Which of the thousands of charts on Minnesota Compass did users visit most in 2025? We crunched the numbers to bring you our greatest hits. Over the next several weeks, Wilder Research staff will break down our most popular bar charts, trend lines, maps, rankings, and tables—covering immigration, the workforce, and more—to reveal why these visuals are so important. Will your favorite chart make the list?
Maps: Compass users interested in population change, Medicaid coverage, and environment
In 2025, the top three maps visited by Compass users were Medicaid coverage by state, the Minnesota Diversity Index by county, and air quality by county. Although these maps focus on different topics – health, environment, and population – all of them provide an “at a glance” comparison of a single data point across geographies, allowing our users to see how their own geography differs from others. Here’s a brief description of this year’s top three maps.
A notable proportion of Minnesotans rely on Medicaid coverage
In 2025, proposed federal funding cuts to Medicaid were top of mind for many. An article by Wilder Research staff shared important data about Minnesotans on Medicaid and featured maps about Medicaid coverage. The national map shows Medicaid coverage across states, with 18% of Minnesotans covered by the public health insurance program. Other charts in the drop-down menu focus on Medicaid coverage across regions of the state of Minnesota and by age.
Racial and ethnic diversity has increased across the state
What is the probability that two people selected at random are from different racial and ethnic groups? The Minnesota Diversity Index provides the answer for our state. These interactive maps enable readers to envision what diversity looks like by county. Pull down the upper left menu to see how 2010 and 2020 differ. During those 10 years, the probability increased in all but two counties; 12 counties, across various regions, experienced a percentage change of more than 70%. This map provides one equation for determining diversity, but it’s also important to dig into the data to learn why diversity differs by county and region. Factors to look at include employment, education, median income, and more.
Air quality in Minnesota is generally good, but could be of growing concern
Air pollution is a growing concern in Minnesota. In 2024, Canadian wildfire smoke significantly impacted air quality in the state. This map shows the number of days that Minnesota’s air quality was rated “good” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2024, by county. The two counties with the smallest percentage of “good” air quality days are home to two of the state’s largest cities – Minneapolis (Hennepin) and Rochester (Olmsted). While this map provides a record of air quality in the state, it does not show trends or account for differences between adjacent counties. Also, because data are unavailable or limited in many counties, it is a snapshot based on best available data.
Interpreting the story behind these maps
Together, these maps reveal evolving changes or areas of concern in Minnesota. Minnesota communities across the state have welcomed new residents – families, workers, immigrants, students – leading to changes in the geography and diversity of racial and ethnic communities that call Minnesota home. At the same time, environmental changes are a threat to health and quality of life, and changes in Medicaid eligibility and financing may lead to reductions in health care coverage for both old and new Minnesotans. By illuminating changes such as these, we can better understand the progress we have made and address the challenges that lie ahead.
