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America’s First Research University
The Baltimore Area Survey (BAS) is an annual, representative survey of Baltimore City and County residents being run by Johns Hopkins 21st Century Cities Initiative. The BAS will help scholars, community members, and policymakers learn more about the Baltimore area’s strengths and challenges from residents.
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The Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) is designed to generate the science needed for informed energy investments and extreme weather resilience in Baltimore. In doing so, BSEC contributes to action plans for Baltimore that improve the well-being of residents across the region. Working with businesses, local and state government representatives, and community organizations, BSEC scientists produce the decision-relevant science needed to address local priorities and needs. As data is gathered and findings discovered, the work evolves to answer questions our partners identify.
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Sign UpSmall Business Bank Lending in Baltimore’s Black Butterfly and White L, 2013-2023
August 6, 2025
This study examines community level disparities in lending across Baltimore City in recent years and the racialized geography of banks’ small business lending in Baltimore by looking over a decade of the most recent publicly available data from 2013 to 2023.
Opportunity or Necessity? Perceptions of Entrepreneurship in Baltimore
April 29, 2025
We examine perceptions of entrepreneurship among Baltimore area residents using data from the 2023 Baltimore Area Survey.
Long Term Impacts of the Key Bridge Collapse on Baltimore-area Residents Daily Lives
March 25, 2025
We examine longer-term impacts of the Key Bridge collapse on the daily lives of Baltimore area residents using data from the 2024 Baltimore Area Survey.
Expectations of Future Climate Change Harm and Costs in the Baltimore Area
March 6, 2025
In this research brief, we examine the extent to which Baltimore-area residents are concerned about the future impacts of climate change and how those concerns differ by race, income, age, and geography.
January 23, 2025
The 2024 Baltimore Area Survey asked 163 questions of a statistically representative sample of residents who live in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. The 2024 survey focused on four central topics: Neighborhoods and schools, local government services, food insecurity, and connectivity and mobility
Community Exposure to Drug Overdose and Addiction in Baltimore
September 17, 2024
Our new report, based on data from the 2023 Baltimore Area Survey, offers deeper understanding of the families touched by Baltimore’s growing drug addiction epidemic. Findings show the poorest and least educated are the most affected by fatal overdoses.
Baltimore report highlights disparities in small business loans for Black neighborhoods
September 2, 2025
A new report highlights disparities in small business lending in Baltimore's predominantly Black neighborhoods. The report, from researchers at the Johns Hopkins 21st Century Cities Initiative and funded by the Kauffman Foundation, looks at the areas in Baltimore known as the Black Butterfly and the White L — which includes more non-Black neighborhoods.
Baltimore nonprofit tackles rising food insecurity and changes
August 14, 2025
About 28% of residents in the Baltimore region reported experiencing food insecurity last year, a rate that's twice as high as the national average, per an annual survey by Johns Hopkins University’s 21st Century Cities Initiative.
Tiny home development in Baltimore offers affordable path to homeownership
June 30, 2025
Mac McComas, senior program manager, at Johns Hopkins University’s 21st Century Cities Initiative, said the tiny home community model shows promise.
Census Bureau: Baltimore gains Hispanic residents, continues to lose Black population
June 26, 2025
Baltimore's slight population increase last year was driven by Hispanic residents, whose population increased by about 2,200, according to Census Bureau estimates released Thursday. The city is also estimated to have overall gained 700 Asian residents and about 500 people of two or more races.
White population declined across Maryland. These 7 counties saw gains.
June 26, 2025
As the state continued to grow more diverse, just seven out of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore gained white residents in 2024.
Hopkins study: Many Baltimore-area residents see entrepreneurship as a path to financial success
April 30, 2025
Many Baltimore-area residents see entrepreneurship as a more viable pathway to improving their financial standing than traditional salaried employment, a new Johns Hopkins University study finds.
