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AMERICA 2050

Quality of life dashboard

How we'll know if it's working

Eleven measures of an ordinary life. Not GDP — what a person can actually feel. Switch the year to see where each one is headed.

Housing

34%

Today

Median rent as a share of household income.

Health

78.4 yrs

Today

Life expectancy at birth.

Wealth

35%

Today

Households with a non-retirement ownership stake.

Education

52%

Today

Adults with a degree, trade certification, or apprenticeship.

Energy

3.1%

Today

Household energy costs as a share of income.

Environment

9 days

Today

Unhealthy air quality days per year, national average.

Opportunity

50%

Today

Children who out-earn their parents by age 30.

Mobility

27 min

Today

Average one-way commute time.

Time

34 hrs/wk

Today

Discretionary hours per week after work and obligations.

Happiness

6.7/10

Today

Self-reported life satisfaction, 0–10 scale.

Civic Trust

22%

Today

Citizens who trust government to do what's right most of the time.

Baseline figures are illustrative estimates for design purposes, not sourced government statistics. Targets are design targets, not forecasts — see Measure What Matters.