Using and Interpreting Census Data

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U.S. Census 101

• Using and Interpreting Census Data
• Presented by Troy Mix

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Census Uses

• Purpose Reapportionment
• Useful for A General Picture of a region
• Demographics
• Broad Trends
• Not so Useful for Reflecting Actual Conditions
• Economic and Market Data
• Jobs and Employment
• Housing Values

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Where to Start?

• www.census.gov

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Where to Start?

• Census 2000 Gateway

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Where to Start?

• American Factfinder

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The Census Data Sets
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Quick Tables vs. Detailed Tables

• Quick Tables
• Detailed Tables

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The Census Data Sets

• Summary File 1
• 100 Count Data
• Age
• Race
• Housing
• Households
• Contains DP-1
• Profile of General Demographic Characteristics

• Summary File 3
• Sample Data reporting long form responses (an
  approx. 1 in 6 sample)
• More Detailed
• Social
• Economic
• Housing
• Contains DP-2, DP-3, DP-4
• Profiles of Selected Social, Economic, and
  Housing Characteristics

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Do Data Sets Make a Difference?

• Yes!
• Example Frederica, Delaware
• Summary File 1
• Population 648
• Households 246
• Housing Units 275
• Summary File 3
• Population 611
• Households 239
• Housing Units 266
• Reason Sampling and Non-Sampling Errors

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A Solution to Two Datasets

• Summary File 1
• Use for basic age, race, household, and housing
  information
• Summary File 3
• Use for more detailed information not included in
  Summary File 1
• Educational Attainment, workforce information,
  poverty status, housing ages and types

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Another Solution to two datasets

• Ask the town
• Business-as-usual can dictate which datasets to
  use
• Reality Check Census Figures
• Towns may use certain figures for their own daily
  work including
• Applying for grants
• Providing public information
• Making projections

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Avoiding the Vacuum Effect

• Create Context
• Ground-truth the situation
• Frederica 21 persons of Hispanic origin
• Accounting for changing situations since Census
• Utilize town records building permits, COs

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Avoiding the Vacuum Effect

• Create Context
• Regional Comparison

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Reporting Trends
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A Census Case Study

• Fort Edward, NY

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A Census Case Study
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Census Data Population Characteristics
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Census Data Population Characteristics
Median Age New York 35.9 Washington County
37.5 Fort Edward 35.3
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Census Data Housing Characteristics
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Census Data Housing Characteristics

• Median Housing Value
• New York 148,700
• Washington County 77,400
• Fort Edward 67,400

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Census Data Economic Characteristics

• Individuals living below poverty level
• New York 14.6
• Washington County 9.4
• Fort Edward 11.2

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Census Case Study

• Conclusions?
• Guesses?

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The End
Thanks for your attention!