PLACES: Local Data for Better Health

PLACES provides model-based, population-level analysis and community estimates of health measures to all counties, places (incorporated and census designated places), census tracts, and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) across the United States.

The data are published through a public, interactive “PLACES” website that allows users to view, explore, and download data by county, place, census tract, and ZCTA.

Although limited data are available at the county and metropolitan levels, PLACES represents a first-of-its-kind data analysis to release information for all US counties, places, census tracts, and ZCTAs. This system complements existing surveillance data by providing estimates necessary to understand the health issues affecting the residents of local areas of all sizes and regardless of urban or rural status; develop and implement effective and targeted prevention activities; identify health problems; and establish key health objectives.

Note that PLACES is an expansion of the original 500 Cities Project that began in 2015.