Left: So far, no data on how many lights there are on Manhattan. This image taken from Governors Island (the lights in the foreground) July 14, 2019.
Statistics are a useful part of your research. Numbers can demonstrate the significance of the issue you're researching. They can also help you identify patterns, trends, when something is generally true, and when there is a marginal group within the larger group. Numbers can show an intriguing correlation that can lead you to further research to explore causation.