Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Census 2010: What It Does Not Include

Many people who are interested in using data from the 2010 Census for various purposes may be surprised to learn what was not asked.  In an article for the Gotham Gazette, sociologist Andrew Beveridge points out that even some demographers have asked him about data they think will be published by the 2010 Census, but won’t be.

Many of the detailed, neighborhood-level items about demographics, economics and housing that were included on the census long form in previous decades now are asked about in the American Community Survey. For those who need reminding, here is a link to the 2010 Census form. It asks just 10 questions about each household resident, and a question about how others in the household are related to the householder. Here is the 2010 American Community Survey questionnaire.

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