The MetroBoston DataCommon provides a wealth of information about the region’s people and communities through a variety of topics -- from arts and education to the environment and transportation. A resource for all those seeking to understand how the region is changing, it helps residents, stakeholders, planners, city and town officials, educators and journalists explore data and make informed decisions. We invite you to explore its data, community snapshots and create your own visualizations and reports.

People across the political spectrum agree that middle class households are facing financial challenges. An August 2012 report from the Pew Research Center confirms this. "Fewer, Poorer, Gloomier: The Lost Decade of the Middle Class" details the challenges middle class households have faced since 2001, including stagnant incomes and a steep decline in net worth. Our analysis shows that those trends have been occurring in Metro Boston for the last 20 years.

The Boston Indicators Project is an online data portal that features indicators, visualizations, and analysis about Boston and its region. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the economy, housing, demographics, and culture of Boston and its region.

Trainings on how to use the MetroBoston DataCommon are generally held the 1st Thursday of every month at the offices of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council at 60 Temple Place in downtown Boston. Attendees have included community leaders, city and town planners, government employees staff from non-profit organizations and research organizations, and many others. For more information and to register, click here. For training materials please click here.