---
title: "Appendix: Categorization of states based on COVID restrictions"
description: "To classify states based on the social-distancing policies they have in place, researchers relied on the Kaiser Family Foundation’s summary of state actions (accessed Nov. 11, 2020). States were given a score based on the number of measures they have in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. These include: Stay at home orders […]"
date: "2020-11-20"
authors:
  - name: "Sara Atske"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/11/20/appendix-categorization-of-states-based-on-covid-restrictions/"
categories:
  - "Coronavirus (COVID-19)"
  - "COVID-19 & Politics"
  - "Election 2020"
  - "Election System & Voting Process"
  - "Joe Biden"
  - "U.S. Democracy"
datasets:
  - name: "American Trends Panel Wave 78"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-78/"
---

# Appendix: Categorization of states based on COVID restrictions

[![Categorization of states based on COVID policies](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/11/PP_2020.11.20_post-election_A-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/?attachment_id=20076524)

To classify states based on the social-distancing policies they have in place, researchers relied on the [Kaiser Family Foundation’s summary of state actions](https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/state-data-and-policy-actions-to-address-coronavirus/) (accessed Nov. 11, 2020).

States were given a score based on the number of measures they have in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. These include:

- Stay at home orders
- Mandatory quarantines for travelers
- Closures of non-essential businesses
- Closures and restrictions for restaurants and bars
- Limits on gatherings
- Mandatory face coverings

An additive index was created and then the states were divided into three roughly equal sized groups (based on population).

#### Defining income tiers

To create upper-, middle- and lower-income tiers, respondents’ 2019 family incomes were adjusted for differences in purchasing power by geographic region and for household size. “Middle-income” adults live in families with annual incomes that are two-thirds to double the median family income in the panel (after incomes have been adjusted for the local cost of living and for household size). The middle-income range for the American Trends Panel is about $38,900 to $116,800 annually for an average family of three. Lower-income families have incomes less than roughly $38,900, and upper-income families have incomes greater than roughly $116,800 (all figures expressed in 2019 dollars).

Based on these adjustments, among respondents who provided their income and household size, 33% are lower income, 45% are middle income and 18% fall into the upper-income tier. An additional 4% either didn’t offer a response to the income question or the household size question.

For more information about how the income tiers were determined, please see [here](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/09/24/covid-19-financial-hardships-methodology/).

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**Next:** [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/11/20/post-election-views-methodology.md)