Social Determinants of Health Report

Buxton developed a system of metrics to benchmark U.S. census tracts against both the local market and the state. These metrics relate to generally accepted social determinants of health published by the Kaiser Family Foundation and are summarized in six groups: economic stability, neighborhood and physical environment, education, food, community and social context, and health care systems.

Letter grades are assigned to the key determinants as well as the relative data variables within each category. The grades are relative values that indicate how an area compares to the market and state. A letter grade of “B+” is at or slightly above average.

When users generate this report, the output will include both a PDF summary and a detailed Excel report that work together, providing insights into the geography being studied.

Pinpoint census tracts in your community that need additional support to address social determinants of health.

Prioritize interventions for each geographic area based on social determinants scores for each group.

Present data-backed proof of needs to rally resources and community partners.

Enhance your Community Health Needs Assessments with unique third-party analytics.

Because the report benchmarks against markets and states, we recommend selecting geographies no larger than a DMA when running the report.

The location data sets used to calculate the benchmarks are updated multiple times per year as part of Buxton’s regular data updates. Some metrics – such as state level benchmarks, demographic variables, and Buxton’s proprietary traffic calculations – are updated annually. Federal government data variables such as EPA datasets are updated as available.

Includes the name of geography being studied and date the report is run. Best practice is to add a descriptive name when running the report.

Allows for quick understanding of how the area being studied compares to both the market (DMA) and the state.

Includes dynamic highlights on all key determinants and data variables.

Includes name of the geography being studied and date the report is run.

Provides details by census tract for those data points referenced in the Summary.

Includes name of the geography being studied and date the report is run.

Uses A-F color gradient showing the final overall grade of the census tracts in the study area.

Includes ID number on each census tract that will match to tables to get census tract name and grades for key determinants and data variables.

Included for the market and state comparisons.

Includes name of the geography being studied and date the report is run.

Uses A-F grade for each key determinant group by census tract. Grades are color coded for faster identification.

Includes ID number that matches the number on the study area map for easier navigation of data.

Included for the market and state comparisons.

Within the Excel output, data variables and sub-variables by category are expanded for deeper understanding of the area being studied.

Included for the market and state comparisons.

This group includes primarily income-driven variables.

Employment – Percent of population unemployed

Income – Income per capita and median home value

Expenses/House Affordability – Ratio of median household income to median home value

Low Income – Combination of households with income less than $25,000 and the percentage of the population living below poverty

Housing – Percent of households that are renter occupied or vacant

Transportation – Vehicle count compared to population and households in the area. Includes average EPA values for a relative transportation accessibility index and population with access by transit

Environmental Safety – Distance to the nearest carcinogen producer as noted by the EPA (maximum distance of 5 miles) and the count of liquor stores

Parks and Libraries – Count of parks and libraries

Early Childhood Education – Count of childcare facilities and percent population in pre-school

High School Education – Percent of population that obtained GED plus level of education

Vocational Education – Percent of population with vocational/professional education

Higher Education – Percent of population with some higher education obtained and those holding a bachelor's degree or higher level of education

Quick Food Dependence – Average QSR visits per household and estimates for total expenditure on food at home

Access to Food – Ratio of grocers to fast food locations and population, as well as a food desert flag from the USDA indicating low accessibility

This group includes variables that identify the support systems that help counter stress and discrimination within the study area.

Mental Health Aid – Presence of inpatient and outpatient mental health/addiction centers and behavioral health facilities relative to the area's population

Stress Support – Presence of low-priced and traditional gyms and average gym visits per household relative to the study area population

Community Establishments – The count of religious organizations that represent community support relative to the population

Linguistic Isolation – The percent of households in which no member 14+ speaks English proficiently

Healthcare Coverage – Percent of population that is uninsured or has Medicaid and Medicare coverage

Healthcare Availability – Presence of healthcare facilities, pharmacies, primary care providers, available hospital beds, and dental providers relative to the population, as well as presence of pediatricians relative to the population ages 0-14