Resources and Tools

by Joseph Griffiths, AICP, Local Assistance and Training Manager

The Maryland Department of Planning recently updated its Housing Data Dashboard to include 2022 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Area Median Income (AMI) data and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2016-2020 Five-Year Estimates. The Housing Data Dashboard, part of the Housing Element Models & Guidelines website developed by Planning in 2020, helps jurisdictions meet the comprehensive planning requirements of HB 1045, passed in 2019. The AMI data is displayed, for whichever geography (county, place, census tract) a user selects, in the dashboard’s AMI calculator (Figure 1, shown below).

The ACS 5-Year Estimates are available in two forms. First, selected categories are displayed in various charts and graphs at the bottom of the dashboard (Figure 2, shown below). Second, complete sets of housing, demographic, and social ACS data are available for PDF download by selecting “Reports” in the dashboard tool bar at the top of the page.

The Maryland Department of Planning strives to maintain its dashboards with the most current data. The 2022 update was challenging because census tract geographies changed slightly following the release of the 2020 census. The past three Five-Year Estimates (2014-18, 2015-19, and 2016-20) data sets are all available on the Housing Data Dashboard and can be chosen using the drop-down menu at the top of the screen (Figure 3, shown below). Users may notice slight changes in census tract boundaries between the 2014-18/2015-19 and 2016-20 ACS Five-Year Estimates due to modified census tract geographies.

If you have questions about AMI or ACS Five-Year Estimate data, or would like to know more about housing requirements in Maryland, please contact Joe Griffiths, Local Assistance and Training Manager for the Maryland Department of Planning, at joseph.griffiths@maryland.gov.