2020 Census: Data to inform outreach
How close are we to a complete count?
On behalf of the joint city-county Complete Count Committee (CCC), CI:Now has launched a new online data tool to help the CCC and others monitor local response rates and finely target outreach strategies. Place-based data has become even more critical as the CCC was forced to shift the initial “high-touch” strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that community-based partners like nonprofits and churches could no longer rely on in-person interaction with participants.
The interactive 2020 Census Response Rates tool displays response rate trends for the county, area cities and towns, and census tracts, comparing current response rates to 2020 goals and to the 2010 mail return rate. The Tract Selector allows anyone to select and download data for census tracts meeting user-set criteria for jurisdiction (City Council District, County Commissioner Precinct, unincorporated areas, Texas House District, and Texas Senate District) and many indicators of risk of undercount.
Where do our “hard-to-count” community members live?
CI:Now’s new Hard-to-Count Map series shows neighborhoods where targeted outreach is likely needed to ensure a complete count. These maps will display not just the Census Bureau-defined hard-to-count areas, but also areas with barriers like low broadband subscription rates and risk profiles like low voter turnout. Click the map or this link to explore.
The Response Area Outreach Mapper (ROAM) shows in dark blue those neighborhoods where our community is least likely to respond to the Census. Click the map to visit ROAM and learn more about the data behind ROAM here.
HTC 2020 from CUNY Center for Urban Research maps the census tracts with the lowest 20% of return rates, where fewer than 73% of households returned their 2010 Census surveys by mail. Click the map to visit HTC 2020. Learn more about the tool here.
More 2020 Census information
- What is the Census and why does it matter?
- What motivates people to respond to the Census or keeps them from doing so?
- How can local people and organizations help ensure a complete count?
last updated 4/30/2020