Ryan Waked

@ryanwaked.com

12 Followers 103 Following

I'm a Data Analyst and hold a BSBA concentrated in Technology & Analytics. My analyses are self-directed; research questions I find novel, interesting, and worth exploring. Science lover, winter enjoyer, hobbyist software developer. www.ryanwaked.com

Bubble chart titled "Median income vs. air quality in major U.S. metros (2024)," plotting median household income (x-axis, roughly $55k to $165k) against median daily Air Quality Index (y-axis, about 35 to 100, where higher means worse air). Each bubble is a metro area, sized by total population, covering 55 metros across the 50 states. Most metros cluster between an AQI of 45 and 55 in the $70k–$100k income range. The worst air quality sits in the middle-income band: Riverside is highest at about 96, followed by Phoenix near 86 and Los Angeles (a large bubble) around 79. Cleaner air appears at both the low and high ends of income, with Honolulu lowest at roughly 35 and Portland near 38. The highest-income metros, San Francisco and San Jose (about $135k–$160k), have middling AQI values near 50, showing no clear overall trend between income and air quality. Source: EPA Air Quality System and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.
Scatter plot titled "Median income vs. rent burden in major U.S. metros" showing median household income (x-axis, $60k–$160k) against rent as a share of household income (y-axis, ~27.5%–37.5%) for 55 U.S. metro areas. Each metro is a blue marker sized by total population. The overall pattern is a downward trend: as median income rises, rent burden tends to fall. Miami sits as an outlier with the highest rent burden (~37%) despite a moderate income near $75k. Memphis and Pittsburgh appear on the lower-income side, with Pittsburgh among the lowest rent burdens (~27.5%). High-income metros cluster at the lower right with rent burdens between 27.5% and 29%: Washington (~$125k), San Francisco (~$135k), and San Jose (~$160k, the highest income and one of the lowest rent burdens). Los Angeles is a large marker near $95k income and ~34% rent burden. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year, 2023).