U.S. Census Data by Subject

Population and housing

• American Communities Survey - samples the US population every year and will replace the long form in future censuses. Public Use Microdata (PUMs) are available through the ACS website. Microdata show the full range of responses made on individual questionnaires, including questions on age, sex, tenure, income, education, language spoken at home, journey to work, occupation, condominium status, shelter costs, vehicles available, and other subjects. The American Community Survey PUMS are useful for research that does not require the identification of geographic areas smaller than states.
• American Factfinder - provides access to population, housing, economic, and geographic data.
  • Try this guided keyword search to help discover which tables topics of interest are located in and link directly to them
• Archive of Census-Related Products - Georeferenced data files containing nationwide census information, provides access to raw data, including general 1990 census data files plus block statistics, Public Use Microdata Series (PUMS), 1980 Census, etc.
• Basic Tables Demographic Profile Generator - Report generator creates a basic demographic profile of a local area down to block group level.
• Boston Redevelopment Authority - Reports on Boston's economy, population and commercial markets.
• CenStats Database - Free service for some Census Bureau data, including: Building Permits, Census Tract Street Locator, County and Zip Code Business Patterns, Detailed Occupation by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex, International Trade, Data, USA Counties, Public Law 94-171 Data
• Census Bureau's Housing Topics
• Census 2000 Quick links - Use to find information on redistricting, demographics, summary files, Census Bureau tables, SSDC data tables, geography and map projects, news, and related links and training.
• County and City Data Books - This resource provides access to the 1944 through 2000 County and City Data Books. This service allows the user to create custom printouts and/or customized data subsets (subsets only available for 1988-2000). Editions in print and on cd, dating back to 1949, available in the MIT library collection.
• Documents Center - a one-stop repository for links to demographic and housing statistical resources on the web.
• Harvard - MIT Data Center - is the principal distributor of quantitative social science data from major international data consortia for Harvard and MIT.
• Historical Census Browser - Population, education, economic and other data from 1790 to 1960. Includes an interactive mapping tool.
• Historical Census Data - selected historical decennial census population and housing counts dating back to 1790.
• Ineter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research maintains and provides access to a vast archive of social science data for research and instruction, and offers training in quantitative methods to facilitate data use.
• ICPSR Census 2000: Links - Contains links to general reference resources of Census 2000 data and federal information processing standards, as well as US reference maps at a variety of scales.
• Legislative District Demographic Browser - Instantly view maps by Congressional district with demographic information such as population/age, income, housing, or language.
• Population and Houshold Economic Topics - population statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, including population estimates and projections, Current Population Survey, and "Population Clocks" for today's population.
• The Lewis Mumford Center offers information and preliminary analyses of how the racial and ethnic composition of metropolitan areas has shifted in the last ten years, and how increasing diversity is experienced at the level of local neighborhoods.
• Metropolitan Racial & Ethnic Change: Census 2000 - These pages, produced by the Lewis Mumford Center, offer information and preliminary analyses of how the racial and ethnic composition of metropolitan areas has shifted in the last ten years, and how increasing diversity is experienced at the level of local neighborhoods.
• The National Historic Geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a project to create and freely disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information for the United States between 1790 and 2000.
• Personal Income Statistics - Personal income statistics from the US Census Bureau
• Population and Poverty Datasets - Locate data, applications, and information.
• School District Demographics System - State, county and school district maps and demographic data
• Social Explorer provides demographic information about the United States, including historical data back to 1940. Allows the user to quickly view thematic maps of census data.
• State and Metropolitan Area Data book - features more than 1,500 data items for the United States and individual states, counties and metropolitan areas from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal statistical bureaus, governmental administrative and regulatory agencies, private research bodies, trade associations, insurance companies, health associations, educational associations, and philanthropic foundations. The files include data published for 2005 population and housing unit estimates and many items from the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Information in the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births, business establishments, communications, construction, cost of living, crime, deaths, education, elections, employment, energy, finance, government, health, households, housing, immigration, income, manufactures, marriages and divorces, media, natural resources, population, poverty, race and Hispanic origin, residence, retail sales, science and engineering, social services, tourism, transportation, and veterans. Available in the MIT Library collection back to 1979.
• State Data Center Program - working with the U.S. Census Bureau, the State Data Centers are a source of microdata at the county, city or community level.
• Statistical Abstract of the United States - Published since 1878, StatAbs is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Available on cd in the MIT library collection, dating back to 1993. Available in print in the MIT library collection , dating back to 1878.
• US Census Bureau Housing Topics - Information and data about housing in the US
• USA Counties - USA Counties features over 6,000 data items for the United States, States and counties from a variety of sources. Files include data published for 2005 estimates and many items from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the 1990 census, the 1980 census and the 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1982 and 1977 economic censuses. Information in USA Counties is derived from the following general topics: age, agriculture, ancestry, banking, building permits, business patterns, crime, earnings, education, elections, employment, government, health, households, housing, income, labor force, manufactures, population, poverty, retail trade, social programs, veterans, vital statistics, water use, and wholesale trade. Files contain a collection of data from the U. S. Census Bureau and other Federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Social Security Administration. CD-Roms dating back to 1992 are available in the MIT Library collection
• US Demography Homepage - Consists of a series of cascading hypertext links providing access to national data resources, on-line supporting documentation (codebooks, data dictionaries, citations), and possibly extraction tools for data access, and you may connect to an anonymous ftp service for data file retrieval.

Economic

• American Communities Survey - samples the US population every year and will replace the long form in future censuses. Public Use Microdata (PUMs) are available through the ACS website. Microdata show the full range of responses made on individual questionnaires, including questions on age, sex, tenure, income, education, language spoken at home, journey to work, occupation, condominium status, shelter costs, vehicles available, and other subjects. The American Community Survey PUMS are useful for research that does not require the identification of geographic areas smaller than states.
• American Factfinder - provides access to population, housing, economic, and geographic data.
  • Try this guided keyword search to help discover which tables topics of interest are located in and link directly to them
• Boston Redevelopment Authority - Reports on Boston's economy, population and commercial markets.
• CenStats Database - Free service for some Census Bureau data, including: Building Permits, Census Tract Street Locator, County and Zip Code Business Patterns, Detailed Occupation by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex, International Trade, Data, USA Counties, Public Law 94-171 Data
• Census 2000 Quick links - Use to find information on redistricting, demographics, summary files, Census Bureau tables, SSDC data tables, geography and map projects, news, and related links and training.
• County and City Data Books - This resource provides access to the 1944 through 2000 County and City Data Books. This service provides the opportunity to create custom printouts and/or customized data subsets (subsets only available for 1988-2000). Editions in print and on cd, dating back to 1949, available in the MIT library collection.
• Economic Census - Profiles American business every 5 years, from the national to the local level.
• Economic Census of Puerto Rico and the island areas - Provides periodic and comprehensive data on the Commonwealth's economic activity and structure at the municipio level.
• Historical Census Browser - Population, education, economic and other data from 1790 to 1960. Includes an interactive mapping tool.
• Legislative District Demographic Browser - Instantly view maps by Congressional district with demographic information such as population/age, income, housing, or language.
• Massachusetts State Data Center - A program of the UMass Donahue Institute's Economic and Public Policy Research Unit is housed at the Institute's offices on the UMass Amherst campus.
• The National Historic Geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a project to create and freely disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information for the United States between 1790 and 2000.
• Personal Income Statistics - Personal income statistics from the US Census Bureau
• Population and Household Economic Topics- population statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, including population estimates and projections, Current Population Survey, and "Population Clocks" for today's population.
• Population and Poverty Datasets - Locate data, applications, and information.
• Social Explorer provides demographic information about the United States, including historical data back to 1940. Allows the user to quickly view thematic maps of census data.
• State and Metropolitan Area Data book - features more than 1,500 data items for the United States and individual states, counties and metropolitan areas from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal statistical bureaus, governmental administrative and regulatory agencies, private research bodies, trade associations, insurance companies, health associations, educational associations, and philanthropic foundations. The files include data published for 2005 population and housing unit estimates and many items from the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Information in the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births, business establishments, communications, construction, cost of living, crime, deaths, education, elections, employment, energy, finance, government, health, households, housing, immigration, income, manufactures, marriages and divorces, media, natural resources, population, poverty, race and Hispanic origin, residence, retail sales, science and engineering, social services, tourism, transportation, and veterans. Available in the MIT Library collection back to 1979.
• Statistical Abstract of the United States - Published since 1878, StatAbs is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Available on cd in the MIT library collection, dating back to 1993. Available in print in the MIT library collection , dating back to 1878.
• USA Counties - USA Counties features over 6,000 data items for the United States, States and counties from a variety of sources. Files include data published for 2005 estimates and many items from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the 1990 census, the 1980 census and the 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1982 and 1977 economic censuses. Information in USA Counties is derived from the following general topics: age, agriculture, ancestry, banking, building permits, business patterns, crime, earnings, education, elections, employment, government, health, households, housing, income, labor force, manufactures, population, poverty, retail trade, social programs, veterans, vital statistics, water use, and wholesale trade. Files contain a collection of data from the U. S. Census Bureau and other Federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Social Security Administration. CD-Roms dating back to 1992 are available in the MIT Library collection

Transportation

• American Communities Survey - samples the US population every year and will replace the long form in future censuses. Public Use Microdata (PUMs) are available through the ACS website. Microdata show the full range of responses made on individual questionnaires, including questions on age, sex, tenure, income, education, language spoken at home, journey to work, occupation, condominium status, shelter costs, vehicles available, and other subjects. The American Community Survey PUMS are useful for research that does not require the identification of geographic areas smaller than states.
• Archive of Census-Related Products - Georeferenced data files containing nationwide census information, provides access to raw data, including general 1990 census data files plus block statistics, Public Use Microdata Series (PUMS), 1980 Census, etc
• The Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) summarizes information from the decennial census long form by place of residence, by place of work, and for worker-flows between home and work.
  • Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) 2000
  • Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) 1990


• CenStats Database - Free service for some Census Bureau data, including: Building Permits, Census Tract Street Locator, County and Zip Code Business Patterns, Detailed Occupation by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex, International Trade, Data, USA Counties, Public Law 94-171 Data Journey to work - This is a US Census website that provides data and information about travel time to work, means of transportation to work, and other characteristics about the journey to work. Includes extensive information from the 2000 and 1990 decennial censuses, as well as some historical data on this topic beginning in 1960.
• Census 2000 Quick links - Use to find information on redistricting, demographics, summary files, Census Bureau tables, SSDC data tables, geography and map projects, news, and related links and training.
• Historical Census Browser - Population, education, economic and other data from 1790 to 1960. Includes an interactive mapping tool.
• The National Historic Geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a project to create and freely disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information for the United States between 1790 and 2000.
• Social Explorer provides demographic information about the United States, including historical data back to 1940. Allows the user to quickly view thematic maps of census data.
• State and Metropolitan Area Data book - features more than 1,500 data items for the United States and individual states, counties and metropolitan areas from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal statistical bureaus, governmental administrative and regulatory agencies, private research bodies, trade associations, insurance companies, health associations, educational associations, and philanthropic foundations. The files include data published for 2005 population and housing unit estimates and many items from the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Information in the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births, business establishments, communications, construction, cost of living, crime, deaths, education, elections, employment, energy, finance, government, health, households, housing, immigration, income, manufactures, marriages and divorces, media, natural resources, population, poverty, race and Hispanic origin, residence, retail sales, science and engineering, social services, tourism, transportation, and veterans. Available in the MIT Library collection back to 1979.
• Statistical Abstract of the United States - Published since 1878, StatAbs is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Available on cd in the MIT library collection, dating back to 1993. Available in print in the MIT library collection , dating back to 1878.
  

Geography

• American Communities Survey - samples the US population every year and will replace the long form in future censuses. Public Use Microdata (PUMs) are available through the ACS website. Microdata show the full range of responses made on individual questionnaires, including questions on age, sex, tenure, income, education, language spoken at home, journey to work, occupation, condominium status, shelter costs, vehicles available, and other subjects. The American Community Survey PUMS are useful for research that does not require the identification of geographic areas smaller than states.
• American Factfinder - provides access to population, housing, economic, and geographic data.
  • Try this guided keyword search to help discover which tables topics of interest are located in and link directly to them
• Archive of Census-Related Products - Georeferenced data files containing nationwide census information, provides access to raw data, including general 1990 census data files plus block statistics, Public Use Microdata Series (PUMS), 1980 Census, etc.
• Basic Tables Demographic Profile Generator - Report generator creates a basic demographic profile of a local area down to block group level.
• Boston Redevelopment Authority - Reports on Boston's economy, population and commercial markets.
• CenStats Database - Free service for some Census Bureau data, including: Building Permits, Census Tract Street Locator, County and Zip Code Business Patterns, Detailed Occupation by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex, International Trade, Data, USA Counties, Public Law 94-171 Data
• Census 2000 Quick links - Use to find information on redistricting, demographics, summary files, Census Bureau tables, SSDC data tables, geography and map projects, news, and related links and training.
• County and City Data Books - This resource provides access to the 1944 through 2000 County and City Data Books. This service allows the user to create custom printouts and/or customized data subsets (subsets only available for 1988-2000). Editions in print and on cd, dating back to 1949, available in the MIT library collection.
• Gateway to Census2000 data - access population totals, rankings, comparisons, summaries and reports, as well as redistricting and apportionment data. Check Barton for product availability in the MIT libraries.
• Generalized Cartographic Boundaries - The cartographic boundary files are primarily designed for small scale, thematic mapping applications at a target scale range of 1:500,000 to 1:5,000,000.
• Historical Census Browser - Population, education, economic and other data from 1790 to 1960. Includes an interactive mapping tool.
• The Lewis Mumford Center offers information and preliminary analyses of how the racial and ethnic composition of metropolitan areas has shifted in the last ten years, and how increasing diversity is experienced at the level of local neighborhoods.
• Massachusetts State Data Center - A program of UMass Donahue Institute's Economic and Public Policy Research Unit is housed at the Institute's offices on the UMass Amherst campus. The Census Bureau provides data products, training, technical assistance, and consultation to data centers, which then offer products and assistance to local community leaders, planners, businesses, researchers, and the general public.
• MassGIS Datalayers from the 2000 US Census - MassGIS has reprocessed Census datalayer information and converted it into the Massachusetts State Plane (NAD83 Meters) Coordinate system. The data have been extracted into six (6) statewide layers and are being distributed in Shapefile format.
• MassGIS Legislative District Demographic Browser - Instantly view maps by Congressional district with demographic information such as population/age, income, housing, or language.
• National Historic Geographic Information System - The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a project to create and freely disseminate a database incorporating all available aggregate census information for the United States between 1790 and 2000.
• Social Explorer provides demographic information about the United States, including historical data back to 1940. Allows the user to quickly view thematic maps of census data.
• State and Metropolitan Area Data book - features more than 1,500 data items for the United States and individual states, counties and metropolitan areas from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal statistical bureaus, governmental administrative and regulatory agencies, private research bodies, trade associations, insurance companies, health associations, educational associations, and philanthropic foundations. The files include data published for 2005 population and housing unit estimates and many items from the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Information in the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book covers the following topical areas: age, agriculture, births, business establishments, communications, construction, cost of living, crime, deaths, education, elections, employment, energy, finance, government, health, households, housing, immigration, income, manufactures, marriages and divorces, media, natural resources, population, poverty, race and Hispanic origin, residence, retail sales, science and engineering, social services, tourism, transportation, and veterans. Available in the MIT Library collection back to 1979.
• Statistical Abstract of the United States - Published since 1878, StatAbs is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Available on cd in the MIT library collection, dating back to 1993. Available in print in the MIT library collection , dating back to 1878.
• TIGER/Line files - are a digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, legal boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire United States. The data base contains information about these features such as their location in latitude and longitude, the name, the type of feature, address ranges for most streets, the geographic relationship to other features, and other related information.
  • TIGER files in shapefile format for free download from ESRI
  • TIGER/Line Files (2000) - Technical Documentation (pdf)

Other places to locate subject specific Census information:

• US Census Bureau index of subject areas A-Z .

This page was last updated on 03/27/08