# Cubit's Blog — Full Content

> Practical tips for working with Census and demographic data—income, population, housing, and more—plus occasional Cubit Planning updates.

Source: https://blog.cubitplanning.com

---

## [American Community Survey vs. Decennial Census: What's the Difference](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2010/08/american-community-survey-vs-decennial-census-whats-the-difference/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2010-08-11

This post explains the differences between the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Decennial Census and how those differences will impact your work.

### Background: Long Form and Short Form

Remember back to the Census 2000 when some people were complaining about the Census form taking forever to fill out? Well, those people received the Census 2000 Long Form which was sent to about 18 million households and collected detailed demographic, economic and housing data. The rest of the US households received the simple Census 2000 Short Form, which was used to count the population and collect basic demographic data. So for the Census 2000, 2 forms were used: the Long Form and the Short Form.

Fast-forward to the Census 2010. The Census 2010 did not use the Long Form, only the Short Form. Enter the ACS. The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographic survey of the United States. It provides the detailed demographic, economic and housing data that was once supplied by the Decennial Census Long Form.

|  | 2000 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Count + Basic Data | Short Form | Census 2010 |
| Detailed Data | Long Form | ACS 5 year estimates |

However, the ACS is only sent to 3 million households each year, a statistically small sample especially when compared to the Census 2000 Long Form which was sent to 18 million households in 1 year. So to produce the detailed demographic data, the ACS combines data from several years to produce multi-year estimates. For example, the ACS combines data collected from 2006 + 2007 + 2008 to get 3-year ACS estimates for geographies with at least 20,000 persons. ACS 5 year estimates will provide data for geographies with fewer than 20,000 persons.

### Similar Data; Different Methodologies & Format

The ACS and the Decennial Census provide the same types of data — demographic, economic and housing data for the US. However, the methodology of these 2 tools differs greatly.

|  | ACS | Decennial Census |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Continuous demographic survey | Count of the population |
| Data | Average characteristics OVER TIME | Counts characteristics for a SPECIFIC DATE |
| How Often | Every 1 year (more timely) | Every 10 years (less timely) |
| Households | 11 million households over 5 years | 18 million households in 1 year |
| Sampling Error | Higher Error (1.75 percent higher than Census 2000) | Lower Error |
| Accuracy | Less Accurate | More Accurate |

To sum up: the **ACS is more timely but less accurate than the Decennial Census**, because the data is collected over a series of years (instead of just 1 year), and fewer households are surveyed.

Because the ACS is less accurate, ACS data includes margins of error and is released at 90% confidence limits. Example of ACS data:

| | Austin city | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Estimate | Error | Percent | Error |
| Hispanic/Latino | 261,672 | +/-3,404 | 35.0 | +/-0.4 |

This means that we can say with 90% confidence that the number of Hispanic persons in Austin is between 258,268 and 265,076 (or 261,672 plus or minus 3,404). We can also say with 90% confidence that the percentage of Hispanic persons in Austin is between 34.6% and 35.4%.

### How Does All of this Impact You?

1. ACS demographic data is less reliable than Decennial Census data. It's going to be more important than ever to use ACS data as a starting point only and to support the data with fieldwork, interviews, and data from other sources.
2. Doing basic calculations with ACS data is going to require an elementary understanding of statistics. For example, calculating percentage change between Census 2000 data and ACS estimates will require basic statistics, because the numbers are not comparable (they are apples to oranges).

---

## [What are Census Summary Levels (SUMLEV)?](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2011/03/census-summary-level-sumlev/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2011-03-01

**Simple Answer:** SUMLEV is a Census Bureau code to indicate geography type. For example, in the raw Census 2010 data, all states have a SUMLEV code of "040."

**A Touch of Complexity:** SUMLEVs also designate hierarchical relationships for the geographies. For example, a SUMLEV of "050" indicates a County WITHIN a State. A SUMLEV of "140" indicates a Census Tract within a County within a State.

Below is a chart showing SUMLEVs for common geographies.

| Geographies | SUMLEV | Hierarchy |
|---|---|---|
| | Census 2000 & 2010 | |
| State | 040 | State |
| County | 050 | State-County |
| County Subdivision | 060 | State-County-County Subdivision |
| Tract | 140 | State-County-Tract |
| Block Group | 150 | State-County-Tract-Block Group |
| Place (aka City) | 160 | State-Place |

### Odd Man Out: Census Blocks

Census Blocks have different Summary levels for Census 2000 and Census 2010.

- For Census 2000, the SUMLEV for Census Blocks is **101.** The geographical hierarchy is State-County-County Subdivision-Place/Remainder-Tract-Block Group-Block.
- For the Census 2010, the SUMLEV for Census Blocks are either **750** with a hierarchy of State-County-VotingDistrict/Remainder-County Subdivision-Place/Remainder-Tract-Block Group-Block OR **755** with a hierarchy of State-County-VotingDistrict/Remainder-County Subdivision-Subminor Civil Division-Tract-Block Group-Block.

Below are the original sources for Summary Level data from the Census Bureau. Use these to look up geography types and SUMLEVs that aren't listed above.

- Census 2000, Page 4-1: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf1.pdf
- Census 2010, Page 4-1: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/doc/pl94-171.pdf
- American Community Survey: ftp://ftp2.census.gov/acs2009_5yr/prod/Geography_Summary_Levels_and_Components.pdf

---

## [Of ZIP Codes and ZCTAs](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2012/03/of-zip-codes-and-zctas/)

Author: Anthony Morales | Published: 2012-03-16

Occasionally we get asked for ZIP Code-based Census data. We have to say that we don't have ZIP Code data and neither does the Census. What!? That's right! But don't worry — the Census publishes ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA, pronounced 'ziktah').

To quote the Census:

> "ZCTAs are generalized area representations of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ZIP Code service areas. They represent the most frequently occurring five-digit ZIP Code found in a given area. Simply put, each ZCTA is built by aggregating 2010 Census blocks, whose addresses use a given ZIP Code. Each resulting ZCTA is then assigned the most frequently occurring ZIP Code as its ZCTA code."

In a nutshell: ZCTA 78704 is a representative snapshot of ZIP Code 78704.

### ZCTAs Rock! Here's why:

ZCTAs map to US Census data; ZIP Codes don't.

About ZIP Codes: We don't have ZIP code boundaries, because the U.S. Postal Service doesn't define or publish them. Also, some ZIP Codes are just routes (a series of connected lines, not polygons).

ZIP Codes change constantly to help the USPS deliver mail more efficiently. That's what ZIP Codes are designed for: delivery. If you're planning delivery logistics, use ZIP codes. Some companies offer zip code boundary maps. They estimate (using a variety of methods) polygons based on groups of points, physical landmarks (like bodies of water), and other methods. Most companies have their own private/favorite method of estimating ZIP code boundaries. But because ZIP Codes change so often, boundary maps fall out of sync with US Census demographic data.

### US Census Demographic Data + ZCTAs = AWESOME

ZCTAs are polygons fixed to match the census data. By using ZCTAs you get a consistent and accurate representation of a geographic area.

### More info about ZCTAs from Census.gov

- http://www.census.gov/geo/ZCTA/zcta.html
- http://www.census.gov/geo/ZCTA/zctafaq.html

---

## [Where to Find the Most Current US Zip Code Income Data](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2013/03/where-to-find-the-most-current-us-zip-code-income-data/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2013-03-12

I recently did research for a custom data request about zip code income data for the entire US. I was looking for both historic & current income data. I found 2 different data sources that both provide current & historic US zip code income data: the US Census Bureau and the Statistics of Income program data on the IRS website.

### The Least You Need to Know

The most current zip code income dataset that's available for the entire US is the US Census Bureau's ACS 5 year estimates. An updated ACS dataset is released every year (i.e. by end of a given year, the prior year's income data is released).

---

### Data Source 1: US Census Bureau

| Year | Dataset |
|---|---|
| Current | [ACS 5 year estimates](http://www.census.gov/acs/www/) |
| 2000 | [Decennial Census 2000 SF3 Data](http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf3.pdf) |
| 1990 | [Census FTP site](ftp://ftp.census.gov/census_1990/) |
| 1980 | [Census FTP site](ftp://ftp.census.gov/census_1980/) |

The US Census Bureau provides income data for zip code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) — which are very similar to zip codes. See [the difference between ZCTAs and zip codes](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2012/03/of-zip-codes-and-zctas/).

You can pull income data by ZCTA for all US ZCTAs. For 2000 income data, use the Decennial Census 2000 SF3 dataset. For current income data, use the ACS 5 year estimates dataset.

#### Popular Zip Code Income Data Points from ACS

**General**
- Mean Income in the Past 12 months
- Median Income in the Past 12 months
- Median Family Income in the Past 12 months
- Per Capita Income in the Past 12 months

**Household**
- Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months
- Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity of Householder (White Alone, Black or African American Alone, American Indian and Alaska Native Alone, Asian Alone, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone, Some Other Race Alone, Two or More Races, Hispanic or Latino)

**Type of Income**
- Wage or Salary Income in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Self-Employment Income in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Interest, Dividends, or Net Rental Income in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Social Security Income in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Public Assistance Income or Food Stamps/SNAP in the Past 12 Months for Households
- Retirement Income in the Past 12 Months for Households

**Poverty**
- Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months
- Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months of Families by Family Type by Social Security Income by SSI and Cash Public Assistance Income

**Other**
- Gini Index of Income Inequality
- Median Income in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Work Experience for the Population 15 Years and over With Income
- Receipt of SSI, Cash Public Assistance Income, or Food Stamps/SNAP in the Past 12 Months by Household Type for Children Under 18 Years in Households

#### Popular Zip Code Income Data for 2000

You can get 2000 income data tables similar to the current tables with a couple of exceptions (e.g., no Gini Index of Income Inequality table for 2000). The 2000 income data are in 1999 dollars.

---

### Data Source 2: SOI Tax Stats on the IRS Website

"SOI" stands for Statistics of Income. SOI is a program that publishes income data run by the Statistical Information Services, a US government agency.

The SOI dataset includes data for zip codes in which 250 or more returns were filed — which means you won't be able to get income data about rural zip codes from the dataset. The data are based on individual income tax returns from the IRS' Individual Master File system, which includes a record for every Form 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ.

The SOI dataset includes:
- Number of returns; Number of joint returns
- Number of exemptions; Number of dependents
- Adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Salaries and wages; Taxable interest; Ordinary dividends
- Business or professional net income (less loss)
- Net capital gain (less loss)
- Taxable individual retirement arrangements distributions
- Taxable pensions and annuities; Unemployment compensation
- Taxable Social Security benefits
- Self-employment retirement plans
- Total itemized deductions
- State and local income taxes; State and local general sales tax
- Real estate taxes; Taxes paid; Mortgage interest paid; Contributions
- Taxable income; Total tax credits
- Residential energy tax credit; Child tax credit; Child and dependent care credit
- Earned income credit; Alternative minimum tax
- Income tax; Total tax liability; Tax due at time of filing; Overpayments refunded

---

### Zip Code Income Data Maps

Once you have income data for zip codes, you can build zip code maps using a free GIS like [QGIS](http://www.qgis.org/).

![US Zip Code Income Data](/assets/images/blog/2013/03/USZipCodeIncomeData-1024x470.png)
![Texas Zip Code Income Data](/assets/images/blog/2013/03/TexasZipCodeIncomeData-1024x533.png)
![California Zip Code Income Data](/assets/images/blog/2013/03/CaliforniaZipCodeIncomeData-1024x530.png)
![New York Zip Code Income Data](/assets/images/blog/2013/03/NewYorkZipCodeIncomeData-1024x535.png)

### Comparing Historic Income Data

If you are interested in looking at changes in income over time, you'll probably want to adjust for inflation.

---

## [How to Cite Census Data, including American Community Survey Data](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2011/06/how-to-cite-census-data/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2011-06-14

The citations below are in Modern Language Association (MLA) format. The format of the citation you use will depend on HOW you pull the Census data. For example, if you use the Census Bureau's American FactFinder tool, you'll use one format; if you pull the data from the Census Bureau's FTP site, you'll use a different format.

### How to Cite American Community Survey Data

#### 1. Cite ACS data pulled via the American FactFinder (most popular)

United States Census Bureau / American FactFinder. "B11001 : Household Type (Including Living Alone)." *2007 – 2011 American Community Survey*. U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey Office, 2011. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://factfinder2.census.gov>.

*Note: the date is the date that you pulled the data from the American FactFinder.*

#### 2. Cite ACS data pulled via the Census' electronic files on the ftp site

United States Census Bureau. "Summary File." *2007 – 2011 American Community Survey*. U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey Office, 2013. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://ftp2.census.gov/>.

*Note: the date is the date that you download the data from the ftp site.*

### How to Cite Decennial 2010 Census Data

#### 1. Cite Census 2010 data pulled via the American FactFinder (most popular)

United States Census Bureau / American FactFinder. "P12 : Sex by Age." *2010 Census*. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://factfinder2.census.gov>.

*Note: the date is the date that you pulled the data from the American FactFinder.*

#### 2. Cite Census 2010 data pulled via the Census' electronic files on the ftp site

United States Census Bureau. *2010 Census*. U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://www.census.gov/2010census/data/>.

*Note: the date is the date that you download the data from the ftp site.*

### How to Cite Decennial 2000 Census Data

#### 1. Cite Census 2000 data pulled via the American FactFinder

United States Census Bureau / American FactFinder. "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100% Data." U.S. Census Bureau, 2000. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://factfinder.census.gov>.

*Note: the date is the date that you pulled the data from the American FactFinder.*

#### 2. Cite Census 2000 data pulled via the Census' electronic files on the ftp site

United States Census Bureau. *2000 Census.* U.S. Census Bureau, 2000. Web. 1 January 2013 <http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/>.

*Note: the date is the date that you download the data from the ftp site.*

---

## [2 Ways to Figure Out Census Tracts by City](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2011/05/census-tracts-by-city/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2011-05-24

You have 2 options for figuring out which Census tracts are in your city. Important Note: What you and me and other normal people would call cities or towns, the Census Bureau calls places.

### Option 1. Census Tracts by City for Complex Cities (i.e. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago)

- Go to the Census Bureau's website: http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles2010/main
- Download the 2010 Places File for your State & unzip the file.
- Download the 2010 Census Tract File for the county that your city is in & unzip the file.
- Open the files in your favorite GIS (e.g. the free, light-weight [MapWindow](http://www.mapwindow.org/)).
- Use the GIS to calculate which Census Tracts intersect your city.

Note: You can follow the same instructions to figure out block groups by city as well as Census blocks by city.

### Option 2. Census Tracts by City for Simple Cities (i.e. Worcester, MA, Shoshoni, WY)

Using a mapping tool (like Cubit's web app):

1. Type the name of the city into the Find Box to zoom to your city.
2. Zoom out slightly until you can see the entire city in the interactive map. The city outline will be a slightly different color than the rest of the map.
3. Click on the Polygon tool and draw a polygon slightly inside of the city limits. Select Tract as the Geography Level if you want Census tract data. Click Save.
4. On the next page, you'll get a labeled map that shows the Census tracts in your city as well as demographic data reports.

Note: if you save your project and the tool returns a Census tract that you can see is outside of your city, click on the Edit Project button, then click on the Polygon button, and adjust your line inside of the city.

### The Really Nerdy Background

This blog post came about when I received a request to pull all Census tracts for a city. I pulled up the Census 2010 data in MySQL and tried to find relationships between Census tracts and Places. I selected all Census Tracts in Massachusetts where the Place FIPS was not empty — that returned 0 rows. That means there are no relationships in the Census 2010 data between Census tracts and Place.

I double-checked the Census 2010 Redistricting PDF Summary Level Sequence Chart, and sure enough, there were no SumLevels with relationships from Cities to Census Tracts (or to BlockGroups or to Blocks). So you have to use one of the 2 methods above to figure out which Census tracts are in a city instead of using relationships in the raw Census data.

---

## [52 Sources of Traffic Counts and AADT Data](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2019/07/52-sources-traffic-counts-aadt-data/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2019-07-31 | Updated: 11/2021

The only time of year that I'm actually happy about traffic is when we get updated traffic data for our reports. Below are 52 of my favorite sources of traffic data that you can use to visualize the AADT or annual average daily traffic that drives past your business (yay!) or past your home (boo!).

### State DOT Traffic Count Resources

| State DOT Name & Link | Most Current AADT/ADT Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [Alabama DOT Traffic](https://aldotgis.dot.state.al.us/TDMPublic/) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Alaska DOT Traffic](http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/transdata/traffic_AADT_map.shtml) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Arizona DOT Traffic](http://adot.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Adot&mod=) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Arkansas DOT Traffic](https://ardot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8deb09579210490bafb97bd03c3c0792) | 2020 ADT | Static maps by county available |
| [California DOT Traffic](https://gisdata-caltrans.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/f71f49fb87b3426e9688fe66039170bc/explore) | 2019 AADT | Tabular data also available |
| [Colorado DOT Traffic](https://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/otis/TrafficData) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Connecticut DOT Traffic](http://ctdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ffe10262a59648299b4da1fe326a42f0) | 2019 (some) AADT | |
| [Washington DC DOT Traffic](https://opendata.dc.gov/datasets/2019-traffic-volume/explore) | 2019 AADT | |
| [Delaware DOT Traffic](https://deldot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4f76a1fa5b5c493cb3e1fad44a50dad1) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Florida DOT Traffic](https://tdaappsprod.dot.state.fl.us/fto/) | 2020 AADT | Shapefile download available |
| [Georgia DOT Traffic](http://www.dot.ga.gov/DS/Data) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Hawaii DOT Traffic](https://histategis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=39e4d804242740a89d3fd0bc76d8d7de) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Idaho DOT Traffic](https://itd.idaho.gov//road-data/) | 2019 AADT | |
| [Illinois DOT Traffic](http://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/gai.htm?mt=aadt#) | 2019 (some) ADT | |
| [Indiana DOT Traffic](https://indot.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Indot&mod) | 2020 AADT | Shapefile download available |
| [Iowa DOT Traffic](http://iowadot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=0cce99afb78e4d3b9b24f8263717f910) | 2019 (some) AADT | |
| [Kansas DOT Traffic](http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/mapstrafficdist.asp) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Kentucky DOT Traffic](https://maps.kytc.ky.gov/trafficcounts/) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Louisiana DOT Traffic](https://ladotd.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=ladotd) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Maine DOT Traffic](https://mainedottrafficdata.drakewell.com/publicmultinodemap.asp) | 2019 (some) AADT | |
| [Maryland DOT Traffic](https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=223148a698214294a7b43ed612a4e67d) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Massachusetts DOT Traffic](https://www.mass.gov/traffic-volume-and-classification) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Michigan DOT Traffic](https://lrs.state.mi.us/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1a8bf6b2681d483ca9090ebec5d105ff) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Minnesota DOT Traffic](https://www.dot.state.mn.us/traffic/data/tma.html) | 2020 (some) AADT | Static maps & shapefile available |
| [Mississippi DOT Traffic](http://mdot.ms.gov/applications/trafficcounters/) | 2019 ADT | |
| [Missouri DOT Traffic](http://www.modot.org/safety/trafficvolumemaps.htm) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Montana DOT Traffic](http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/datastats/traffic_maps.shtml) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Nebraska DOT Traffic](https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8ed4b009b0d546f19f0284e5bba0f972) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Nevada DOT Traffic](https://ndot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=278339b4605e4dda8da9bddd2fd9f1e9) | 2020 AADT | |
| [New Hampshire DOT Traffic](https://nhdot.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Nhdot&mod=) | 2020 AADT | |
| [New Jersey DOT Traffic](https://www.nj.gov/transportation/refdata/roadway/trafficreport.shtm) | 2019 (some) AADT | Shapefile download available |
| [New Mexico DOT Traffic](https://nmdot.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Nmdot) | 2021 (some) AADT | |
| [New York DOT Traffic](https://gisportalny.dot.ny.gov/portalny/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=28537cbc8b5941e19cf8e959b16797b4) | 2019 AADT | Shapefile download available |
| [North Carolina DOT Traffic](https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/State-Mapping/Pages/Traffic-Volume-Maps.aspx) | 2019 AADT | Shapefile and static map available |
| [North Dakota DOT Traffic](https://www.dot.nd.gov/business/gis-mapping.htm) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Ohio DOT Traffic](http://odot.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Odot&mod=) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Oklahoma DOT Traffic](http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/Maps/aadt/index.htm) | 2020 AADT | Shapefile download available |
| [Oregon DOT Traffic](http://gis.odot.state.or.us/transgis/) | 2019 AADT | |
| [Pennsylvania DOT Traffic](https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=32c041c6b12d4f54a454152ca37356c6) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Rhode Island DOT Traffic](http://www.dot.ri.gov/about/maproom/index.php) | 2016 AADT | |
| [South Carolina DOT Traffic](http://www.scdot.org/travel/travel-trafficdata.aspx) | 2020 AADT | |
| [South Dakota DOT Traffic](https://dot.sd.gov/transportation/highways/traffic) | 2020 ADT | |
| [Tennessee DOT Traffic](https://tdot.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Tdot&mod=TCDS) | 2021 (some) AADT | |
| [Texas DOT Traffic](http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/transportation-planning/maps.html) | 2020 AADT | |
| [Utah DOT Traffic](http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:0::::V,T:,528) | 2019 AADT | Data in KMZ file |
| [Vermont DOT Traffic](https://vtrans.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Vtrans&mod=) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Virginia DOT Traffic](https://www.virginiadot.org/info/ct-TrafficCounts.asp) | 2020 ADT | |
| [Washington DOT Traffic](http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/data/tools/geoportal/?config=traffic) | 2020 AADT | |
| [West Virginia DOT Traffic](https://gis.transportation.wv.gov/aadt/) | 2017 (some) AADT | |
| [Wisconsin DOT Traffic](https://wisdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2e12a4f051de4ea9bc865ec6393731f8) | 2020 (some) AADT | |
| [Wyoming DOT Traffic](https://apps.wyoroad.info/itsm/map.html) | 2019 AADT | |

The DOT datasets above are free traffic count data sources that are trustworthy and fairly current. It can be a bit of a pain to incorporate DOT traffic data into your business documents, but it's nothing that you can't solve with a good GIS (mapping software) or worst-case scenario, a screen capture tool.

### Need traffic counts for the entire US?

DOT traffic count data are by definition just for 1 state, but some projects require multi-state traffic counts. The Federal Highway Administration provides spatial data for traffic counts for the entire US. The FHWA shapefiles contain 2019 AADT data. The FHWA data is good, but there's a huge learning curve to working with shapefiles.

### What traffic count data does Cubit use in reports & maps?

Unlike most of our demographic data that comes directly from government data sources, we use current traffic estimates from Kalibrate, a private data vendor, because:

1. Kalibrate sources their data from public & private data sources, meaning they have more traffic counts than public data sources alone for certain areas.
2. Kalibrate's data are consistent across states. If you need a radius report in New York City where you want to see traffic counts for both New York and New Jersey, your traffic data will be consistent rather than mixing 2020 New York data with 2019 New Jersey data.

If the Kalibrate traffic data doesn't have enough current traffic counts for a particularly rural area, we double-check with either the federal dataset or the state DOT datasets above. So you get the best of both worlds — current data from a private data source supplemented by government data.

---

## [Votes Count! 56 Favorite Data Sources for Voter Statistics and Demographics](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2019/08/voter-statistics-demographics/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2019-08-31

I'm starting to get requests for voting statistics as custom data pulls for early analyses for redistricting projects. Below is a roundup of my favorite sources of demographic data for voting-related projects. The resources below don't cover individual voter records — this list is for voter data for geographic regions like all voters in a congressional district or in a county. **Valuable insights start jumping out when you combine these datasets, like combining Election Results data with Voter Age Population Demographics from the Census' American Community Survey.**

| Name | Source | Price | Geographies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Voters & Election Results | State, County & City websites | Free | 1 state, 1 county, 1 city |
| Voter Age Population Demographics | Census's American Community Survey | Free | All US Geographies — large & small |
| Registered Voters | Census's Current Population Survey | Free | States & MSAs |
| Election Results | Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections | $ | All US Counties & CDs |
| U.S. Citizen Voting Age Demographics | Social Explorer | $ | Some large & small US geographies |
| Custom Data Pull | Cubit | $ | All US geographies — large & small |

### 1. Registered Voters & Election Results for Single Geographic Areas

- Price: Free
- Geographies: 1 State, 1 county or 1 city

Below is a collection of state agencies with registered voter and election results data.

| Name | Types of Data |
|---|---|
| [Alabama Secretary of State / Elections Data](https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/election-data) | Voter Registration Statistics by Race; Election Results by Race, Age & Gender |
| [Alaska Division of Elections / Statistics](http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/voterregistrationstatistics.php) | Registration by Party & Age; Voter Turnout by Age, Gender & Party; Election Results |
| [Arizona Secretary of State / Voter Registration](https://azsos.gov/elections/voter-registration-historical-election-data) | Voter Registration Statistics by Party; Election Results |
| [Arkansas Secretary of State / Elections / Research](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/research/) | Registered Voters; Election Results |
| [California Secretary of State / Election / Voter Information](https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/) | Voter Registration Statistics by Age Range and Political Bodies |
| [Colorado Secretary of State / Voter Registration](https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/VoterRegNumbers/VoterRegNumbers.html) | Voter Registration by Status, Party, Gender, Age |
| [Connecticut Secretary of the State / Election / Voter Information](https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/V5-Side-Navigation/ELE---Voter-Information) | Elections Results and Turnout Statistics; Voter Registration Statistics |
| [District of Columbia / Board of Elections](https://www.dcboe.org/Data-Resources/Voter-Registration-Statistics) | Voter Registration Statistics Monthly Report |
| [State of Delaware / Department of Elections](https://elections.delaware.gov/services/candidate/regtotals.shtml) | Registered Voter Totals by Month; Election Results |
| [Florida Division of Elections / Data & Statistics](https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/) | Election Data / Results; Voter Registration Statistics; Monthly Reports; Voter Turnout |
| [Georgia Secretary of State / Elections](https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/elections) | Active Voters by Race and Gender; Election Results; Turnout by Demographics |
| [State of Hawaii Office of Elections](https://elections.hawaii.gov/) | Election Results; Registered Voters; Voter Turnout |
| [Idaho Secretary of State's Office / Elections Office](https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/VoterReg/totals.html) | Voter Registration |
| [Illinois State Board of Elections](https://www.elections.il.gov/) | Election Information / Results; Voting Information |
| [Indiana Secretary of State / Election Division](https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/index.htm) | Election Results; Voter Registration and Turnout Statistics |
| [Iowa Secretary of State / Elections / Research and Data](https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/otherinfo.html) | Election Results and Statistics; Voter Registration |
| [Kansas Secretary of State / Elections](https://sos.kansas.gov/elections/) | Election Statistics / Results; Candidate Lists |
| [Commonwealth of Kentucky / State Board of Elections](https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Pages/Registration-Statistics.aspx) | Election Results; Registration Statistics; Primary Voter Turnout by Age, Gender, Party |
| [Louisiana Secretary of State / Elections & Voting](https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/RegistrationStatisticsStatewide.aspx) | Registration Statistics by Race; Graphical Election Results |
| [Maine Department of the Secretary of State](https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/index.html) | Election Results; Registered & Enrolled Voters |
| [Maryland The State Board of Elections](https://www.elections.maryland.gov/index.html) | Voter Registration Statistics by Month; Active Voters; Election Results; Official Turnout by Party |
| [Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts](http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm) | Election Results; Registered Voter Enrollment; Voter Turnout Statistics |
| [Michigan Office of Secretary of State / Elections](https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633---,00.html) | Candidate Listings and Election Results; Registered Voter Count |
| [Minnesota Secretary of State / Data & Maps](https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/data-maps/) | Election Results; Voter Registration; Voter Turnout by Age Group |
| [Mississippi Secretary of State / Online Voter Information Center](https://www.sos.ms.gov/Vote/Pages/default.aspx) | Election Results |
| [Missouri Secretary of State / Elections & Voting](https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections) | Registered Voters; Election Results; Voter Turn Out |
| [Montana Secretary of State / Election & Voter Services](https://sosmt.gov/elections/) | Official Election Results; Voter Registration; Official Turnout Results |
| [Nebraska Secretary of State / Elections](https://sos.nebraska.gov/dyindex.html) | Number of Registered Voters by Party; Election Official Results |
| [Nevada Secretary of State / Elections](https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections) | Voter Registration by Age & Party; Voter Registration; Election Turnout |
| [New Hampshire Secretary of State / Elections Division](https://sos.nh.gov/Elections.aspx) | State Election Results; Party Registration History |
| [New Jersey Division of Elections](https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-information.shtml) | Summary of Registered Voters and Ballot Cast; Election Results |
| [New Mexico Secretary of State / Voting & Elections](https://www.sos.state.nm.us/voting-and-elections/) | Election Results; Voter Registration Statistics / Data |
| [New York State Board of Elections](https://www.elections.ny.gov/index.html) | Election Results; Voter Enrollment by Party Affiliation and Status |
| [North Carolina State Board of Elections](https://www.ncsbe.gov/index.html) | Election Results; Voter Registration Statistics by Party by Race by Sex |
| [North Dakota Secretary of State / Elections](http://sos.nd.gov/elections) | Election Results; Statistics & Turnout from Past Elections |
| [Ohio Secretary of State / Elections and Voting](https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/) | Election Results; Voter Turnout |
| [Oklahoma State Election Board](https://www.ok.gov/elections/index.html) | Voter Registration; Election Results |
| [Oregon Secretary of State / Voting & Elections](https://sos.oregon.gov/voting-elections/Pages/default.aspx) | Voter Registration by Year / Month; Elections Historical Turnout; Statewide Election Results |
| [Pennsylvania Department of State / Voting & Elections](https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/Pages/default.aspx) | Voter Registration Statistics; Election Results |
| [Rhode Island Secretary of State / Voter Information](https://vote.sos.ri.gov/) | Registered Voters; History of Voter Turnout; Voter Turnout by Generation; Election Results |
| [South Carolina Election Commission / Results & Statistics](https://www.scvotes.org/results-statistics) | Voter Registration; Election Results |
| [South Dakota Secretary of State / Elections & Voting](https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/default.aspx) | Election Results; Voter Registration Totals by Party |
| [Tennessee Secretary of State / Elections](https://sos.tn.gov/elections) | Voter Registration; Voter Turnout; Election Results |
| [Texas Secretary of State / Elections](https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml) | Turnout and Voter Registration; Election Results |
| [Utah Lieutenant Governor / Elections](https://elections.utah.gov/) | Voters by Party and Status; Election Results |
| [Vermont Secretary of State / Elections](https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections.aspx) | Voter Registration Totals; Election Results; Voter Registration, Turnout, and Absentee Voter Statistics |
| [Virginia Department of Elections / Results / Reports](https://www.elections.virginia.gov/resultsreports/index.html) | Registrant Counts; Election Results; Registration/Turnout Statistics |
| [Washington Secretary of State / Elections / Research](https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/) | Election Results; Registered Voters by Age; Registered Votes by Gender |
| [West Virginia Secretary of State / Elections Division](https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/default.aspx) | Election Results / Turnout; Voter Turnout Data; Voter Registration Totals |
| [Wisconsin Election Commission / Elections](https://elections.wi.gov/elections-voting) | Election Results; Voter Registration Statistics; Voter Turnout Statistics |
| [Wyoming Secretary of State / Elections](http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Default.aspx) | Voter Registration Statistics; Voter Turnout Statistics; Election Results |

If you need voting stats for small geographic areas like counties or cities, many counties make voter statistics available on their website.

### 2. Voter Age Population Demographics: Census' American Community Survey

- Price: Free
- Geographies: All US Geographies from large like states & counties to small like zips, Census tracts, & block groups

While you can't get registered voter counts from the Census' American Community Survey, this dataset has the most current demographics for the voting age population. You can get American Community Survey demographics for large geographies like congressional districts, as well as for small geographies like zip codes and Census tracts (~4,000 people). These small geographies are particularly helpful if you want to visualize the makeup of a larger geography.

Popular demographics available:

**Age, Sex, Race/Ethnicity**
- Voting age population by age and sex
- Voting age population by age, sex and race/ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino and other races & ethnicities)

**Income**
Voting age population by income by age of householder:
- Householder under 25 years
- Householder 25 to 44 years
- Householder 45 to 64 years
- Householder 65 years and over

When you overlay Census tract demographics on top of voting precinct boundaries in a map, you can identify areas with low voter registration.

### 3. Registered Voters: Census' Current Population Survey

- Price: Free
- Geographies: states and metropolitan statistical areas

You can get registered voter data from the US Census using their Current Population Survey dataset. This is the most technically challenging dataset to work with in this list. Steps to access:

1. For the raw microdata, go to: https://thedataweb.rm.census.gov/ftp/cps_ftp.html?# — click on CPS Supplement.
2. To read in the ascii file, you'll have to write your own program using the Record Layout in the Technical Documentation. An alternative: use the NBER site at https://data.nber.org/data/cps_progs.html
3. Key variables: GESTFIPS, GTCBSA, PRTAGE, PRPERTYP, PRCITSHP, PES1, PES2.
4. Main universe for the supplement: PRTAGE = 18+ and PRCITSHP = 1,2,3,4.
5. Condition for being registered to vote: PES1 = 1 OR PES2 = 1.

### 4. Election Results: US Election Atlas

- Price: Depends on the dataset (often $200+)
- Geographies: All Counties & Congressional Districts in the US

[Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections](https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/) provides election results for the entire US. The 2016 President by County dataset is popular. There's also voter registration and turnout data by county for the entire US.

### 5. U.S. Citizen Voting Age Demographics: Social Explorer

- Price: Free trial, then $100/month for individuals
- Geographies: states, counties, cities, census tracts, block groups, congressional districts, state legislative districts

[Social Explorer](https://www.socialexplorer.com/) has a Citizen Voting Age Population Special Tabulation based on the most current ACS. Data available includes: Race, Citizens by Race, Citizenship status, Total Seats in the state, District Size Deviation, and Citizen of Voting Age.

### 6. Custom Data Pull: Cubit

- Price: Starts at $599
- Geographies: All US Geographies from large (states & counties) to small (zips, Census tracts, & block groups)

Custom data pulls with clean, accurate, and easy-to-work-with data. [Contact Cubit](https://www.cubitplanning.com/data/contact) with your geography and data needs for a free quote.

---

## [10 of the Best US Crime Data Resources](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2020/10/crime-data/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2020-10-02

Each source of crime data has a major drawback or "is unhappy in its own way." While crime data is a bit outside of my area of expertise (which is demographics & business data), I do occasionally pull crime statistics for clients. Below is an overview of who uses crime data and why, plus 10 resources along with each source's limitations.

**Most Popular Uses of Crime Data**

- **Businesses building models.** Crime data is one of many different types of data used in models — for example, associating medical trends with risk data to identify problem areas and determine what resources are needed.
- **Non-Profits.** Crime statistics for community needs assessments or grant writing.
- **Real Estate Developers.** Crime data is important to developers who need to show they are building in a low crime neighborhood to get affordable housing developments approved by government agencies.

| Data | Source | Price | Small Geographies Available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Counts | FBI UCR/NIBRS | Free | Law Enforcement Agencies |
| Crime Counts | NCVS | Free | No. Entire US only |
| Crime Counts | OJJDP | Free | No. States & US only |
| Crime Risk | Applied Geographic Solutions | $$$ | Block groups, Census tracts, Zip Codes & more |
| Crime Risk | Neighborhood Scout | $ Subscription | Neighborhoods |
| Crime Maps | CityProtect | Free | Map of Incidents |
| Crime Maps | SpotCrime | Free | Map of Incidents |
| Crime Maps | LexisNexis Community Crime Map | Free | Map of Incidents |
| Custom Data Pull | Cubit | $ | Best geography for your project |

### CRIME COUNTS

#### FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program / National Incident-Based Reporting System

Link: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr — Price: Free

If you need crime counts by type of crime for cities or counties and you aren't worried about geographic differences, then the FBI crime datasets are the right fit. Data are provided by law enforcement agencies rather than standard geographies like a zip code. Most often pulled for County Agencies and City Agencies.

Two drawbacks:

1. Crimes are reported by agency rather than rolled up to a geography. To quote Neighborhood Scout: "crimes are reported by individual law enforcement agencies, rather than by city or town, and many cities — even small ones — have more than one agency responsible for law enforcement (municipal, university, county, transit, etc.)... It is an agency-centric rather than locality-centric reporting method."
2. There are no FIPS or unique geography IDs that make it easy to join this dataset to other datasets like Census data. You have to do name joins which are error-prone and painful.

The FBI uses a tool called the [Crime Data Explorer](https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/) which includes violent crime statistics (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and property crime (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson). State crime rates can be compared to national crime rates.

#### National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Link: https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245 — Price: Free

The NCVS is an annual data collection conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The purpose of the NCVS is to fill in the gaps between crimes reported to law enforcement and those that are not. The collection reports national statistics only and doesn't provide data for smaller geographies. Data includes nonfatal personal crimes (rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault and personal larceny) and household property crimes (burglary/trespassing, motor-vehicle theft, and other theft).

#### Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

Link: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/research-and-statistics — Price: Free

Juvenile offenses, as well as crimes where juveniles are victims, are included in the OJJDP's crime report for each US state. The Statistical Briefing Book provides access to online information about juvenile crime and victimization and about youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

### CRIME RISK

#### Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS)

Link: https://www.appliedgeographic.com/crimerisk/ — Price: Base Price ~$3,750 for all US zips; ~$1,250 for all US counties

If you are doing model building and need crime data for small geographies like zip codes, the AGS dataset with crime indexes can be a helpful resource. Using advanced analysis of a rolling seven-year database of FBI and local agency statistics, AGS provides relative crime risk, not just crime occurrence. **Crime risk is an index of the probability of crime in a geographical region compared to the entire US.** Zip code is the most popular geography, but county and city data as well as smaller geographies are available. FIPS codes are also provided, which makes it easy to connect geographies between datasets.

#### Neighborhood Scout

Link: https://www.neighborhoodscout.com — Price: $39.99 - $119.99/month

Neighborhood Scout is geared toward real estate investors who want to identify opportunities with low crime risk. Unlike other free websites that collect data from local law enforcement agencies (not by locality), Neighborhood Scout fills in the holes by using like-neighborhood crime data, leading to seamless 100% US coverage.

By entering an address, an investor can get a full report on the crime risk of a neighborhood, including crime risk ratings for several crime types, a resident's risk of becoming a victim, and 5-year trends and forecasts.

### CRIME MAPS

Links:
- [CityProtect](https://cityprotect.com/)
- [SpotCrime](https://spotcrime.com/)
- [LexisNexis Community Crime Map](https://communitycrimemap.com/)

Price: Free

CityProtect, SpotCrime, and LexisNexis Community Crime Map all provide interactive maps of crime data from law enforcement agencies. You can search for an address and get a map of where or what neighborhoods have the most crimes and what types were committed in the past. Like the FBI UCR, the data available is dependent on reports provided by law enforcement agencies. Some areas may not have any crime information available due to lack of participation by the local agency.

SpotCrime also has a Trend tab with a summary of crime trends. LexisNexis Community Crime Map lets you filter by date and type of incident and has an option to buffer addresses.

---

## [Census Datasets by Geography](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2020/06/census-datasets-by-geography/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2020-06-25

The Census Bureau produced a useful graphic of Census datasets by geography. If you wanted to know what Census datasets are available for zip codes, you can quickly see that the [American Community Survey](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs), [County Business Patterns](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html), and [Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LEHD)](https://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/) are the only 3 datasets that you need to dig into further.

The graphic is based on Andrew W. Hait's "Census Business Data at a Glance" presentation (source: [bber.unm.edu](https://bber.unm.edu/media/files/Andy-Hait-NMSDCAffiliatesMtg-CensusBusinessData.pdf), 2018).

Cubit's [list of favorite datasets](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSLQ98Pi4C-SQbhu4ZMOUa3jOxTOG1K5oIK_0I3REjj4fA9O9QsmNKXn8CTNb5D0M1G7Zrxder7xAzd/pubhtml?gid=112788961&single=true) also helps you find datasets by geography and includes datasets other than just Census data.

**Key Census Datasets by Geography**

| Dataset | Available Geographies |
|---|---|
| American Community Survey (ACS) | Nation, State, County, County Subdivision, Place (City), ZCTA (Zip Code), Census Tract, Block Group |
| Decennial Census | Nation, State, County, County Subdivision, Place, Census Tract, Block Group, Block |
| County Business Patterns | Nation, State, County, Metropolitan Area, ZCTA |
| LEHD (Jobs/Employment) | Nation, State, County, Metropolitan Area, ZCTA |
| Current Population Survey | Nation, State, Metropolitan Area |
| Population Estimates | Nation, State, County, Metropolitan Area, Place |
| Economic Census | Nation, State, County, Metropolitan Area, ZCTA |

---

## [Population Projections by County and by City for the US](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2020/05/population-projections-by-county-and-by-city/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2020-05-29 | Updated: May 2025

While the US Census Bureau doesn't publish population projection data, each state individually produces projections that state agencies use to make policy decisions and that businesses can use to make business decisions. Below are 50 of our favorite population projection datasets for counties for each state in the US.

| State | Projection Years | Agency | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2025-2050 | [University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research](https://cber.culverhouse.ua.edu) | 2024 |
| Alaska | 2025-2050 | [Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development](https://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/pop/projections.cfm) | 2024 |
| Arizona | 2022-2060 | [Arizona Commerce Authority](https://www.azcommerce.com/oeo/population/population-projections/) | 2022 |
| Arkansas | 2014-2065 | [UALR Arkansas Economic Development Institute](https://arstatedatacenter.youraedi.com/) | 2015 |
| California | 2024-2070 | [California Department of Finance](http://www.dof.ca.gov/Forecasting/Demographics/projections/) | 2024 |
| Colorado | 2025-2050 | [Colorado Department of Local Affairs](https://demography.dola.colorado.gov/assets/html/county.html) | 2024 |
| Connecticut | 2020-2040 | [Connecticut State Data Center](https://ctsdc.uconn.edu/2015_2040_projections/) | 2017 |
| Delaware | 2025-2050 | [Delaware Population Consortium](https://stateplanning.delaware.gov/demography/dpc-projection-data.shtml) | 2024 |
| District of Columbia | 2025-2050 | [Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments](https://www.mwcog.org/documents/2018/10/17/cooperative-forecasts-employment-population-and-household-forecasts-by-transportation-analysis-zone-cooperative-forecast-demographics-housing-population/) | 2023 |
| Florida | 2025-2050 | [Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research](http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/population-demographics/data/index.cfm) | 2024 |
| Georgia | 2024-2060 | [Georgia Governor's Office of Planning and Budget](https://opb.georgia.gov/census-data/population-projections) | 2024 |
| Hawaii | 2030-2050 | [Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism](https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/databook/) | 2024 |
| Idaho | 2020-2029 | [Idaho Department of Labor](https://lmi.idaho.gov/population-projections) | 2020 |
| Illinois | 2025-2035 | [Illinois Department of Public Health](https://dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics.html) | 2024 |
| Indiana | 2025-2060 | [Indiana Business Research Center](http://www.stats.indiana.edu/pop_proj/) | 2024 |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | 2022-2072 | [Wichita State University, Center for Economic Development and Business Research](http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/) | 2024 |
| Kentucky | 2025-2050 | [Kentucky State Data Center](http://ksdc.louisville.edu/data-downloads/projections/) | 2022 |
| Louisiana | 2010-2030 | [Louisiana Division of Administration](https://www.louisiana.gov/demographics-and-geography/) | 2008 |
| Maine | 2025-2040 | [Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services](https://www.maine.gov/dafs/economist/demographic-projections) | 2023 |
| Maryland | 2025-2055 | [Maryland Department of Planning](https://planning.maryland.gov/MSDC/Pages/s3_projection.aspx) | 2025 |
| Massachusetts | 2025-2050 | [University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute](http://pep.donahue-institute.org) | 2024 |
| Michigan | 2020-2045 | [Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget](https://milmi.org/DataSearch/POPPROJ) | 2019 |
| Minnesota | 2024-2055 | [Minnesota State Demographic Center](https://mn.gov/admin/demography/data-by-topic/population-data/our-projections/) | 2024 |
| Mississippi | 2020-2050 | [The State Data Center of Mississippi](https://sdc.olemiss.edu/population-projections/) | 2019 |
| Missouri | 2010-2030 | [Missouri Office of Administration](https://oa.mo.gov/budget-planning/demographic-information/population-projections/) | 2008 |
| Montana | 2020-2060 | [Montana Department of Commerce](https://ceic.mt.gov/People-and-Housing/Population) | 2021 |
| Nebraska | 2030-2050 | [Nebraska Center for Public Affairs Research](https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/center-for-public-affairs-research/documents/population-projections-for-nebraska-counties-2020-2050.pdf) | 2022 |
| Nevada | 2024-2043 | [Nevada Department of Taxation](https://tax.nv.gov/Publications/Population_Statistics_and_Reports/) | 2024 |
| New Hampshire | 2025-2050 | [New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives](https://www.nh.gov/osi/data-center/population-projections.htm) | 2022 |
| New Jersey | 2019-2034 | [New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development](https://www.nj.gov/labor/lpa/dmograph/lfproj/lfproj_index.html) | 2016 |
| New Mexico | 2025-2050 | [University of New Mexico, GeoSpatial and Population Studies](https://gps.unm.edu/pru/projections) | 2024 |
| New York | 2018-2040 | [Cornell University](https://www.labor.ny.gov/stats/nys/statewide-population-data.shtm) | 2018 |
| North Carolina | 2025-2060 | [North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management](https://www.osbm.nc.gov/demog/county-projections) | 2025 |
| North Dakota | 2020-2050 | [North Dakota Department of Commerce, Census Office](https://www.commerce.nd.gov/) | 2024 |
| Ohio | 2025-2050 | [Ohio Development Services Agency](https://development.ohio.gov/reports/reports_pop_proj_map.htm) | 2022 |
| Oklahoma | 2020-2070 | [Oklahoma Department of Commerce](https://www.okcommerce.gov/doing-business/data-reports/census-2020-demographics/) | 2023 |
| Oregon | 2025-2070 | [PSU Population Research Center](https://www.pdx.edu/population-research/population-forecasts) | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania | 2025-2050 | [Pennsylvania State Data Center](https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/) | 2023 |
| Rhode Island | 2020-2040 | [Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program](http://planri.com/documents.asp) | 2018 |
| South Carolina | 2023-2042 | [South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office](https://rfa.sc.gov/data-research/population-demographics/census-state-data-center) | 2025 |
| South Dakota | 2010-2035 | [South Dakota State University](https://www.sdstate.edu/sociology-rural-studies/census-data-center) | 2012 |
| Tennessee | 2022-2070 | [University of Tennessee Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research](https://tnsdc.utk.edu/estimates-and-projections/boyd-center-population-projections/) | 2024 |
| Texas | 2022-2060 | [Texas Demographic Center](https://www.demographics.texas.gov/Data/TPEPP/Projections/) | 2022 |
| Utah | 2020-2060 | [Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute](https://gardner.utah.edu/demographics/population-projections/) | 2022 |
| Vermont | 2020-2030 | [Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development](https://dail.vermont.gov/sites/dail/files/documents/vt-population-projections-2010-2030.pdf) | 2013 |
| Virginia | 2030-2050 | [Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia](https://demographics.coopercenter.org/virginia-population-projections) | 2022 |
| Washington | 2025-2050 | [Washington Office of Financial Management](https://www.ofm.wa.gov/washington-data-research/population-demographics/population-forecasts-and-projections/growth-management-act-county-projections) | 2022 |
| West Virginia | 2025-2050 | [West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research](https://business.wvu.edu/research-outreach/bureau-of-business-and-economic-research) | 2022 |
| Wisconsin | 2030-2050 | [Wisconsin Demographic Services Center](https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/LocalGovtsGrants/Population_Projections.aspx) | 2024 |
| Wyoming | 2024-2050 | [Wyoming Department of Administration & Information](http://eadiv.state.wy.us/pop/) | 2025 |

If you need projections for counties in different states, you'll need to purchase projections that use the same methodology so that they'll be apples-to-apples comparable. Cubit has teamed up with Cooke Demographics to provide county population projections that include age and sex data. Other companies that provide county population projection data include AGS (Applied Geographic Solutions), Woods & Poole Economics, Nielsen and ESRI.

### Population Projections by Cities

The first stop in your hunt for population forecasts for cities is to check the agency website in the table above. Some state agencies, like Arizona, provide population projections for cities along with counties. They might use an unexpected name for cities like sub-counties or places, so do some digging through data files.

**If you need population projections for just 1 city:**

1. Search for the city's comprehensive plan in Google (e.g. "City of Austin comprehensive plan"). Sometimes you have to navigate to the city's website and then search on their site. It's usually linked from the planning department's webpage.
2. When you find the plan, search in the text for "projection" or "population". If the text isn't searchable, look in the table of contents — usually there's a section titled "environment" or "population," sometimes in an Appendix.
3. Consider how old the plan is. If older than 2010, consider looking on the MPO's website first.

**If you need population projections for multiple cities in a region:**

The metropolitan planning organization (MPO) often publishes population projections for multiple cities in a region to estimate traffic demand. To find population forecasts in MPO planning documents:

1. Search Google for what county the city is in (e.g. "What county is Austin, Texas in?").
2. Search for what MPO the county is in. You may need to find a "map of MPOs for the state of _____".
3. Go to the MPO's website and find the long range transportation plan (usually called something like "MPO Year Plan" e.g. CAMPO 2040 Plan).
4. Open the plan and search for "projection" or "population".
5. Sometimes projections are for cities; other times they are for Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs).

---

## [Why Median Income vs. Average Income Matters for Better Decisions](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2025/04/median-income-vs-average-income/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2025-04-04

One of the most common questions I get is: "Should I use median income or average income data?" **Nine times out of ten, my answer is median income**, because it gives a more accurate reflection of typical wealth in an area.

### Where to Find the Data

You can access the most current (2023) US Census median and average income data for:

- **Zip codes** on our free site: [incomebyzipcode.com](https://www.incomebyzipcode.com/)
- **Richest 20 cities and counties** in each state on [state-demographics.com](https://cubitplanning.createsend1.com/t/y-i-chjhro-l-t/)

### First, let's quickly break down the difference

- An **average (aka mean)** is the sum of a set of numbers divided by the count in the set.
- A **median** is the middle number when the set is sorted from smallest to largest.

### A Simple Example

Let's say you have this set of household incomes:

- Household 1: $30,000
- Household 2: $50,000
- Household 3: $1,000,000

**The average income here is $360,000**, heavily skewed by the $1,000,000 outlier income. **However the median income stays steady at $50,000**, unaffected by high or low outlier incomes.

### Why Business Owners Should Use Median Income

**Median income offers a more realistic view** of "typical" income in an area, especially in markets with income disparity. That's why it's my go-to recommendation for most business plans and market analyses.

### When Average Income is Useful

If your audience is higher-income households (think luxury goods or high-end services), **high average incomes can help show a high concentration of wealth** in an area.

### Fun Fact: Why Does Median Income Cap at $250,000?

> The Census Bureau uses $250,000+ as a placeholder to protect privacy.

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a "jam value" (a placeholder for very high incomes) to protect privacy and simplify reporting. That means if a household makes more than $250,000, the Census Bureau just reports it at $250,000. So if you are looking for detailed data on ultra-high-income households, you'll need to use a different dataset.

---

## [How to Find Current Wage Data by Job Title for the US, States and Metro Areas](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2023/11/how-to-find-current-wage-data-by-job-title-for-the-us-states-and-metro-areas/)

Author: Diana Cortes | Published: 2023-11-16

Occasionally, we get a custom data request for wage data by job title and city to help HR professionals figure out appropriate salaries for their teams. Below are 2 different current government datasets with wage data by job title.

### Census Bureau Data: A Peek into the National Job Landscape

The Census Bureau offers insights into detailed occupation data through their American Community Survey with tables for Detailed Occupation (B24114) and the corresponding Median Earnings (B24121). Unfortunately, the most detailed occupation tables are only available at the national level, but are still a handy first step.

- **Detailed Occupation** table B24114 provides information about the population in various job categories: https://data.census.gov/table?q=B24114&g=010XX00US&y=2021

- **Detailed Occupation By Median Earnings** table B24121 is about the median earnings in the past 12 months for the detailed occupation table above: https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2021.B24121?q=occupation

Example — Project Management Specialists: For the 5-year estimate in 2021, the number of Project Management Specialists was 737,973, with median earnings of $93,970.

### BLS Data: Zooming In on Salaries

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) takes it a step further by offering detailed data on salaries, not just at the national level but also by state and even metropolitan areas. The metropolitan area data are as close as you can get to city wage data using government datasets.

- **National** wage data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
- **State** wage data (e.g., Texas): https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
- **Metropolitan areas** wage data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm

### Career Level Wages

Along with salary data from the BLS, you'll also have the option to download additional hourly and annual 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages. These can help you better understand entry-level wages vs senior-level wages for the same jobs. Awareness of the wage ranges at different career levels is crucial to remain competitive in the job market.

Example: The wage for a junior-level project manager in Austin-Round Rock is about $67K annually, compared to the senior-level at around $151K.

---

## [3 Best Sources for Free Parcel Data](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2011/06/3-best-sources-free-parcel-dat/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2011-06-10

I recently got a question from a Cubit user about where to get parcel data. Here's a brain dump of free or cheap parcel data tools/sources.

### The Question: Where Do I Find Parcel Data?

"I'm working on my final project for my masters program & am excited to use Cubit for all the demographic data I'll need. In the meantime, I need to gather real estate data on recent sales of residential & commercial property in Los Angeles county. The data also needs to include characteristics such as parcel size, structure size, & use. I've heard of the MetroScan database, but don't know how to access it without paying thousands of dollars to CoreLogic. Do you have any ideas on other ways of accessing data like this?"

### Sources for Free Parcel Data

- [LoopNet](http://www.loopnet.com/): the standard for commercial property data
- [Zillow's Recent Home Sales](http://www.zillow.com/homes/recently_sold/): for residential sales data
- For "parcel size, structure size, and use" — start by contacting 3 government agencies:
  1. the Appraisal District or Tax Assessor
  2. the Metropolitan Planning Organization or Council of Government
  3. the City GIS office

  Use address info provided by Zillow and LoopNet to pull the parcel data from the government agency database.

- In Texas, the [Texas A&M Real Estate Center](http://recenter.tamu.edu/) is an excellent resource. Many states have similar resources.

You can also buy parcel data from county assessor websites — for example, Travis County, Texas parcel data was available for $85.

---

## [How to Get US School District Population Data](https://blog.cubitplanning.com/2013/01/how-to-get-us-school-district-population-data/)

Author: Kristen Carney | Published: 2013-01-10

Here are 2 tools & 1 technique for pulling demographic data for school districts.

### Background

While the US Census Bureau does help collect school district population data, school district data is difficult to find on the Census Bureau's website. The Census Bureau has a project called the Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates project which "produces a variety of geodemographic data for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)."

### Tool 1: NCES' School District Demographic Systems (SDDS)

- Good for: basic demographics & heat maps
- Bad for: detailed demographics & pulling the most current demographic data available

Link: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/ed/index.asp

**What you can get from SDDS:**
- Total Students
- Total Population
- Total Occupied Housing Units; Owner Occupied Housing Units; Renter Occupied Housing Units
- Average Household Size; Average Family Size
- Percentage — Householder/Male; Percentage — Householder/Female
- White Alone; Black or African American alone; Asian Alone; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian and Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Other/Multi-Race
- Total Population Under 18
- Sex by Age Breakdown
- Total Teachers; Total Librarians / Media Specialists
- Total Revenue

The SDDS also displays individual schools & school boundaries, and lets you export spatial data for school districts (Census, ACS or SAIPE datasets).

**Limitation:** Very limited data points. Data points NOT available from SDDS include: median household income, median home value, household type & family type, poverty data, unemployment rates, industry & occupation data, transportation statistics, educational attainment, languages spoken at home.

### Tool 2: NCES' Demographic Profile Webmap

- Good for: more detailed demographic data & heat maps
- Bad for: getting the most current demographic data available

The Demographic Profile Webmap works like the SDDS tool but provides even more demographic data. However, it may lag behind the most current ACS 5-year dataset release.

### Technique 3: GIS Analysis

For the most current data for data points not included in SDDS (e.g., number of people who speak Spanish in a school district):

1. Download the school spatial boundaries — from the SDDS or the Census Bureau's website. For individual school boundaries, try the SDDS, or contact the school district or state education agency for the most current boundary data.
2. Download the Census boundaries for your area of interest. Census block groups are the smallest level of Census geography with almost all data points. For language data, Census tracts may provide more detailed data.
3. Use the school spatial boundaries as "cookie cutters" (calculate intersections) to cut out the Census boundaries contained within the school boundaries.
4. Pull the Census data for the Census geographies that intersect the school district from the Census Bureau's website.
5. Sum the counts (e.g., Spanish speakers) for each Census geography to produce your estimate for the school district. For "median" values, use a weighted average calculation.

---