America turns 250.
How's it actually going?

A quarter-millennium in, here's an honest checkup on the American promise — measured with federal data, the same yardstick for every president, Republican and Democrat. Start with yourself, widen to what we share, see where the country stands in the world, and check how each leader stacked up.

ME → US→ OUR COUNTRY→ OUR LEADERS

The checkup at a glance

Four vital signs — what they mean for working people

Paycheck vs. prices

Running in place

A typical family's pay has roughly tracked the cost of living for 40 years.

Finding work

Still historically low

Unemployment remains low by historical standards — though hiring has slowed and federal layoffs are rising.

Keeping a roof overhead

Harder than ever

Housing costs have outrun wages; affordability is the worst in decades.

Living a long life

Slipping vs. peers

U.S. life expectancy trails comparable rich nations and stalled out.

Good for workersTreading waterBad for workersHeadline reads — open any question for the full data, sources, and presidential breakdown.

Take the full checkup

Four questions, from your kitchen table to the country

01Me

How am I doing?

Seven questions people actually ask — wages, work, health, rights, mobility — answered with decades of federal data, same yardstick for every president.

AffordWorkHealthRightsMobility+2

Explore the seven questions →

02Us