Vital Signs are data-points compiled from a variety of reliable sources that “take the pulse” of Baltimore’s neighborhoods. These community-based indicators form a picture of any given neighborhood’s quality of life and overall health. Vital Signs help community members, decision makers, and funders to measure progress towards meaningful, positive outcomes at the community level, and measure needs in specific and actionable ways.
There are over 150 indicators for each of Baltimore City’s 55 communities, which means that there are more than 8,000 data points are in Vital Signs 22. Interesting facts and trends, graphics and community rankings are all included in the sections. > Start exploring the report
View a YouTube video on how you can access the Vital Signs data on this website.
The geographic level at which data is provided is important to understand. Wherever possible, Vital Signs uses Community Statistical Areas (CSAs) as the geographic level for which data is provided. CSAs are clusters of neighborhoods and are organized around Census tract boundaries, which are consistent statistical boundaries. In some cases, CSA boundaries may cross neighborhood boundaries. There are 55 CSAs in Baltimore City. Neighborhood lines often do not fall along CSA boundaries, but CSAs are representations of the conditions occurring within those particular neighborhoods. The CSAs were originally created in 2002 and were revised for Vital Signs 10 using 2010 Census Tract boundaries. Vital Signs 20 did not change CSA boundaries, but did change some names at the request of community members.