Statistical sources used by the author
In the final chapter of Evicted, "About this Project," Matthew Desmond discusses the methods he used to collect the stories, information, and data used to write the book. In addition to his extensive fieldwork, he also designed and administered several surveys in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center and made the data available to the public.
- Milwaukee Area Renters Study (MARS) DataAn in-person survey of 1,086 households in Milwaukee designed to collect new data related to housing, poverty, and urban life. Desmond discusses this survey and its results on pages 329-331 in the book.
- Milwaukee Eviction Court Study (MECS) DataAn in-person survey of tenants appearing in Milwaukee County Small Claims Court for an eviction hearing during a six-week period in 2011. Desmond discusses this study and its results on pages 331-332 in the book.
Desmond also mentions on page 331 that he analyzed data from a national-representative survey called the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study from Princeton University:
- Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing StudyThe Fragile Families & Child Wellbeing Study is following a cohort of nearly 5,000 children born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000 (roughly three-quarters of whom were born to unmarried parents). Data includes interviews with parents, in-home assessments, and parents' work, education, and health histories at various points in each child's life.
Data tools @ Boatwright
Use the tools below to explore demographic and housing data about Milwaukee, Richmond, or other locations in the U.S.
- Social Explorer This link opens in a new windowCreate reports and maps based on US Census data and demographic information. Create an account on the site to save your maps. (Social Explorer)
Total Population: White Alone (by Zip Code), 2013 ACS 5-year estimates via Social Explorer
- PolicyMap This link opens in a new windowAccess a data and mapping resource that combines demographic, health, employment, and socioeconomic data about communities, census tracts, and other regions within the United States. (PolicyMap)
Farmer's markets around Richmond, VA (Source: USDA) via PolicyMap