How the CP Index Works
A transparent, deterministic 0-100 composite score measuring community readiness for church engagement. No AI generation. No black boxes. Every number traces to a public data source.
Design Principles
Built on transparency, not algorithms
Deterministic: The same inputs always produce the same score. No AI generation.
Transparent: Every subscore traces to a public data source with a clear weight.
No placeholders: Missing data never defaults to a neutral 50/50. Weights are renormalized.
Pastoral labels: Scores use descriptive labels (not A-F letter grades) to avoid moral judgment.
Versioned: Methodology changes are tracked via version numbers (current: v3.0).
Explainable: Every score includes a confidence band and subscore breakdown.
The Dimensions
Six weighted dimensions, one score
Each dimension has a fixed weight. When data is missing for a dimension, its weight is redistributed — never replaced with a placeholder.
Religious Engagement
Adherence rate (adherents / total population) — how much of the community is connected to a faith tradition.
Source: 2020 U.S. Religion Census (Association of Religion Data Archives)
30% weight
Community Health
Physical and mental health indicators: obesity, diabetes, depression, uninsured rate, and preventive care access.
Source: CDC PLACES (28 health measures)
20% weight
Economic Vitality
Median household income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate — the economic foundation of a community.
Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates + BLS Local Area Unemployment
15% weight
Safety & Social Stability
Violent and property crime rates per 100K, trend direction, and reporting completeness.
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting + state-level estimates
15% weight
Food & Housing Security
Food desert status, housing cost burden (>30% income on housing), and eviction risk indicators.
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas + ACS Housing Burden
10% weight
Growth Trend
Population growth/decline, new housing permits, and changes in religious adherence over time.
Source: ACS Population Estimates + Religious Census change
10% weight
Computation
How scores are calculated
Collect raw metrics
Each dimension pulls from its designated public data source. For example, Religious Engagement pulls adherence rates from the 2020 U.S. Religion Census, while Community Health pulls 28 measures from CDC PLACES. All raw values are normalized to a 0-100 subscale.
Weight renormalization (when data is missing)
If a dimension has no data for a county (e.g., rural counties may lack CDC health survey data), we don't substitute a placeholder. Instead, that dimension's weight is redistributed proportionally across the available dimensions. This ensures the final score always sums to 100% and reflects only real data.
Example: If Safety (15%) has no data, the remaining 5 dimensions' weights scale up by a factor of 100/85 = 1.176×.
Composite score & pastoral label
The weighted sum produces a 0-100 score. We map this to a descriptive pastoral label rather than a letter grade — because an "F-rated community" implies moral failure, while "High Need / High Pressure" communicates an opportunity for ministry impact.
Confidence band
Every score includes a confidence rating based on data coverage. This tells you how much of the composite weight was backed by real data versus renormalized estimates.
Label System
Pastoral labels, not letter grades
We deliberately use descriptive labels instead of A-F grades. A community is not "failing" — it has needs that the church can meet.
This community shows strong social infrastructure, health outcomes, and religious engagement. Churches can focus on partnership and innovation.
Most indicators are positive with a few watch areas. A solid foundation for sustained ministry and outreach.
Several indicators need attention. Targeted ministry and community partnerships can address emerging needs before they escalate.
Multiple indicators show stress. This community needs intentional investment in care, outreach, and support systems.
Many indicators are under significant strain. Churches here have extraordinary opportunity for impact through sustained, holistic ministry.
Confidence Bands
Every score carries a confidence rating
Confidence reflects how much real data backs the score. Lower confidence doesn't mean the score is wrong — it means you should treat directional trends as indicative, not definitive.
Data available across all or nearly all dimensions. Score is reliable.
Some dimensions missing. Score reflects available data; directional guidance only for gaps.
Multiple dimensions missing. Treat as preliminary; significant estimation involved.
Data Sources
Public data, fully sourced
Every metric traces to a named public agency. We update on each source's native cadence.
U.S. Religion Census (ARDA)
Religious adherence & congregations
Updated: Every 10 years
CDC PLACES
28 community health measures
Updated: Annual
ACS 5-Year Estimates
Demographics, income, housing
Updated: Annual
BLS Local Area Unemployment
Employment & labor force
Updated: Monthly
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
Crime rates per 100K
Updated: Annual
USDA Food Access Atlas
Food desert indicators
Updated: Every 5 years
EPA EJScreen
Environmental & social vulnerability
Updated: Annual
Google Trends
Search interest by DMA
Updated: Weekly
See it in action
Explore the National, State, and Local dashboards to see the CP Index applied to real communities. Every score includes its dimension breakdown, confidence band, and pastoral label.