MapAI chatPDF reportSales forecast
Pricing
Data sources Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Index

The Healthy, Wealthy and Wise index provides a comprehensive snapshot of the health, wealth and educational conditions of Americans living in any location, from states and counties to small towns and even specific addresses.

By analyzing the trends and patterns in this data, we gain valuable insights into the flourishing areas, as well as the areas where there is room for improvement. The index is based on a range of factors, including healthcare access and outcomes (Health Index), economic measures such as income and poverty rates (Wealth Index), and educational and knowledge-based metrics (Education Index).

Whether you're a business owner looking to make strategic decisions or an individual seeking to improve your personal well-being, this index can provide valuable information to help you make informed choices.

1. Score health, wealth and education

Every area gets three sub-indices. The Health Index looks at life expectancy, health conditions, health behaviors, clinical care and the physical environment. The Wealth Index covers income, employment, homeownership, cost of living and population growth. The Education Index reflects educational attainment and the quality of local schools, universities and child care.

Health Index
Wealth Index
Education Index

2. Compare each area with its state and the US

A raw score means little on its own, so we normalize every index against the state and national averages. An index of 1.0 means the area matches the average, 1.2 means it is 20% above it, and 0.8 means 20% below. Because the benchmark is built from the same data as the area itself, the score follows population trends: when a whole state grows older or wealthier, its areas are judged against that new normal rather than a fixed yardstick.

Having both benchmarks answers two different questions. Against the US, you see how a location ranks nationally, which matters when choosing between metro areas in different states. Against its state, you see how it stands out locally, among places that share the same state economy, laws and costs, so regional differences do not drown out the comparison. On the main map, switch between the two with vs US / vs State in the Area Summary section of the right panel.

3. Combine them into one score

The overall Healthy, Wealthy and Wise score is the average of the three indices, calculated separately against the state and the national average. Where an area lacks data for one index, the score averages the ones it has.

4. Turn scores into letter grades

For convenience, every index is also shown as a letter grade from F- to A+. C means about on par with the average, B and A mean better, D and F mean worse, and A+ and F- mark the far ends. Cut-offs are set per index, because health scores vary far less between areas than income does.

Frequently asked questions

A Map AI score that summarizes how healthy, how economically secure and how educated the people of an area are. It combines three sub-indices - Health, Wealth and Education - and works for states, counties, cities and small areas down to a specific address.
That the area matches the average it is compared with. Every index is the area score divided by the same score for its state or for the whole US, so 1.2 means 20% above that average and 0.8 means 20% below.
Use the US average to see how a location ranks nationally, for example when choosing between metro areas in different states. Use the state average to see how it stands out locally, among places that share the same state economy, laws and costs, so regional differences do not drown out the comparison.
On the main map, open the Area Summary section in the right panel and use the vs US / vs State switch; the map recolors right away. When the map shows whole states, only the national comparison applies.
They make the scores easier to read at a glance, from F- to A+. C means about on par with the average, B and A better, D and F worse, and A+ and F- mark the far ends. Cut-offs are set per index, because health scores vary far less between areas than income does.
From public sources: the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey for income, employment, homeownership, insurance coverage and education, the CDC for health conditions and behaviors, and the National Center for Health Statistics for life expectancy. The Data Sources page lists every dataset Map AI uses.