Center for Urban Research
Urban Change: New York and Beyond
The Center for Urban Research at The CUNY Graduate Center organizes basic and applied research addressing the core issues facing New York and other large cities, often in partnership with foundations, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other clients. It also trains students in research techniques and presents public forums on urban policy issues.
A common thread in these activities is to understand the broad forces driving different forms of inequality, the dynamics of inter-group relations, and neighborhood change in large urban areas, as well as their interaction with political participation, civic engagement, and the role of government.
The Center’s research and policy analyses focus primarily within the areas of demographics, immigration, community organization, economic and workforce development, educational equity and access, labor markets, crime, and political participation. We work at scales ranging from individuals, their households, and their neighborhoods to cities and metropolitan regions, often with a national or international comparative perspective.

Projects and Initiatives
Critical Research for New York City
We specialize in analyzing large data sets, especially the Census data sets, visualizing spatial patterns through maps, synthesizing this information through reports and other written materials, and developing online applications to provide access to our results. Each of our constituent units undertakes distinct projects but also collaborates together and with CUR's research team to bring their areas of expertise to bear on our work.
Explore Research Projects
Books and Publications
The Results of Our Work
Research efforts undertaken by CUR have yielded award-winning books and studies on topics ranging from the life trajectories of young people from immigrant and native minority backgrounds to the determinants of political participation in New York and other large cities to the changing nature of the urban labor force to mapping metropolitan demographic change at a national scale.
Books, Publications and PresentationsLatest News
Feb 27, 2023
How Communities of Interest Are Evolving in New York City
A new report tracks the demographic changes that have taken place in New York City over the last decade.
- Press Release
Sep 8, 2022
Distinguished Professor John Mollenkopf on Mayor Adams’ First Six Months
The political analyst discusses Adams’ performance on issues from public safety to affordable housing.
- Podcast
- Faculty News
Jul 11, 2022
The Center for Urban Research Assesses the Impact of Ranked Choice Voting in New York City
Media Contact: Tanya Domi, tdomi@gc.cuny.edu, 646-512-0273 Shawn Rhea, srhea@gc.cuny.edu, 504-905-9888 NEW YORK, JULY 11, 2022— In a pathbreaking study commissioned by Common Cause New York...
- Press Release
Aug 23, 2021
INTERACTIVE MAP BREAKS DOWN VOTE DISTRIBUTION IN NYC'S FIRST RANKED CHOICE ELECTION
New York’s first citywide election using ranked choice voting has now been mapped in detail by the Center for Urban Research (CUR) at The Graduate...