NCoC logo Civic Health Measurement Dashboard

State Clusters

Hierarchical clustering of 51 states based on their civic health profiles for 2025.

Clustering Methodology

What This Visualization Shows

State Clusters groups U.S. states based on the similarity of their civic engagement profiles. States in the same cluster have similar patterns of strengths and weaknesses across all indicators.

This helps identify "types" of civic health profiles and find states that might learn from each other due to similar challenges or successes.

Hierarchical Clustering Algorithm

We use agglomerative hierarchical clustering with average linkage:

  1. Start with each state as its own cluster
  2. Calculate the distance between all pairs of clusters
  3. Merge the two closest clusters into one
  4. Repeat until all states are in one cluster

Distance measure: We use Euclidean distance on z-score profiles:

d(A, B) = √(Σ(zA,i - zB,i)²)

Average linkage: Distance between two clusters is the average distance between all pairs of states (one from each cluster). This produces balanced, interpretable clusters.

Reading the Dendrogram

The dendrogram (tree diagram) visualizes the entire clustering process:

  • Leaves (bottom): Individual states
  • Horizontal lines: Merges between clusters
  • Height: The distance at which clusters were merged (higher = less similar)
  • Cutting the tree: Drawing a horizontal line at any height gives you clusters
Tip: Look for long vertical gaps in the dendrogram — these suggest "natural" cluster boundaries where groups are clearly distinct.

Choosing the Number of Clusters

The slider lets you choose how many clusters to form. There's no single "correct" number:

  • Fewer clusters (2-3): Broad categories, easier to interpret, may miss nuance
  • More clusters (5-8): Finer distinctions, but categories may be less meaningful
  • Look at the dendrogram: Natural breaks suggest good cluster counts

Rule of thumb: Choose the number where clusters have clear, interpretable differences in their strength/weakness profiles.

Cluster Summary Cards

Each cluster card shows:

  • Member states: All states assigned to this cluster
  • Strengths: Indicators where this cluster averages above the national mean (positive z-scores)
  • Weaknesses: Indicators where this cluster averages below the national mean (negative z-scores)

These summaries help you quickly characterize what makes each cluster distinct.

What This Data DOES Tell You

  • Profile similarity: Which states have similar civic engagement patterns
  • Cluster characteristics: What makes each group distinctive
  • Potential peer groups: States that might learn from each other's approaches
  • Pattern diversity: How varied civic engagement profiles are across the U.S.

What This Data Does NOT Tell You

  • Why states cluster: Clustering describes similarity but not causes
  • Value judgments: Cluster 1 isn't "better" than Cluster 4 — they're just different profiles
  • Geographic patterns: Geographic neighbors may or may not cluster together
  • Policy implications: Being in the same cluster doesn't mean the same policies will work
  • Stability: Cluster assignments may change with different years or indicators

Limitations & Caveats

  • Algorithm sensitivity: Different clustering methods (k-means, Ward's method) may give different results
  • Indicator weighting: All indicators are weighted equally; different weights would change clusters
  • Z-score dependency: Clustering is based on relative positions, so removing states changes results
  • Sample year: Clusters may differ across survey years
  • Borderline cases: Some states may be nearly equidistant from multiple clusters

Interpretation tip: Focus on states clearly within a cluster's "core" rather than edge cases that could go either way.

Questions about methodology? Contact the NCoC research team.

Cluster 1 (51 states)

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY
Strengths
Taking Action with Neighbors +0.00
Buycotting or Boycotting +0.00
Contacting Public Officials +0.00
Weaknesses
Employer Promotes Volunteering -0.00
Main Satisfaction Comes From Work -0.00
Workplace Pride +0.00

Cluster Dendrogram

States are grouped by similarity of their z-score profiles across all indicators. Height represents the distance between merged clusters.

State Profiles by Cluster

Cluster State
action
boycott
contact
donate
favors
favors_
ffissue
ffissue
fftalk
fftalk_
meeting
news
news_de
nissues
nissues
ntalk
ntalk_d
org
politic
views
views_d
volfreq
volfreq
volunte
voterst
workcon
workico
workpri
worksat
workvol
AK
-0.1
-1.1
2.3
-0.2
0.6
1.4
-0.5
-0.6
0.5
0.0
0.4
-1.4
-0.1
-0.6
1.3
-1.2
0.2
0.4
-0.0
-0.0
-0.3
1.7
-0.8
-0.2
0.6
2.4
0.0
0.1
0.0
-2.4
AL
-0.7
-0.7
-2.4
0.6
0.1
0.1
-0.5
0.6
-1.5
-0.8
-1.4
-0.6
-1.1
-0.7
-0.3
-0.3
0.1
-1.3
-0.1
-0.4
0.8
-0.8
-1.0
-2.0
-0.9
-1.7
-1.7
-0.8
-0.3
-0.5
AR
-0.9
-1.9
-1.4
-1.3
0.2
0.4
-0.6
-1.3
0.9
1.7
-0.8
-1.5
-0.9
-0.1
-1.2
-0.1
0.3
-1.2
-0.6
-0.8
-2.1
-1.1
-1.1
-0.4
-1.6
-0.8
-0.4
1.2
-0.8
-0.9
AZ
-0.4
1.1
-0.9
0.3
-0.5
-0.3
0.4
0.1
0.7
1.0
-0.5
0.1
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.6
-0.7
-0.6
0.5
0.2
0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
-0.3
-0.6
0.9
0.2
0.7
-0.3
CA
0.1
-0.1
-0.4
-1.7
-0.2
0.1
-0.1
-0.4
-1.7
-1.7
0.4
-0.3
-0.3
0.4
0.5
-0.2
0.3
-0.5
0.6
0.5
0.5
1.3
1.1
-1.2
-0.8
0.2
1.6
0.1
1.4
-1.2
CO
0.8
1.4
1.2
0.7
0.9
-0.1
1.0
1.2
0.1
0.7
0.1
1.4
1.0
1.0
1.4
0.6
1.1
1.1
0.9
0.9
1.3
-0.3
-0.1
0.7
1.7
1.0
0.7
-0.1
0.9
0.0
CT
-0.4
1.1
0.2
-0.4
-0.9
-1.2
0.7
0.2
-1.0
0.3
0.6
0.6
1.1
0.1
-0.3
0.6
1.2
0.7
-0.1
-0.4
-0.3
-0.3
0.6
0.7
0.2
-1.2
-0.5
-1.6
-0.1
0.2
DC
5.1
2.4
2.5
3.2
4.2
1.5
3.3
3.3
0.4
0.2
4.9
2.2
1.2
4.8
3.8
4.5
3.9
3.4
4.3
4.2
2.7
1.7
0.4
3.9
1.0
1.3
2.7
1.2
2.7
2.3
DE
2.0
-0.1
0.1
-0.3
0.5
0.6
0.2
-0.6
-0.4
-0.4
0.2
-0.0
0.6
1.1
1.4
1.2
0.3
1.3
0.8
0.7
0.8
-0.9
0.3
1.3
-0.9
0.9
0.3
2.2
1.6
3.0
FL
0.1
-0.6
-1.0
-1.7
-0.5
-0.3
0.1
0.6
-0.9
-1.3
-0.4
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.8
-0.6
-0.7
0.7
0.3
-0.3
0.6
-0.3
-1.8
-0.4
-1.3
0.7
0.4
0.7
1.4
GA
0.9
-1.0
0.3
0.3
1.1
1.7
-0.1
0.2
-0.8
-0.5
0.5
-0.1
-1.0
0.6
0.5
-0.5
0.2
-0.4
1.3
1.4
0.8
0.6
1.3
0.4
-0.4
0.6
1.0
1.0
1.3
1.0
HI
-0.6
-1.5
-0.5
0.4
-1.5
-1.8
-0.9
-0.3
1.1
0.3
-1.3
0.3
0.1
-1.1
-1.6
-1.6
-0.6
-1.8
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-1.8
-1.6
0.1
-1.5
1.0
0.1
-1.1
-1.0
0.3
IA
-0.7
-0.8
-0.5
-1.1
-0.7
0.6
-1.6
-1.0
-0.3
-0.5
-1.0
-0.9
0.5
-1.5
-0.8
-1.1
0.3
-1.1
-1.4
-1.0
-0.8
-2.0
0.1
-0.3
-0.8
-0.5
-1.7
-1.7
-1.0
-0.6
ID
-0.8
1.2
0.4
0.9
-0.0
-0.4
0.3
-0.5
0.3
1.0
-0.1
-0.4
-1.0
-0.5
-2.0
-0.5
0.4
0.4
-0.7
-0.0
-0.1
-0.5
-2.1
0.3
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
-0.1
-0.0
1.0
IL
0.0
-0.2
1.0
-0.6
0.2
0.6
-0.6
-1.0
-1.1
-1.3
1.4
0.6
1.0
0.2
-0.2
0.6
-0.5
0.3
0.8
1.0
1.4
0.6
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.3
0.7
-0.2
0.3
-0.4
IN
-1.3
-0.8
-1.5
-1.2
-0.8
-1.3
-1.1
-1.9
-1.6
-0.6
-1.1
-1.5
-1.1
-1.1
-1.3
-0.7
-1.0
-0.5
-0.7
-0.8
-0.5
-0.0
0.1
-0.7
-0.9
-1.6
-1.2
-0.8
-0.9
-1.0
KS
-0.7
0.7
-0.3
0.1
-0.5
0.2
-1.0
0.2
0.2
-0.0
-0.4
-0.6
-0.2
-1.1
-0.8
-1.6
-1.3
0.3
-1.3
-0.3
0.3
-0.7
-0.2
-0.2
-0.6
-1.1
-1.6
-0.7
-0.7
-0.3
KY
-0.5
-0.8
0.0
-0.2
0.4
0.1
0.4
-0.1
0.2
-0.5
-1.2
-0.9
-1.8
0.3
0.8
0.1
0.7
-0.9
-0.6
0.1
-0.4
-0.2
-0.8
-0.1
-0.6
-1.1
0.1
-0.1
-1.0
-0.5
LA
0.3
-1.1
0.3
-1.0
1.9
0.7
-1.1
-0.1
-0.7
-1.6
-0.0
-0.4
-0.6
0.3
1.2
1.0
1.5
-0.6
-0.3
-0.2
0.2
-0.4
0.3
1.2
0.2
0.5
1.2
1.0
0.6
-0.3
MA
0.6
1.9
1.9
2.0
0.5
-0.1
2.3
1.6
1.3
0.5
1.8
2.3
2.2
0.5
0.5
0.7
-0.5
1.6
1.2
0.2
0.4
-0.1
-0.1
1.2
0.8
0.1
0.9
0.9
0.4
2.2
MD
1.5
0.2
1.0
0.2
0.4
-0.8
0.1
-0.2
-0.4
-0.8
1.1
0.6
-0.1
0.7
-0.6
1.0
-0.3
1.0
0.9
1.0
-0.4
0.6
1.1
1.5
-0.2
0.7
1.0
-0.1
0.7
0.3
ME
-0.4
0.6
1.0
-0.2
-0.7
-0.5
1.1
0.9
1.2
1.6
1.5
0.8
1.2
-0.3
-0.5
-0.3
-0.2
0.2
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.8
-0.1
-1.1
1.1
-0.2
0.9
-1.4
-1.0
0.3
MI
-0.4
-0.3
-1.0
-0.7
-0.7
-0.8
-0.9
-0.7
-0.2
-0.6
-0.5
0.0
0.5
-0.6
-0.3
0.0
-0.4
0.0
-1.0
-0.0
-0.0
0.2
0.4
-0.5
1.2
-1.7
-1.4
-1.0
-0.1
-1.3
MN
-0.4
0.7
0.3
1.0
-0.5
-1.4
0.6
0.4
0.1
-0.7
-0.3
0.6
0.5
-0.7
-0.8
-0.2
-1.7
0.5
-0.2
-1.0
-0.6
-1.4
-1.2
0.8
1.4
0.8
0.4
-0.6
0.5
-0.7
MO
0.0
-0.6
0.1
0.7
0.1
0.3
-1.1
-1.3
-0.2
-0.2
-0.1
-0.7
-0.3
0.0
-0.3
0.4
-0.1
0.1
-1.1
-0.2
-0.8
0.9
1.0
-0.1
0.4
1.1
0.6
1.7
-0.5
-0.4
MS
0.2
-1.4
-0.8
0.0
2.0
3.4
-0.1
1.0
0.2
1.3
-0.1
-0.7
-0.8
1.0
1.3
0.9
3.1
-1.1
0.2
0.4
1.9
0.9
2.4
-0.8
-0.8
0.8
0.5
1.9
0.7
-0.1
MT
-0.5
0.1
0.5
0.9
-0.1
1.1
1.1
1.4
2.3
2.2
0.2
0.1
1.1
-0.8
0.5
-0.6
-0.3
-0.2
-0.4
-0.8
-0.1
0.7
0.1
0.6
1.8
0.3
-0.6
-0.4
-1.4
-1.2
NC
0.1
-0.3
-0.7
-0.4
0.1
1.1
-0.5
-0.2
-1.3
-0.6
-0.7
0.2
-0.1
0.6
0.1
0.3
0.1
-0.8
-0.1
0.2
0.2
-0.2
-0.2
0.1
-0.1
-0.5
0.8
-0.4
0.3
0.6
ND
-1.1
-1.1
0.3
0.1
-0.9
-1.3
-0.8
-1.1
0.6
0.3
-0.0
-0.1
-1.4
-1.3
-0.6
-1.5
-0.9
0.6
-1.3
-1.6
-2.0
-1.3
-0.5
1.4
-0.9
1.4
-1.0
-1.8
-1.0
-0.5
NE
-0.6
0.2
0.6
-0.5
-1.0
-0.8
-0.7
0.1
-1.7
0.3
-0.8
-1.8
-1.1
-0.4
0.0
-0.7
-0.9
0.1
-0.6
-1.1
-0.8
0.4
0.2
-0.5
0.2
-0.2
-0.7
-0.9
-1.3
-0.6
NH
-0.1
1.0
0.3
0.6
-1.6
-0.6
0.3
-0.2
0.9
0.3
0.5
1.7
1.1
-1.4
-0.4
-1.4
-1.2
0.4
0.2
-1.7
-1.4
-0.8
-0.1
-0.6
1.0
-0.9
-1.5
-1.5
-1.7
-0.5
NJ
0.9
-0.5
-1.0
0.2
0.5
0.4
1.3
1.1
0.3
-0.1
0.7
1.4
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.2
0.6
-0.2
0.1
0.6
0.5
-0.5
-0.2
-0.6
1.0
-0.7
-0.9
-0.7
0.0
1.3
NM
-0.7
-0.3
-1.3
-0.1
-0.2
1.5
-1.2
-1.4
-0.3
0.1
-0.1
0.2
-0.3
-0.3
0.6
-1.0
-0.3
-1.0
0.5
-0.4
-0.4
1.6
2.8
-0.6
-1.7
-0.2
-0.6
1.1
0.8
0.0
NV
-0.8
0.6
0.1
-0.8
-0.1
0.6
-0.5
-1.1
-0.9
-0.4
-0.5
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
0.7
-0.6
0.0
-1.4
0.0
1.0
0.1
1.3
0.2
-0.5
-0.9
-0.9
-0.2
0.6
0.7
-0.2
NY
0.7
-0.4
0.3
-0.7
1.3
0.7
0.0
-0.6
-0.7
-2.0
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.8
0.9
1.2
0.6
-0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.7
-0.6
-1.5
-1.2
-0.8
0.1
0.1
1.3
0.3
OH
-0.7
0.1
-0.5
-0.9
0.2
-0.1
-0.4
-0.2
0.8
0.6
-0.7
-0.4
0.2
-0.3
0.4
0.3
-0.8
0.3
0.3
0.1
1.2
-0.7
0.4
-1.0
0.9
-1.2
0.8
-0.6
-0.4
1.2
OK
-0.6
-0.7
-0.8
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
-0.0
-0.6
-0.6
0.2
-0.4
-0.2
-0.4
0.5
-0.1
0.0
0.2
-1.3
-1.7
0.1
-0.1
-0.5
0.2
-0.6
-1.5
-0.5
-0.3
0.6
0.3
-1.2
OR
-0.0
1.5
-0.1
0.0
-1.0
-1.1
0.3
-0.4
-0.0
-0.2
-0.1
0.4
-0.2
-0.4
0.2
0.3
0.2
1.0
0.2
0.4
-0.2
0.5
-0.3
0.3
1.4
-0.4
0.3
0.0
-1.0
-0.8
PA
-0.1
0.4
0.7
-0.5
-0.5
-0.2
-1.3
-1.3
-1.6
-1.9
0.2
-0.1
0.6
0.1
0.6
0.1
0.1
1.5
0.6
-0.1
0.9
0.9
2.6
-0.5
0.9
-1.2
-1.2
-0.4
-0.0
0.5
RI
0.6
1.2
1.7
0.2
-0.1
-0.8
1.2
1.1
0.9
0.4
-0.2
1.8
2.5
-0.1
-0.2
0.4
0.8
0.0
0.1
1.2
1.5
0.9
-1.3
-0.1
0.4
1.0
-1.0
-0.2
0.1
1.5
SC
0.0
-0.3
0.3
-0.6
-0.2
0.1
0.7
1.3
-0.0
0.8
-0.7
-0.6
0.1
-0.1
-0.8
0.4
-0.1
-0.8
-0.8
-0.4
-0.7
0.8
-1.0
-0.8
-0.5
1.0
1.2
0.1
0.1
-0.4
SD
-0.1
-1.5
-0.5
0.1
0.5
-0.2
-1.2
-0.1
2.1
0.6
-0.1
-0.9
-0.6
-0.1
-0.0
-0.7
-0.1
-0.1
-1.3
-2.0
-1.1
-1.0
0.0
0.3
-0.4
-0.4
-1.4
-0.5
-1.1
0.3
TN
-0.2
-1.1
-1.5
0.2
0.4
0.1
-0.9
-1.7
0.5
-0.1
-0.9
-0.1
-0.8
-0.3
-0.5
-0.3
-1.2
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.3
-1.0
-0.4
-0.0
-1.2
-0.6
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.3
TX
0.4
-0.4
-1.5
-0.8
0.6
0.6
-0.4
-1.1
-0.9
-1.7
0.4
-0.5
-1.2
0.4
-0.0
-0.3
-0.4
-0.8
0.3
0.9
1.0
-0.1
-0.8
-0.3
-1.6
0.6
0.7
0.2
1.3
-0.0
UT
1.3
0.3
0.1
0.8
-1.8
-1.2
0.9
0.4
0.5
1.3
-0.2
-0.8
-1.9
-0.9
-1.6
-1.0
-1.6
0.7
-0.7
-1.7
-1.7
-1.7
-1.7
1.1
0.0
1.7
-0.5
-0.4
-0.7
-0.6
VA
0.9
0.3
0.0
2.3
0.4
-0.3
1.2
0.5
-0.8
-0.9
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.7
-0.2
1.0
-0.1
1.1
1.4
1.1
0.6
0.3
1.0
1.4
0.6
0.6
0.8
1.4
1.5
1.1
VT
-0.5
2.1
0.2
-0.4
-1.5
-1.5
1.0
1.7
1.7
1.1
0.8
0.4
1.7
-1.5
-2.1
-0.9
-0.4
1.3
-0.4
-1.2
-2.2
-1.6
-0.4
0.6
0.9
1.2
-0.6
-0.1
-2.0
-1.0
WA
0.2
0.9
1.0
0.5
0.7
0.6
-0.2
0.7
-1.2
-1.0
-0.1
0.5
-0.1
0.1
0.5
-0.3
0.2
1.4
0.7
-0.4
0.2
0.3
-0.9
0.7
1.8
1.1
1.5
1.6
1.5
-0.0
WI
-0.8
0.4
0.3
1.2
-1.1
-2.0
0.1
0.8
0.4
0.2
-0.6
1.1
0.7
-0.3
-0.6
-0.3
-1.2
-0.4
0.1
0.2
-0.3
-0.2
-0.2
-0.1
1.6
-1.4
-1.7
-1.6
-1.4
0.1
WV
-1.2
-1.6
-1.1
-2.5
0.2
1.2
-1.5
-0.6
0.2
1.4
-1.2
-3.2
-1.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.1
1.1
-1.7
-1.9
-0.5
0.3
-0.2
1.6
-1.6
-1.4
-0.7
-0.4
-0.7
-0.7
-1.2
WY
-0.4
0.7
0.8
1.1
-0.0
-0.7
1.6
0.6
2.2
2.0
-0.3
-0.1
-1.3
1.5
0.1
1.1
-0.1
1.1
0.4
0.4
-0.9
2.8
-0.1
0.5
0.8
1.6
-0.5
1.9
-0.9
-0.3