Big cities and big data tend to get most of the attention in publications and on industry panels. Rapid urbanization and the explosion of data are headlining trends. In reality, however, the United States is a nation of small towns. According to Census Bureau information, the median American lives in a city with a population around 17,500. Half of Americans live in communities that are even smaller.
In order to ground our conversations about technology, data, and urbanization in the reality of cities where the typical American lives, it’s useful to talk about how smaller-sized communities are benefitting from data and technology at price tags they can reasonably afford.
“It doesn’t require a huge staff to get insight from data,” Franklin Williams, president of Tyler Technologies’ Data and Insights Division, explains. “With the right technology solutions, what previously seemed impossible is very achievable. The key for any city, large or small, is to find the right partner that can provide the best solutions for each unique situation. Tackling a city’s specific needs moves agencies from tech problems to business solutions, which is a win at any size.”