How do policymakers decide who qualifies for means-tested programs?

While the poverty threshold and income relative to AMI are the two most commonly used measures for determining income eligibility for means-tested programs, researchers may consider additional thresholds against which to characterize the income of populations.

As revealed through data and academic literature, histor­ical inequity in credit access still affects minority borrow­ers today.

Examining commuting behavior helps show how connected counties are in the Fifth Federal Reserve District.

States and school districts are using a variety of policies – including financial incentives – to try to combat a teacher shortage.

To the best of their ability, school districts set salary and benefit schedules to be competitive with outside employment opportunities.

Numerous factors — including population growth, education, housing, transportation, child care, health, and broadband availability — are shaping the differences in employment outcomes between rural and urban communities.

Unlike in other recessions, women's labor force participation was impacted more than men's. What impact did child care have?

Although people often associate high housing costs with urban areas, many households in rural areas also struggle with costly housing

Differences in permitting activity, land use regulation, and land availability contribute to variation in how rapidly the local housing supply is growing in communities throughout the Fifth District.

In addition to differences in housing affordability, rural Fifth District households experience differences in housing quality by tenure and income.

While the recent decline in rural homeownership affordability has challenged prospective buyers, many existing rural homeowners and renters are also burdened by their housing costs.

Large metro areas aren't the only places to see recent declines in homeownership affordability. Home prices have grown faster than household income in nonmetropolitan areas, too, contributing to affordability challenges in these communities.

Following two years of tight housing market conditions in the Fifth District, indicators suggest that markets are cooling although affordability remains an issue.

Hispanic postsecondary enrollment has nearly doubled in the Fifth District over the past decade, contributing to increased diversity across college campuses. Organizations work to engage Hispanic youth throughout the college application and attendance process to ensure their success as college students.

After accounting for cost of living, teachers' salaries go further in some rural communities throughout the Fifth District.

Where people work relative to where they live is a good indicator of how connected counties are to one another. This post explores the extent to which urban and rural counties in the Fifth District are connected by exploring commuting patterns.

The New River Valley Regional Commission is an example of how a regional development organization can galvanize innovative, sustainable regional and local housing strategies to serve its small towns and rural communities.

Housing and transportation represent the two largest living expenses in most households, but local investment can address households' travel needs.

This post explores lagged recovery in labor force participation for Black and Hispanic women that started at the onset of the COVID-19 recession.