PolicyMap Reviews

Excellent Resource!

Pros:

Ease of use and maps are the best features. The data set definitions and links to resources have been helpful as well.

Cons:

Wish some of the data sets were more up to date.

i luv u PolicyMap

Comments: I use this to make maps on the fly for quick-burn analysis projects. It's also great for our entry-level staff who don't have GIS skills but need to make maps.

Pros:

-Easy to make custom maps with idiosyncratic data -Lots of sources of data -Easy to print maps to PDF for decent GIS -You don't need to know GIS to use PolicyMap well

Cons:

-Paid version is very expensive for what I need it for -Some of the housing data isn't updated regularly

PolicyMap: Excellent Accessible and Authoritative Resource

Comments: I've used PolicyMap as both a student and a professional to conduct research and produce maps. I love its accessibility as a one-stop-shop for a wide variety of authoritative datasets. It's also been a great tool to introduce my non-GIS-trained colleagues to so that they can deepen their understanding of spatial data and analysis!

Pros:

I love the sheer amount of data available and the ease of customizing a dataset for download!

Cons:

I wish there was an easy way to download spatial data or even a complete interactive map. I know I can produce static images of maps as well as embed a map on a webpage, but I'd love to see additional options for sharing and further customizing maps within my offline workflow.

Good, want to know more

Pros:

It feels more accessible as a user than arcGIS, and has data that is available and relevant for my work

Cons:

I wish it had more relevant data about rural areas (Alaska specifically).

PolicyMap Rocks!

Comments: I thoroughly have enjoyed my experience with PolicyMap. Not only have I used the platform for research during my graduate program, but I have used it in my practice throughout my career. PolicyMap supplies relevant information that is applicable to programming and policy recommendations.

Pros:

I love the visual aspect of PolicyMap. It is extremely helpful for me as a practitioner to access data that is easy to utilize and explore for useful information.

Cons:

There are limited features depending on subscription type. I wish there were more affordable accessibility features for practitioners based on industry.

PolicyMap for driving focused initiatives!

Comments: It's been refreshing to utilize PolicyMap. There is a wealth of data out there and it has helped my department focus on how we can better support the communities we serve.

Pros:

I love how so many industries can utilize PolicyMap to support success. Our health organization can utilize to data to drive health initiatives and enhance current projects and programs.

Cons:

I like it all! Have nothing to complain about here!

Love PolicyMap!

Comments: It is an excellent service, and I hope to continue to use it!

Pros:

I love the transportation-specific data, and how it really tells a deeper story when you couple it with related data points.

Cons:

Related to transportation data--as much additional as possible, please!

PolicyMap - A Great Tool for Any Managed Care Professional

Comments: Overall, I am very pleased with PolicyMap and was thrilled when my company partnered to have a license with them. The data has opened up a lot of possibilities for my team.

Pros:

I love the wide variety of data sets. It allows me to analyze populations/geographic areas from a variety of lenses. I recently did a project focused on specific school districts and was giddy that PolicyMap included school district boundaries.

Cons:

One of my biggest wishes is that, eventually, community health reports will be made available based on zip codes. White county and census tract data is useful, I find that county data is sometimes too broad while census tract is too specific. Zip codes feel like a good in-between space and would be very helpful to my role in managed care!

PolicyMap in the Classroom

Comments: I use it in the classroom as a tool for my public policy class. I love being able to pull up data and break it down with my students

Pros:

I love being able to pull up the information so I can show my students what policies mean and who they impact

Cons:

At some points it is not user-friendly. Sometimes it is hard to find what you are looking for if you do not have the right search terms

Policy Map Providing Accurate and Timely Data in Removal from Admin

Comments: I enjoy Policy Map as it provides accurate data that may have been removed from administration

Pros:

I enjoy that PolicyMap is staying up to date with everything the new administration is removing and placing it on their webpage.

Cons:

I wish I was able to click on maps in newsletters and it would direct me to that dataset/map.

Policy Map A Quick Review

Comments: Very Satisfied and I would Highly and easily recommend to my colleagues and friends!

Pros:

Everything haven't actually found another Policy Map similar and that I like as well as Policy Map i've used it since you were first on the markets and i've loved you since the first day and would never change.

Cons:

Everything is quiet Spectacular actually and have no complaints!

Policy Map has been our Go-To source for marketing data since 2010

Pros:

Policy Map attracted us with the bells and whistles of graphic maps showing details of population data. It has always been super simple to use and generate clear reports from. I have told countless businesses about Policy Map because of this. Thank you!

Cons:

Though I do not think any other company compares to policy map, I think the pricing is sometimes difficult to navigate. We end up making the best business decision though and stick with using it.

Use of mapping economic data

Comments: Reasonably good. This tool needs to be well integrated into other GIS tools- or provide some connectivity.

Pros:

very easy to understand. The thematic layers provide just adequate information.

Cons:

How to integrated other data formats? Data translation tools should be available.

Positive Experience with PolicyMap!

Comments: I’ve been using PolicyMap for several months now, and it has exceeded my expectations. It is incredibly easy to navigate even for someone without a strong technical background. From the get-go I could immediately access all the features I needed with little to no learning curve. Especially for my specific needs, data importing, processing, and visualization are done effortlessly.

Pros:

PolicyMap is user friendly and offers a great amount of training sessions, if needed. I especially like the ease of data importing, processing, and visualization through the application.

Cons:

Thus far, I have not had a negative experience.

Great product for social, economic, and demographic spatial visualizations

Pros:

Access and explore pre-populated spatial data Upload and overlay our own point data Customize regions, data ranges, visualizations, etc. Create templates for future projects Export (non-proprietary) data

Cons:

Few “built-in” analysis tools Not as dynamic/sophisticated as, e.g., ArcGIS Can only upload point data Updates datasets automatically and does not save your maps or customizations with older versions Occasionally: competing datasets; may require additional context (E.g., “Limited Supermarket Access Designation” vs. “LILA” or E.g., “Median Family Income, 2022” (HUD) vs. “Median HH income, 2018-2022” (ACS))

Big Fan of PolicyMap

Comments: PolicyMap provides detailed, relevant data for just about any need. I have found PolicyMap especially helpful in writing grant proposals. This data, especially when layered, often delivers more insights than the standard Census data sets.

Pros:

I like PolicyMap's easy-to-use nature. It feels like a user can plunge deeper at their own pace as they gain knowledge, but there is little barrier to initial entry. I also am a big fan of the newsletter and blog, which often give new insights!

Cons:

Logging in/gaining access can be challenging.

Using PolicyMap

Pros:

The breadth of information and levels of geography available.

Cons:

I have subject two requests for consultation (and have had two tickets generated) but weeks later I have never received any response back. I am in critical need of input and this lack of attention is unacceptable.

Amazing Policy Map Experience

Comments: Amazing. I get to find data I need and work well with others within my organization by using Policy Map.

Pros:

How easy it is to find the data I'm looking for

Cons:

Nothing! I think Policy Map does a great job giving tutorials breaking things down to make data easy to find.

PolicyMap - An Underrated Tool

Comments: Generally, very good. We'll be using it more as we grow our LGBTQ+ telehealth product nationwide as geo-specific data will be critical in our market penetration efforts.

Pros:

Depth of data and ability to create custom datasets.

Cons:

Somewhat pricy, but worth it. Setup was a bit challenging, but nothing that couldn't be overcome.

Continue to lead the way!

Comments: MO is working hard to improve birth outcomes in MO. Its nice to be able to see what other states and organizations are doing. The PolicyMap makes it very easy to do that.

Pros:

Clear and concise! Very easy to read and interpret.

Cons:

N/A - honestly haven't found anything I don't like yet.

Social Determinants of Health

Comments: Quite an enjoyable experience, and easy to play around.

Pros:

I like the broad range of variables/indicators that are captured by PolicyMap and how I can highlight the unit of analysis (county, multiple counties or state level).

Cons:

Some indicators are not available at the county level, only state.

It's the Standard!!

Comments: My overall experience with PolicyMap has been a joyful one, for sure.

Pros:

I mean, man... I am truly unsure it gets much better than PolicyMap when it comes to GIS applications.

Cons:

I am unsure what to put for this box because my experience has been nothing but positive!! :)

PolicyMap for GIS

Pros:

Useful source of data especially for census data; easy to use and visualize.

Cons:

Would like more options for exporting data. Some features are at tract level, some are at city level etc

New User Looking for Data!

Pros:

I signed up for the PolicyMap newsletter because of the great information they publish with updates, I don't have to go in and check the website - I can just get notified of new data integrations. I've been diving into food security data and, though I'm just getting started, I think it's going to be incredibly helpful for informing some programs and initiatives.

Cons:

Nothing so far, I've been impressed with the articles and how the team contextualizes the data so it's easier to understand.

Really clean nice product, not a perfect fit for us.

Comments: Pretty good, nice product, nice people, its just a bit expensive to the point where its cheaper to pay a developer or analyst to do get this info for those who have that capacity. It would be a good product for those without an analyst or an epi.

Pros:

The GUI is really good, it is a clean looking and smooth product to use, lots of centralized data

Cons:

A lot of the info can be accessed and mapped for free using the USCB public API or the America's Health Rankings public API