Data & Tools
Quantitative data can shed light on the functions and performance of urban economies.
Joe Cortright
Upcoming Reports
In the next few weeks, look for new City Observatory reports addressing city job growth, the unfolding process of neighborhood change, and the changing way we create, use and interact with public spaces in cities.
Is Portland really where young people go to retire?
Forget the quirky, slacker stereotype, the data show people are coming to Portland to start businesses. A recent New York Times magazine article “Keep Portland Broke,” echoed a meme made popular by the satirical television show “Portlandia” asking whether the…
Kids in Cities
Is there a place for families with children in cities? For the past two decades, there’s been an increasing tendency for well-educated young adults to choose to live in close-in urban neighborhoods <link>. While many believe that dense urban enviornments…
Our Shortage of Cities
The Big Idea: High housing prices in American cities are a symptom of our shortage of great urban neighborhoods. The tried-and-true solution to a shortage is to supply by building new neighborhoods—places where people want to live.