As consultants who have the privilege of working in communities to assess public health, we know that not all issues are obvious. For example, many people hesitate to talk about mental health and substance use because of deep stigma.
However, some issues go unspoken in a different way. People may not name them directly, but they are widely understood. As public health consultants, it’s our job to surface those topics and explore what they mean for a community.
Zooming In
A prime example is wealth. Economic stability shapes where people live, the quality of their housing, access to healthy food, and whether they can seek care when they need it. It is one of the core social determinants of health that influence outcomes across communities.
So how does Crescendo dig into these economic drivers? We look beyond superficial data. We often start by examining data by geography, such as a county compared to state and national benchmarks. This approach can tell a powerful story.
One measure we frequently use is median income. This means half of incomes fall above that number and half fall below it. While median income is an economic measure, it serves as a strong indicator of economic conditions in a community. In public health, it helps explain who has access to resources and who may be at greater risk. The challenge is that medians and averages can hide important differences.
This is especially true in areas with large wealth gaps or regions near major metropolitan areas.
Take Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago. The median household income in the United States is $80,734, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates (2020–2024). Illinois has a median income of $83,390, and Cook County comes in at $83,498. At first glance, these numbers suggest that Cook County is on par with state and national level.
However, stopping there would be a mistake.
The Importance of Public Health Mapping
This is where public health mapping, a form of spatial analysis, becomes essential. When we map median household income by census tract, the story shifts. In the map below, Cook County is outlined in orange. Darker purple shaded areas represent higher incomes, while lighter purple areas show lower incomes. Suddenly, in this view, patterns of wealth disparity come into focus.
PolicyMap. (n.d.). Estimated median income of a household, between 2020-2024 [Map based on data from Census: US Bureau of the Census]. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from http://www.policymap.com.
In Cook County, there is clear affluence in the North Shore suburbs, including communities like Evanston and Wilmette, and more concentrated economic hardship across parts of the South Side of Chicago and southern Cook County. Mapping makes these differences visible and highlights where health outcomes may be at risk. However, even in more affluent communities, pockets of lower median income still exist, often hidden within otherwise high-income areas.
This level of detail matters. Nonprofits, social service organizations, and healthcare providers can use public health mapping to target outreach more effectively. Instead of spreading resources too broadly, they can focus on the communities most affected and design programs that meet people where they are.
Zooming Out
At Crescendo, we recognize that every community is different. Relying only on averages or overall percentages can lead to broad conclusions that miss the lived experiences of residents. That’s why public health mapping is such an effective tool.
At the same time, maps alone are not enough. Data shows patterns, but it doesn’t explain them. To truly understand what’s happening, we need to hear directly from community members.
That’s where our approach comes in. We combine granular data with community insight to uncover what’s really driving health outcomes. This allows us to move beyond numbers and tell a clearer, more complete story.
Learn more about Crescendo’s Community Needs Assessment services, or contact us to uncover what public health mapping reveals about your community.