Vanderburgh Sober Living Operating Climate Index, 2026 Edition — Dataset

The Vanderburgh Sober Living Operating Climate Index scores how favorable each of the 50 U.S. states is for opening and operating a certified sober living home. It is a composite 1 to 10 measure built from six weighted sub-indices: Legal Climate, Certification Value, Market Strength, Resident Funding Access, Fire and Building Feasibility, and Operator Funding Access. A categorical gate is applied afterward for states that require a mandatory operating license. Sub-indices are scored against a published anchored rubric using state statutes, administrative codes, agency guidance, recovery residence certification bodies, and federal program and survey data. In the 2026 edition scores range from 4 to 9: Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee score highest at 9, while Arizona, New Jersey, Utah, and Wyoming score lowest at 4. Two further measures, the Startup Burden Score and the Return on Capital Score, are published as modeled context and are not inputs to the composite. The index measures conditions for lawful entry and sustained operation. It does not measure quality of care, resident outcomes, or operator performance. Published annually under CC BY 4.0 with full data downloads. The full report is published at https://www.vanderburghhouse.com/research/operating-climate-index-2026/.