Accessing Census Data through the American FactFinder

1. Accessing Census Data through the American FactFinder Arthur Bakis Information Services Specialist Boston Regional Census Center US Census Bureau 617-223-3610 arthur.j.bakis@census.gov

2. Importanceof the Census • Congressionally mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution • First Census was in 1790 • Why do we conduct the Census? • Congressional Apportionment • Redistricting • Data is used to allocate billions of dollars in federal funds

3. Short Form Only! • In 2000, 1 in 6 households received the 53 question, 40 page long form • Detailed social, economic & housing info • 2010 Census is Short Form Only! • 7 Questions • 2010 Questionnaire • - Name - Race - Housing • - Sex - Ethnicity Tenure • - Age - Household • Relationship

4. Massachusetts Early Local Census Offices Opening Fall 2008!Boston, New Bedford and Worcester

5. Five Important Factors Funders Consider Important • Project Purpose • Applicant Accountability • Competence • Feasibility • Community Need for Project

6. Foundation of a Good Grant Proposal… GOOD CENSUS DATA • Prove your need! • Show Comparisons • Over time • To other geographic areas

7. % of Families with Income below Poverty Level 2007 American Community Survey Massachusetts 7.3 (+/- 0.4) Middlesex County 4.6 (+/- 0.6) United States 9.5 (+/- 0.1) Lowell 16.0 (+/- 5.0) 7

8. % of Population that Speak Language other than English at Home 2007 American Community Survey Massachusetts 8.6 (+/- 0.3) Middlesex County 8.3 (+/- 0.5) Lowell 20.5 (+/- 2.9) United States 8.7 (+/- 0.1) 8

9. CENSUS 101 • KNOW YOUR GEOGRAPHY! • KNOW THE DATA YOU WANT! 9

10. Nation The Geography Metropolitan Areas Regions Divisions States Congressional Districts Places Counties County Subdivision Census Tracts Block Groups Blocks 10

11. Census Tract 3110, Middlesex Cty, MA 11

12. Block Group 3, Census Tract 3110, Middlesex Cty, MA 12

13. Block 3003, BG 3, Census Tract 3110, Middlesex Cty, MA 13

14. The Data Summary File 1 Summary File 2 Summary File 3 Summary File 4 14

15. SF 1 (100% Data) • Household Relationship • Sex • Age • Hispanic or Latino Origin • Race • Tenure (own/rent) • Vacancy characteristics 15

16. SF 3 (Sample Data) • Population - Marital Status -Place of birth, citizenship, entry year -School Enrollment/Ed. Attainment -Ancestry -Migration -Language spoken -Veteran status -Disability -Grandparents as caregivers -Labor force status -Place of work, journey to work -Occupation, industry, class of worker -Work status in 1999 -Income in 1999 -Poverty status • Housing -Value of home or monthly rent paid -Units in structure -Year structure built -Number of rooms and number of bedrooms -Year moved into residence -Plumbing and kitchen facilities -Telephone service -Vehicles available -Heating fuel -Farm residence -Utilities, mortgage, taxes, Insurance and fuel costs 16

17. American Community Survey • Social and Economic information every year rather than just once a decade • Will take the place of the census long form • At the start of each month, the questionnaire is mailed to a scientifically selected sample of households in counties throughout the Nation. • The Census will continue to conduct a short form – only Census every ten years • NOT A COUNT! VIEW TRENDS! 17

18. American Community Survey CURRENT DATA AVAILABLE FOR 2007!! • Data is currently available for areas with a population of 20,000 or more. - 2006 – areas with a population 65,000+ - One Year Estimates - 2008 – areas with a population 20,000+ - 3 Year Estimates - 2010 – all other areas (incl. census tracts and BG) - 5 Year Estimates 18

19. AMERICAN FACTFINDER 19

20. American FactFinder (cont.) • Consistency! Consistency! Consistency! • No matter what survey, census, year or data you want – the process remains the same. • Choose your survey • Choose your data file/year • Choose type of table you want • Choose your geography • Choose your table 20

21. American FactFinder (cont.) Types of Tables • Quick Tables (Data Profiles) - Predefined tables for one geographic area. Simplest to access, least detailed. • Geographic Comparison Tables – Tables containing small amount of information for a group of related areas • Detailed Tables – Tables that provide the most detailed data on all topics and geo areas. Allows for choosing of multiple tables and multiple geos. All other tables are sourced from these tables. • Selected Population Profiles – Predefined tables that allow detailed race groups and Ancestries to be cross referenced. • Ranking Tables – Tables that are ranked by state only. • Reference Maps – Allows viewing of geographic boundaries • Thematic Maps - Provides visual data for geographic on color coded maps 21

22. Exercises • Access basic profiles for Lowell. • Poverty stats for United States, Massachusetts, Middlesex Cty and Lowell. • a) Add Framingham and Cambridge • Language spoken at home stats for United States, Massachusetts, Middlesex and Arlington. • 4. Find the Median Income tables for all available cities and towns in Massachusetts. • a) Download Table • c) Rank Table • 5. Find Tenure stats for the White, Black or African American and Asian populations. • a) Add Hispanic Median Income table • Find Foreign Born stats for the Census Tract we are in (Tract 3110, Middlesex Cty) • 7. Find Detailed Race/Ethnic group stats. • 8. Find the Census tract an address is located in. 22