Editorial maps of the United States, drawn from public data. A new map every weekday on economics, demographics, business, housing & migration, and wildcard topics.https://usadatamap.com/en-ushttps://usadatamap.com/web-app-manifest-512x512.pnghttps://usadatamap.com/© usadatamap.com — TJ Patelhttps://usadatamap.com/usa-water-stress-by-state-2026/https://usadatamap.com/usa-water-stress-by-state-2026/Seven of the ten most stressed states sit in the Lower Colorado and southern High Plains. The ledger is catching up to the map.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>Seven of the ten most stressed states sit in the Lower Colorado and southern High Plains. The ledger is catching up to the map.</p><ul><li>Seven of the ten most water-stressed states sit in the Lower Colorado basin and southern High Plains.</li><li>Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and California top the stress rankings.</li><li>The hex-tile cartogram gives every state equal visual weight regardless of geographic size.</li><li>Sources: USGS Water Use 2020 vintage and WRI Aqueduct 2026 baseline projections.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/usa-water-stress-by-state-2026/og.png" alt="America&apos;s water stress, by state" /></p><p>Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Water Use in the United States, 2020 vintage, aggregated to state. World Resources Institute Aqueduct, U.S. baseline water-stress projections, 2026 release.</p>wildcardtjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)https://usadatamap.com/cost-of-living-2026/https://usadatamap.com/cost-of-living-2026/Hawaii's cost index is 118, while Mississippi sits below 87. The U.S. average is 100.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>Hawaii&apos;s cost index is 118, while Mississippi sits below 87. The U.S. average is 100.</p><ul><li>Hawaii is the most expensive state with a cost-of-living index of 118.</li><li>Mississippi is the cheapest, sitting below 87 on the same scale.</li><li>The U.S. average is fixed at 100; values above mean prices are higher than the national mean.</li><li>High-cost belt is California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts; low-cost belt runs through Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/cost-of-living-2026/og.png" alt="Cost of living index by state" /></p><p>Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024 vintage.</p>economicstjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)https://usadatamap.com/county-population-change-2020-2025/https://usadatamap.com/county-population-change-2020-2025/Pasco County, Florida added more residents since 2020 than the entire state of Vermont contains.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>Pasco County, Florida added more residents since 2020 than the entire state of Vermont contains.</p><ul><li>Pasco County, FL gained more residents 2020 to 2025 than Vermont&apos;s entire population.</li><li>Idaho, Florida, and Texas led the country in cumulative growth; West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana shrank.</li><li>California shows a negative cumulative growth rate for the first time on record.</li><li>Source data is the Census Vintage 2025 Population Estimates Program, April 2020 through July 2025.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/county-population-change-2020-2025/og.png" alt="Where America is changing fastest" /></p><p>Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates state totals and county estimates, released 2026.</p>demographicstjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)https://usadatamap.com/starter-home-salary-by-metro-2026/https://usadatamap.com/starter-home-salary-by-metro-2026/$237,000 a year to buy in San Jose. $58,000 in Pittsburgh. The income-to-mortgage map of America in mid-2026.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>$237,000 a year to buy in San Jose. $58,000 in Pittsburgh. The income-to-mortgage map of America in mid-2026.</p><ul><li>San Jose buyers need a $237,000 annual income to afford a starter home; Pittsburgh buyers need only $58,000.</li><li>Calculation assumes a 28% debt-to-income ratio, 20% down payment, and the 6.78% Freddie Mac PMMS rate from late April 2026.</li><li>Coastal California, Hawaii, and the Northeast Corridor dominate the high end of the salary requirement.</li><li>The Midwest and Rust Belt offer the most accessible price points for first-time buyers.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/starter-home-salary-by-metro-2026/og.png" alt="The salary you actually need to buy a starter home" /></p><p>Source: Zillow ZHVI median home value, April 2026. Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year fixed rate, April 24, 2026 (6.78%). 28% DTI, 20% down, 1.1% effective property tax.</p>housing / migrationtjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)https://usadatamap.com/irs-county-net-migration-2024/https://usadatamap.com/irs-county-net-migration-2024/California sent 27,000 tax filers to Texas in 2024. Texas sent 8,200 back. Mapping the net IRS-measured flows that defined the year.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>California sent 27,000 tax filers to Texas in 2024. Texas sent 8,200 back. Mapping the net IRS-measured flows that defined the year.</p><ul><li>California sent 27,000 tax filers to Texas in 2024; only 8,200 returned.</li><li>Florida and Texas were the top net-gain destinations for tax-filer migration.</li><li>California, New York, and Illinois lost the most filers on net.</li><li>Source is the IRS Statistics of Income county-to-county migration files, tax year 2023 to 2024.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/irs-county-net-migration-2024/og.png" alt="Where Americans actually moved" /></p><p>Source: IRS Statistics of Income, County-to-County Migration Data, tax year 2023–2024. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Migration Flows API, May 14, 2026 update.</p>housing / migrationtjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)https://usadatamap.com/top-export-by-state-2025/https://usadatamap.com/top-export-by-state-2025/Aircraft is king in 13 states. Pharma rules six. New Mexico's secret: 46% of exports are semiconductors.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>Aircraft is king in 13 states. Pharma rules six. New Mexico&apos;s secret: 46% of exports are semiconductors.</p><ul><li>Aircraft is the top export in 13 states, more than any other category nationwide.</li><li>Pharmaceuticals lead in 6 states; petroleum, motor vehicles, and electronics each lead in several others.</li><li>New Mexico is unique: 46% of state exports are semiconductors.</li><li>The map colors states by the winning export category, not by dollar volume.</li></ul><p><img src="https://usadatamap.com/maps/top-export-by-state-2025/og.png" alt="What every state actually sells to the world" /></p><p>Source: U.S. International Trade Administration, State Exports by HS Chapter, full-year 2025.</p>businesstjp@coldbrewagency.com (TJ Patel)