Yale University Libraries provides several databases that allow you to access and map basic demographic information such as age, race, sex, education, and income. These resources include:
- SimplyAnalytics
- Esri Business Analyst
- Social Explorer
- PolicyMap
SimplyAnalytics
SimplyAnalytics includes data from many sources, including the Census and Market Research Firms. In addition to demographic characteristics, SimplyAnalytics also includes Simmons MOSAIC market segments and Nielsen’s national and hyperlocal consumer behavior data. Users can select and combine data variables from different sets into tables, charts, or maps. To access demographic information in SimplyAnalytics:
- Sign in. – You have the option to create an account with your Yale email address and save any projects you may work on. Signing in as a guest does not save your work in SimplyAnalytics.
- Create a project. – Projects need 1) a location 2) data variables. SimplyAnalytics will suggest a few popular variables for you and map one by default.
- Select a view. – SimplyAnalytics defaults to mapping one variable, but data can also be placed into different types of tables and charts by clicking “new view” at the top right side of the screen.
Data variables are broken down into different categories. Clicking on a category will display all of the data variables that can be selected in the selector tool, pictured below.
For help getting started with SimplyAnalytics, please see their short video and training guide in the Support Center.
Esri Business Analyst
Create multi-layer maps, infographics, and tables about consumers in Esri Business Analyst. This resources includes proprietary data from Esri, Data Axle, and public information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A unique offering in Esri Business Analyst includes their Tapestry market segments that includes detailed descriptions of consumer characteristics.
Access Esri Business Analyst here: https://guides.library.yale.edu/onlinemapping/BA
Social Explorer
Social Explorer includes data from the US Census, estimates from the American Community Survey, and other sociocultural points of interest like religion, schools, business patterns, and voting and election records. This resource also includes census data from the UK, Ireland, and Canada as well as some statistics from Western Europe. Some datasets only supply historical data and some include future projections.
Use Social Explorer to create maps and tables from the datasets included. Data can be analyzed at the national level or users can select custom geographies that are small as a zip code for many of the datasets provided.
Access Social Explorer here: https://yale.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.socialexplorer.com/pub/home/home.aspx
PolicyMap
This resource classifies the information within into broad categories of demographics, income & spending, quality of life, lending, housing, economy, education, health, federal programs, and some custom analytical variables including things like “distance from public transportation” and nearest supermarket. PolicyMap does allow for building multi-layer maps, which represent more than 1 variable at a time. You can create maps and download the underlying data points as a .csv file. Users can also generate reports about community health, community profiles, rental housing, and home mortgages. Some data may be a few years out of date.
Access PolicyMap here: https://yale.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://yale.policymap.com/maps
