Tennesseans now have a new way to explore the factors that impact livability in communities across the state, thanks to a publicly accessible tool that provides county-level data on a range of topics that contribute to quality of life.

The Tennessee Livability Dashboard compiles more than 60 indicators spanning housing, transportation, education, health care, employment and other key measures of livability.

It’s the latest initiative from the Tennessee Livability Collaborative — a group of 26 state agencies, departments, commissions and academic institutions — and was developed by East Tennessee State University’s Center for Rural Health and Research (CRHR).

“The dashboard provides a one-stop, accessible way to explore the factors shaping quality of life in Tennessee,” said Dr. Qian Huang, a research assistant professor with the CRHR and ETSU College of Public Health.

“By bringing these data together, we aim to equip communities, leaders and organizations with the tools they need to make informed decisions and strengthen livability across the state,” added Huang, who helped develop the dashboard and was also recently appointed to the National Rural Health Association’s Health Equity Council.

What is the Tennessee Livability Collaborative?

The Tennessee Livability Collaborative, established in 2015, brings together more than two dozen state agencies, departments, commissions and academic institutions to promote alignment and collaboration within the state’s government.

“The Livability Indicators Dashboard is a great example of collaboration between state partners to create a resource that benefits all of us and the communities we serve,” said Dr. John Vick, director of the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Primary Prevention.

“The dashboard makes it easy for anyone to access data on the factors that make our communities livable, including access to healthy food, housing, jobs, education and health care,” said Vick, who helps facilitate the work of the Tennessee Livability Collaborative. “We had a great experience working with ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research to bring this idea to life.”

What role does the CRHR play?

Established in 2019 with funding from Ballad Health and the State of Tennessee, the Center for Rural Health and Research – housed in the ETSU College of Public Health – was founded to improve rural health through community engagement, policy development, research and training.

Since its founding, the center has secured more than $17 million in external funding – including $3.7 million in the 2025 fiscal year alone – reflecting its growing influence and capacity to address rural health challenges.

It’s part of the reason ETSU is the flagship institution of Appalachia.  

“Our first five years have laid a strong foundation,” said Michael Meit, director of CRHR. “Through collaboration, research, and deep engagement with rural communities, we have built a center that not only serves Tennessee and Appalachia but also informs national policy and practice.” 

The Tennessee Livability Indicators Dashboard is available online at http://bit.ly/4pj541v. For more information on the ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research, visit etsu.edu/cph/rural-health-research/.