Housing

Most people spend most of their time at home - so the household environment can significantly affect health. Disrepair that stems from long-term maintenance neglect can lead to serious health problems, including: lead poisoning from lead paint; asthma and other respiratory issues triggered by pests; and carbon monoxide poisoning.

In NYC, substandard housing is disproportionately located in low-income neighborhoods, as historical disinvestment lead to severe, systemic maintenance deficiencies that threatens people’s health. No family should have to choose between affordable and healthy housing - all tenants are entitled to safe, decent, healthy housing that prevents disease and injury.

Data Features:

Rats in your neighborhood

Rat inspections for each property, and neighborhood-level rat data.

Interactive Heat Vulnerability Index

Neighborhood heat vulnerability, and the neighborhood characteristics that affect it.

Rat Mitigation Zones

Rats can contaminate food, spread disease and reduce our quality of life. Rat Mitigation Zones (RMZ) are areas with high levels of rat activity, where …

Real-time heat-related illness

Data tracking heat-related emergency department visits during hot weather.

Proximity indicators

How we estimate population-level access to important resources.

Flood Vulnerability Index

Neighborhoods at most risk to flooding.

Displacement Risk

Neighborhood data on displacement risk and the factors that influence it.
Data Stories:

Rats are one of New York City’s hottest topics. You see them on the news, while scrolling on social media, and you’ve probably spied more than a few on your commute. We all want to know where in the city the rats are worst, …


Whether it’s electricity powering air conditioning in the summer, gas or oil heating in the winter, or the other forms that energy can take, people need energy to stay healthy and safe. Energy also powers life-sustaining …


Everyone has a story about rats — or more likely, a complaint. If you have made a complaint using 311, you may wonder who receives it, and how it fits into the bigger picture of rat mitigation. What happens to my 311 …


Superstorm Sandy (2012) and rainfall from Hurricane Ida (2021) broke records in NYC and resulted in injury and death. Both showed how the climate crisis is affecting the strength of storms and how profound the threat of …


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Housing stability Neighborhood poverty Housing maintenance Health is determined by many factors. People tend to be healthier when …


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Premature death Neighborhood poverty Unhealthy food access Self-reported health Health is determined by many factors. People tend to …


A neighborhood is not only shaped by its residents, but also by governmental practices and policies. Some of these have discriminated against residents because of the color of their skin and have segregated neighborhoods …


Cold weather can be dangerous. Here are some tips for staying safe this winter. Learn more about cold weather health risks and get resources to stay safe this winter.


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Violence Economic conditions Using public health to prevent violence Experiencing violence affects people in many ways. It not only …


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Neighborhood poverty Asthma emergency department visits (ages 5 to 17) Race and ethnicity Inside the 90-year-old financial policy …


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Housing maintenance Neighborhood poverty Asthma emergency department visits (ages 5 to 17) Race and ethnicity For health, place …


Since we published this data story, some data in it have been updated. Get updated data on: Neighborhood poverty Asthma ED visits (age 5 to 17) data-explorer/economic-conditions/?id=103#display=summary Poverty affects health …