Census Bureau Introduces New Interactive Mapping Tool along with Latest American Community Survey Statistics

The U.S. Census Bureau released Census Explorer, a new interactive mapping tool that gives users easier access to neighborhood level statistics. The mapping tool uses updated statistics from the 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS), which were also released today. 

The new application allows users to map out different social, economic and housing characteristics of their state, county or census tract, and to see how these areas have changed since the 1990 and 2000 censuses. The mapping tool is powered by American Community Survey statistics from the Census Bureau’s API, an application programming interface that allows developers to take data sets and reuse them to create online and mobile apps.

The tool allows users to look at the following eight statistics from the American Community Survey:

• Total population
• Percent 65 and older
• Foreign-born population percentage
• Percent of the population with a high school degree or higher
• Percent with a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Labor force participation rate
• Home ownership rate
• Median household income

In addition to these characteristics, more than 40 social, economic and housing topics are now available through the American Community Survey statistics for all communities in the nation, regardless of size, down to the block group level. For example, health insurance coverage statistics are now available for the first time at the neighborhood level.

For more information on the American Community Survey please contact Noemi Mendez at noemi.mendez@census.gov or call the Philadelphia Regional Office at 215-717-1820.