Behind the Numbers: Where Metopio’s Data Comes From
Every chart, map, and dashboard in Metopio is built on a foundation of trusted, transparent data.
We don’t just collect raw data — we curate, harmonize, and maintain a living library of the most reliable public and private datasets available!
Metopio’s data backbone draws from more than 150 federal, state, and local sources, covering 3,000+ topics and billions of data points. Our job is to make that data easier to find, understand, and use — while keeping its integrity and context intact.
In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on exactly where that data comes from, how we select and update it, and why this curation matters for your work.
Built on Trusted Sources
Metopio’s data library centers on authoritative public data from long-standing national programs and federal statistical agencies that shape the evidence base for health, equity, and policy work.
Federal data partners include:
U.S. Census Bureau – American Community Survey (ACS), Decennial Census, LODES employment data, Gazetteer Files
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – BRFSS, PLACES, NVSS mortality and natality, SVI, NNDSS, Heat & Health Tracker
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – Medicare Geographic Variation, Mapping Medicare Disparities, Part D Opioid Prescribing
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) – Area Health Resources Files (AHRF), Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), Maternal & Child Health Bureau data
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – CHAS, HOME Rent Limits, Housing Choice Vouchers, Picture of Subsidized Households
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – EJScreen, TRI, Air Quality Index, Cleanups in My Community
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – OEWS, QCEW, LAUS, Occupational and wage statistics
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Food Access Research Atlas, SNAP Meal Gap, Location Affordability Index
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Minority Health SVI, emPOWER, SAMHSA indicators
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) – Gross Domestic Product by county
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – National Risk Index
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – Common Core of Data
These sources form the foundation for reliable, reproducible insights across every geography Metopio supports — from national down to census tract.
Expanded with Research & Nonprofit Collaborations
To complement federal datasets, Metopio includes respected research and nonprofit data programs that add depth and local relevance:
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps for comprehensive county health measures
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a partner in PLACES and other national health benchmarks
Feeding America, especially the Map the Meal Gap for food insecurity
The Urban Institute for Out of Reach, Debt in America, and other social drivers of health indicators
The Annie E. Casey Foundation for KIDS COUNT data
DiversityDataKids.org for their Child Opportunity Indexes 2.0 & 3.0
Trust for Public Land, especially the ParkScore for park accessibility
Eviction Lab (Princeton University) for their Eviction Prevalence Estimation
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) for Health Costs & Budgets Indicators
Together, these datasets extend Metopio’s reach beyond health metrics into the social, economic, and environmental contexts that shape well-being.
State and Local Data, Curated for Comparability
Many of the most actionable datasets come from state and city health departments. Metopio standardizes and aligns these to national benchmarks so you can analyze local realities alongside federal data.
Examples include:
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) – Cancer Registry, Medicaid Provider Directory
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – Overdose Surveillance Dashboard, MCAH data
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) – Claims, Vital Statistics, and COVID-19 surveillance
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) – WISH modules for injury, cancer, and opioid data
Indiana State Cancer Registry, Washington State Cancer Registry
City of Chicago Open Data – crime, traffic, and building datasets
State and local coverage like this supports Metopio’s mission: helping communities understand themselves on their own terms.
Healthcare Utilization & Claims-Based Insights
To connect public health and healthcare delivery, Metopio curates select claims-based datasets, including:
Illinois Hospital Association COMPdata Informatics
Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center (WHAIC)
North Carolina Claims Dataset
CMS Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (CCW)
Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners data
Each of these datasets follows strict privacy, suppression, and risk-adjustment standards to protect patient confidentiality while enabling meaningful, population-level analysis.
Environment, Housing, and Climate Data
Community health is inseparable from place.
Metopio’s environmental and housing datasets help users connect health outcomes with local conditions and risks. Within the platform, you’ll find:
EPA EJScreen and Toxic Release Inventory (toxics, air quality, EJ indicators)
FEMA National Risk Index (natural hazard vulnerability)
Climate Impact Lab (climate projections and heat impacts)
HUD CHAS, Rent Limits, and Housing Choice Voucher data
USDA ERS Food Environment Atlas (access to healthy food)
Redfin and Zillow housing indicators
These data layers make it possible to see how environment, affordability, and infrastructure affect health and opportunity, especially at the neighborhood level.
Curation, Not Collection
Metopio doesn’t own the data. We curate it — maintaining consistent schemas, methods, and documentation so users can trust comparisons across topics and geographies.
Every indicator in the platform includes:
Source and table name
Timeframe and units
Geographic coverage and stratifications
Notes on adjustments or caveats
That transparency lets you trace every number back to its origin.
How Often Is Metopio's Data Updated?
Our team monitors the release calendars for each source. Most datasets are updated annually, and major releases like the American Community Survey (ACS) are available in Metopio within 24 hours of publication.
Each update is version-controlled and timestamped, so analyses remain reproducible over time.
Why This Matters
We know that reliable data builds trust between you and your communities. By combining defensible public sources, consistent benchmarking, and open documentation, Metopio provides a shared evidence base that communities can stand behind — whether for a Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, dashboard, grant application, or board presentation.
Metopio turns public data into public understanding.
Explore the Data
Ready to see it for yourself? Request a demo to learn how your organization can use these insights in practice.