test within the previous 3 years, a sigmoidoscopy within the previous 5 years, a sigmoidoscopy within the previous 10 years with a FIT in the past year, a colonoscopy within the previous 10 years, or a CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) within the previous 5 years.
Excessive Drinking County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults reporting binge or heavy drinking during the last 30 days (age-adjusted).
Mammography Screening Prevalence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES (2024) (opens new window) Model-based estimate for crude prevalence of mammography use in the previous two years among women aged 50–74 years.
Physical Inactivity County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 18 and over) reporting no leisure-time physical activity (age-adjusted).
Smoking Percentage of adults who are current smokers (age-adjusted).

For opioids, this initial phase of the effort to intersect drug abuse data with broadband focuses on two dimensions of the ongoing crisis – outcomes (mortality rates) and risk factors for overdose (prescription rates); we anticipate that the second phase will include other risk factors and intermediate variables established in the research literature as precursors and drivers of opioid abuse and overdose, as described in the Broadband and Opioids Conceptual Model.

Opioid Mortality and Prescription Rates
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Health Outcomes All Drugs - Death Rate Trends Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Multiple Cause of Death) (2021) (opens new window) Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all drug-related overdose.
All Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all opioid-related overdose.
Heroin - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all heroin overdose.
Opioid Use Disorder Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool (2024) (opens new window) Prevalence of overarching Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) among Medicare (dual and non-dual) beneficiaries.
Prescription Opioids - Death Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Multiple Cause of Death) (2024) (opens new window) Mortality rate for all prescription opioid overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons. “Prescription opioids” is classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and identified using the underlying cause of death codes for Drug poisonings (overdose) that are Unintentional (X40-X44), Suicide (X60-X64), Homicide (X85), and Undetermined (Y10-Y14), and involve multiple cause of death codes for natural and semi-synthetic opioids (T40.2) and methadone (T40.3).
Prescription Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all prescription opioid overdose.
Synthetic Opioids - Death Rate Mortality rate for all synthetic opioid overdose, represented as deaths per 100,000 persons. “Synthetic opioids” mortality is classified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and identified using the underlying cause of death codes for Drug poisonings (overdose) that are Unintentional (X40-X44), Suicide (X60-X64), Homicide (X85), and Undetermined (Y10-Y14), and involve the multiple cause of death code for synthetic opioids other than methadone (T40.4).
Synthetic Opioids - Death Rate Trends Percent change in mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 persons) for all synthetic opioid overdose.
Risk Factors HIV Prevalence County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Number of people aged 13 years and older living with a diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection per 100,000 persons.
Opioids Prescription Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps (2024) (opens new window) Rate of retail opioid prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons.
Opioids Prescription Trends Percent change in opioid prescription rate (retail opioid prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons).

For maternal health, we incorporate data on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, including up to one year postpartum, as specified in the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act, Public Law No. 117-247 (eff. Dec. 20, 2022). We also include select measures related to risk factors for poor maternal health outcomes and access to maternal health care. Given the multifaceted and complex nature of the maternal health crisis, this additional information can help shed light on the drivers or causes of poor maternal health outcomes and provide greater insight for action, including areas where telehealth and other broadband-enabled solutions can be leveraged to improve maternal health.

Maternal Health
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Access to Care Maternity Care Deserts March of Dimes, Maternity Care Desert Report (2024) (opens new window) Access to obstetric care in a given county from none (desert) to full. Maternity care deserts are counties without a hospital, birth center, or provider offering obstetric care.
Prenatal Care (First Trimester) Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (2024) (opens new window) Estimated percentage of live births to women who received first trimester prenatal care.
Demographics Maternal Age Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Natality) (2024) (opens new window) Average age of mothers. Maternal age is based on birth certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Data is not shown for counties with less than 100,000 population.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - AI/AN Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (2024) (opens new window) Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - Asian Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - Black Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - Hispanic Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - Multiple Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - NH/PI Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - Non-Hispanic Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Race/Ethnicity (Maternal) - White Number of women of maternal age (15-44 years) by race or ethnicity.
Health Outcomes Infant Mortality Rate Estimated infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births.
Late Maternal Death Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Natality) (2024) (opens new window) Number of maternal deaths (up to 1 year postpartum) per 100,000 live births. Includes ICD Codes: O96-O97.
Maternal Deaths Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) (2024) (opens new window) Counties reporting maternal deaths (up to 42 days postpartum) or no maternal deaths. Includes ICD Codes: A34 (Obstetrical tetanus), O00–O95, and O98–O99.
Maternal Mortality Rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Underlying Cause of Death) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER (Natality) (2024) (opens new window) Number of maternal deaths (up to 42 days postpartum) per 100,000 live births. Includes ICD Codes: A34 (Obstetrical tetanus), O00–O95, and O98–O99.
Severe Maternal Morbidity Rate Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Fast Stats (2024) (opens new window) Number of women experiencing unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery (20 indicators) per 10,000 in-hospital deliveries. Blood transfusion codes are not included.
Risk Factors Breastfeeding Initiation Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool (2024) (opens new window) Estimated percentage of breastfeeding initiation among live births who were not transferred to another facility within 24 hours of delivery and were alive at the time of birth certificate completion.
Low Birth Weight Estimated percentage of live births that are low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams).
Maternal Diabetes Estimated percentage of live births to women with any diabetes diagnosis (pre-pregnancy or gestational).
Maternal Hypertension Estimated percentage of live births to women with any hypertension diagnosis (pre-pregnancy or gestational).
Pre-pregnancy Obesity Estimated percentage of live births to women with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m².
Preterm Births Estimated percentage of live births that are preterm (before 37 weeks).
Smoking During Pregnancy Estimated percentage of live births where cigarette smoking was reported during any trimester of pregnancy.

For demographics, we rely on several sources including the U.S. Census Bureau data for population metrics and selected social and economic factors, as detailed below.

Demographics, Socioeconomic, and Community Health Factors
Dimensions Measures Primary Data (Data Year) Description
Community Factors Distance to ER Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Social Determinants of Health Database (SDOH) (2020) (opens new window) Median distance in miles to the nearest emergency department, calculated using population weighted tract centroids in the county.
Education County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of adults (aged 25-44) with some post-secondary education (i.e., some college).
Food Insecurity Estimated percentage of population who lack adequate access to food.
Households - No Vehicle Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of housing units with no vehicle available.
Injury Deaths County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Number of deaths due to injury per 100,000 persons.
Median Household Income Median household income is the income level at which half of households earn more, and half of households earn less.
Poor Mental Health Days Average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in the past 30 days (age-adjusted).
Poverty Census Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) (2024) (opens new window) Estimated percentage of families or individuals whose total income is below the corresponding official poverty threshold.
Severe Housing County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of households with at least 1 of 4 housing problems: overcrowding, high housing costs, lack of kitchen facilities, or lack of plumbing facilities.
Social Vulnerability Index Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) (2024) (opens new window) A composite measure of social vulnerability based on 16 demographic factors collected in the American Community Survey, including poverty, unemployment, housing cost burden, education, health insurance, age, disability status, single-parent households, English language proficiency, racial and ethnic minority status, housing type and transportation.
Unemployment County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of the civilian labor force (aged 16 and older) who are unemployed but seeking work.
Insurance Medicaid Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of population with any Medicaid/means-tested public health insurance coverage.
Medicare Percentage of the population with Medicare health insurance coverage only.
Percent Uninsured Census Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of persons under 65 without any medical insurance.
Private Insurance Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of the population with private health insurance coverage.
Population Age (Over 65 Years) County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of the population aged 65 and older.
Density Census - Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2020) and Census Geography Information dataset (GEOINFO) (2023) (opens new window) Population per square mile.
Female County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) The number of females expressed as a percent of the total population.
Population Census - Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2020) (2023) (opens new window) Estimate of the resident population including all people currently residing in the United States.
Race/Ethnicity (All) - NH/PI County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2025) (opens new window) Percentage of population identifying as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Rurality - Min/Max Census - Demographic and Housing Characteristics File (2020) (2023) (opens new window) Population residing in a rural area (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau).
Rurality - Quintiles Population residing in a rural area (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau).
Veteran Status Census - American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2024) (opens new window) Percentage of civilian population (ages 18 and over) consisting of Veterans.