These Community Vital Signs are inspired by a project of the City of San José to develop a tool to help catalyze and facilitate discussions on community improvement.

Community Vital Signs integrate a multitude of local, state, and federal data sources using a unique methodology to develop a better understanding of a community needs.

For more information on customizing Community Vital Signs for your community, contact Michael Saunders.


Community Vital Signs by Census Tracts in Middlesex County

Gender Pay Gap
Ratio of female to male median earnings in the past 12 months (2019 inflation-adjusted dollars)


* Grants from Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, National Philanthropic Trust, Schwab Charitable and Vanguard Charitable Endowment.

Investigate Other Index Elements



Sub-dimension of Foundations Of Wellbeing

Sub-dimension of Foundations Of Wellbeing

Broadband_SubscriptionBroadband Subscription (% of pop.) - Percentage of population with a broadband subscription

Cellular_SubscriptionCellular Data Subscription (% of pop.) - Percentage of population with a cellular data subscription

Sub-dimension of Foundations Of Wellbeing

High_School_EducationPopulation without high school education (% of pop. ages 18-24 without high school diploma or equivalent) - Percent of population aged 18-24 without high school diploma or equivalent

PreschoolPreschool Enrollment (% of 3 & 4 year olds) - Percentage of three and four year olds enrolled in school

Diabetes Prevalence (% of adults) - Percentage of adults aged 20 and above with diagnosed diabetes.

ObesityObesity Prevalence (% of adults) - Percentage of adults that report a BMI of 30 or more.

Mental_HealthPoor Mental Health Days - The average number of days a tract's adult respondents report that their mental health was not good, based on the survey question: "Thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?"

Sub-dimension of Basic Human Needs

Sub-dimension of Basic Human Needs

Housing_Burden_OwnersHousing Cost Burden (% of households, owners) - Percentage of owned housing units with cost greater than 30% of household income.

Housing_Burden_RentersHousing Cost Burden (% of households, renters) - Percentage of rented housing units with cost greater than 30% of household income.

OvercrowdingHousing Overcrowding (% of households) - Percentage of households with more than one occupant per room.

Sub-dimension of Basic Human Needs

Dental_CareDental Care Visits (% of adults) - Rate of visits to dentist or dental clinic for adults aged >=18 in the previous year

Preventative_CarePreventative Care Visits (% of adults) - Rate of visits to doctor for routine checkup for adults >=18 in the previous year

Sub-dimension of Opportunity

Sub-dimension of Opportunity

Advanced_DegreeAdvanced Degree Holders (% of pop. age 25+) - Percent of population 25 and older whose highest degree attained is a Master's, professional school degree, or Doctorate

AssociatesAssociates Degree Holders (% of pop. age 25+) - Percent of population 25 and older whose highest degree attained is an Associate's degree

BachelorsBachelors Degree Holders (% of pop. age 25+) - Percent of population 25 and older whose highest degree attained is a Bachelor's degree

Sub-dimension of Opportunity

TransportationAlternative Transportation Usage (% of commuters) - Percentage of commuters taking public transit, biking, walking, or working remotely

Disconnected_YouthDisconnected Youth (% of 16-19 year olds) - Percentage of teens and young adults ages 16-19 who are neither working nor in school

Sub-dimension of Opportunity

Pay_GapGender Pay Gap - Ratio of female to male median earnings in the past 12 months (2019 inflation-adjusted dollars)

Sub-dimension of Opportunity

Home_OwnershipHome Ownership (% of households) - Percentage of households that are owner-occupied

Sub-dimension of Foundations Of Wellbeing

Sub-dimension of Foundations Of Wellbeing



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Young at 24, Juan David Aristizabal Ospina is a social entrepreneur who founded Buena Nota, a platform that accentuates social entrepreneurs and citizens in Colombia making  positive changes and raising awareness about social problems that need to be addressed.




Federal Government Grant and Assistance Programs



Edited by: Michael Saunders

© 2008-2024 Copyright Michael Saunders