Explore the numbers behind aging, care, probate and estate planning. Our research and reference pages explain their sources, coverage and limits so you can use the evidence in a family conversation or your own reporting.
Aging and care
Older adults living alone: U.S. county atlas
Explore all 3,144 counties and county equivalents in the 50 states and DC through state summaries, interactive county maps, a searchable table and downloadable evidence. Census ACS 2020–2024 estimates are compared with 2015–2019 where geography permits; uncertainty and unavailable comparisons are explained.
For community-specific analysis, read the California county report or Florida county report. These are distinct local editions of the nationwide reference.
Nursing-home costs and quality by state
A national reference combining CMS quality information with cost-survey figures. Check the linked page for the periods, definitions and limitations of each source; cost and quality measures are distinct.
Medicaid estate recovery by state: aggressiveness scorecard
A 50-state + D.C. research table comparing recovery scope, TEFRA liens, hardship pathways and cost-effectiveness floors, with a transparent 0–100 score, methodology and CSV download. Policy map only — not legal advice; verify with your state Medicaid agency and counsel.
Certified nursing-home capacity by state
Compare certified beds with populations age 75+ and 85+, using current CMS provider data and dated ACS estimates. Certified beds are not admissions availability or a shortage measure.
Care costs vs older-household income
Explore state income benchmarks and a clearly illustrative care-bill comparison, then enter a quote and optional personal income in the calculator. No individual affordability or benefit eligibility conclusion is implied.
Probate and planning costs
Probate costs by state
Compare filing fees, attorney-fee rules and executor commissions. This is a legal and cost reference, not a prediction of what any individual estate will pay. State rules and the estate’s circumstances matter.
Small-estate procedures vs median home values
Nationwide ACS home-value comparison with simplified estate procedures — ratios only where real property is covered — plus methodology and CSV downloads. Not legal advice; verify with court self-help and counsel.
Taxes and estate exposure
- Estate-tax statistics from IRS data — historical filings and tax patterns, with source years on the page.
- Estate-tax exposure by state — a housing-value comparison with stated assumptions; a home alone is not the complete taxable estate.
- State estate and inheritance taxes — a jurisdiction reference; confirm current rules before acting.
- Federal estate-tax exemption history — a historical reference table with sources and year-specific values.
Use the research, then plan for your family
Community statistics can help frame questions. Your documents, property, family and state rules determine the practical next steps. Start with our aging-parent planning roadmap, review the essential documents, or compare a will and a trust. If you are evaluating a trust, our living-trust cost guide explains the budgeting questions.
For checklists and trusted outside services, visit Estate Planning Resources.
Sources, reuse and updates
Each study identifies its data periods, methodology and limitations. Original research is separate from legal reference material; not every page has downloadable datasets. Reuse terms are stated on individual studies. Cite the specific study rather than this index when using a finding.
Research index created September 17, 2026. Read our editorial standards.