Sources & Methodology

Transparency is core to our mission. Below is a complete list of the datasets used to power the Baton Rouge Community Data Portal, including their providers, collection years, and direct links to the original sources.

Demographics & Economy

American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates

US Census Bureau • 2022

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Comprehensive demographic, social, economic, and housing data. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for smaller geographic areas like ZIP codes and neighborhoods.

Crime & Safety

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) • 2023

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Official crime statistics reported by local law enforcement agencies. Includes data on violent crime (homicide, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crime.

Niche & NeighborhoodScout Safety Grades

Niche / NeighborhoodScout • 2024

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Composite safety scores derived from analysis of public crime data, survey responses, and proprietary algorithms to grade neighborhood safety.

Education

Louisiana School Performance Scores

Louisiana Department of Education • 2023

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Official state performance scores, graduation rates, and assessment results for public schools in Louisiana.

GreatSchools Ratings

GreatSchools • 2023

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Independent school ratings based on test scores, student progress, equity, and college readiness.

Public Health

PLACES: Local Data for Better Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • 2023

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Model-based population-level analysis and community estimates for chronic disease risk factors, health outcomes, and clinical preventive services.

Food Access Research Atlas

USDA Economic Research Service • 2019

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Data on food access indicators, including low-income and low-access census tracts (food deserts).

Community Pulse

Open Data BR (311 Requests)

City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge • Live / Real-time

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Real-time record of non-emergency service requests (311 calls) submitted by citizens, including drainage, trash, and maintenance issues.

Data Dictionary

Median Household Income

The income amount that divides the income distribution into two equal groups, half having income above that amount, and half having income below that amount.

Poverty Rate

The percentage of people whose income falls below the federal poverty line.

Safety Grade

A composite score (A+ to F) assessing the overall safety of an area based on violent and property crime rates relative to the national average.

Chronic Absenteeism

The percentage of students who miss 15 or more days of school during a year for any reason.

Graduation Rate

The percentage of students who graduate from high school within four years of entering ninth grade.

Food Desert

An area where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, typically defined by low income and low access to supermarkets.

About Our Methodology

Data is aggregated from public sources and normalized for comparison. Demographic data is based on ZIP code tabulation areas (ZCTAs). Where direct ZIP code data is unavailable, estimates are derived from the nearest available census tract or municipal boundaries. Safety grades and school ratings are composite scores and should be used as general indicators rather than absolute measures.