How & Why County Population is Changing

… did you know? Of the total 3,144 counties in the United States, 48 have more than 1 million residents as of 2023. Learn which counties, where they are and how/why they are changing. Use tools and methods described in this section to learn about how and why your counties of interest are changing. This is one of a series on the topic of county population dynamics. Click the Follow button to receive update notices.

Largest, Fast Growing Counties
The following graphic shows the largest 10 counties, experiencing 3% or more growth from 2020 to 2023, based on the latest official population estimates. Counties are ranked based on the population percent change 2020 to 2023. Collin County, TX, in the Dallas metro, leads the group with an 11.3% gain. You can create similar but different views/analytics using the OVDAW online tool described below. Click graphic for larger view.

Why these Data are Important
These data are official Federal county statistics. They are used by the Federal, state and local governments in a wide range of application areas. These data are used by Federal agencies to analyze, administer programs, develop other data. The Bureau of Economic Analysis will use these data to produce Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2023 (November) and Real Personal Consumption Expenditures by State and Real Personal Income by State and Metropolitan Area, 2023 (December), among others. They are used within the Census Bureau as controls for statistical survey estimates. They are the population county components used to develop corresponding CBSA/metro data. They are used as measure of how, why and by how much county population is changing. They provide insights into, for example, where a business might open a new business based in part on changing population. The components of population change tell us yet other things .. reviewed in upcoming blogs.

Start Using Open VDA Web GIS (OVDAW)
Nothing to install, no registration, no fee.
Start creating maps and analyzing data.
  • Click here to Start Open VDA Web GIS
  • Click here to Learn More About Using OVDAW

More About Population & Components of Change
These “population and components of change” annual data 2020 through 2023 are an annually updated time series enabling stakeholders to examine trends and perform wide-ranging analyses. The 2020-2023 data are model-based estimates developed by the Census Bureau. ProximityOne uses these and related data to develop projections annually through 2060.
Components of change include births, deaths and migration. Estimates and projections are developed using the population identity:
P[t] = P[t-1] + B[t,t-1] + D[t,t-1] + M[t,t-1]
Population for the year t are determined by adding the population last year to births (B), subtracting deaths (D) and adding net migration (M) during the year. The components are determined using separate equations in the model.

About VDA GIS
Use VDA GIS tools to meet wide-ranging mapping needs and geospatial analysis. VDA Desktop GIS and VDA Web GIS have similar features that can be used separately or together. Each is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. VDA Web GIS is access/used with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Desktop GIS is installed on a Windows computer and provides a broader range of capabilities compared to VDA Web GIS. VDA GIS resources have been developed and are maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Finding & Viewing a Census Tract

.. this section reviews how you can locate a census tract, neighborhood area, for an address or location. Do this with Open VDA Web GIS (OVDAW) with only a browser and Internet connection. No registration, no login, nothing to install. Start OVDAW .. an interactive map appears in a new window. There is no warranty for any aspect of this or related sections. The user is solely responsible for any use made of this or related sections, tools, data.

After the map view shows, enter a ZIP code, location or address in the Search bar and press enter.
.. to illustrate, enter 85258 (a ZIP code in Scottsdale, AZ) and press enter.
A zoom-in then shows a blue triangle marker at the location.
.. in the legend panel at left, click checkbox on for each of these layers:
– ZIP Codes Label (displays ZIP Code area labels/codes in map)
– ZIP Codes (displays ZIP Code area red boundaries in map)
– Tracts Label (displays Tract code and black tract boundaries in map)
.. navigate to preferred view (e.g., pan or zoom in/out)
.. use a screen capture tool to capture view meeting application objective

Pointer in graphic shows ZIP code 85258 with several tracts intersecting the 85258 ZIP code red boundary.

Or .. skip the settings and simply click the marker.
.. the tract area shows as cross-hatched.
.. the tract code and demographic profile shows in lower left panel.
.. optionally click the HTML button below profile panel to view profile as HMTL table.

ZIP Code- Census Tract Equivalence Table
Use this interactive table to view what census tracts intersect with a ZIP code or what ZIP codes intersect with a census tract. Use buttons below the table.

Updates on using VDAGIS with ZIP code and census tract data will be included in forthcoming Blogs. Don’t miss out! Click Follow in button at upper right.

About VDA GIS
Use VDA GIS tools to meet wide-ranging mapping needs and geospatial analysis. VDA Desktop GIS and VDA Web GIS have similar features that can be used separately or together. Each is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. VDA Web GIS is access/used with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Desktop GIS is installed on a Windows computer and provides a broader range of capabilities compared to VDA Web GIS. VDA GIS resources have been developed and are maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

School District Geography & GeoSpatial Analysis

.. the approximate 100,000 K-12 public schools, 13,000 school districts and 50 million school age children in the United States touch nearly every dimension of society and the economy. This section reviews the scope of school district geography as cachement areas for the K-12 public schools and school age population .. and tools to examine them in an integrated and holistic manner. How does school district instructional expenditure relate to the demographic-economic make-up of the district? Educational outcomes? How are leaders and educators equipped to make effective use of these tools and data?

School districts are geographic areas covering the U.S. to provide public K-12 education. I developed the first national scope school district boundary file in the mid-1990s, a joint project of the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics and the Census Bureau. School district boundaries are now updated annually as a part of the Census Bureau TIGER digital map database under the sponsorship of the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). School district names, codes, enrollment by grade and many other attributes are updated annually as a part of the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). The 2021-22 (latest data as of this time) school district CCD administrative data provides data for approximately 13,025 “regular” school districts. The CCD data are one type of data that can be merged (based on a common key of the NCES assigned local education ID) with TIGER-based school district shapefiles that can enable mapping and geospatial analysis. Using these shapefiles with Geographic Information System (GIS) software users can examine maps of districts by name, view boundaries or patterns such the per pupil instructional expenditure.

Types of School Districts
School districts, whose boundaries and operations are defined and managed by individual states, often exist as three types of school districts in differing combinations: elementary, secondary and unified. Some states have only unified school districts that are also the same as the counties (such as Florida, Kansas, Maryland and Nevada). California has perhaps the most complex array of mixed elementary, secondary and unified districts.

Huntington Beach, CA School Districts
The following view shows how 4 elementary districts (orange boundaries) each offering grades K-8 education collectively cover the same ground area as 1 secondary district, Huntington Beach Unified High School District (green bold boundary) offering grades 9-12 education.

K-12 School & School District GIS Project
The VDA GIS ready to use K-12 School & School District GIS project with CV XE GIS, VDA Desktop GIS or the VDA Web GIS to examine and geospatially analyze school districts and school district attributes in context of other geography and subject matter. For example, the following view shows patterns of neighborhood economic prosperity (median household income by census tract) for the Huntington Beach, CA school districts. Click graphic for larger view.

Viewing Your School District
To view your school district, follow these steps:
Start VDA Web GIS
Select the “K-12 Schools & School Districts” project.
When the map view opens
.. uncheck School District Elementary and School District Secondary
    in Legend Panel at left
Enter address in Search box above map (Apple Headquarters in this example)
Press enter and this view appears .. click blue triangle to view profile.
.. see that this district is Santa Clara Unified ..

About VDA GIS
There are two VDA GIS tools that have similar features that can be used separately or together. Each is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. VDA Web GIS is access/used with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Desktop GIS is installed on a Windows computer and provides a broader range of capabilities compared to VDA Web GIS. VDA GIS resources have been developed and are maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Accessing & Using Census 2020 Data 06.04.23 Update

.. effective late May 2023, stakeholders (all of us) now have access to the Census 2020 decennial population and housing data. More than three years after the reference date for Census 2020, detailed demographic data are now available to better understand demographic characteristics for a very wide range of geography to the census block level. Visit our Census 2020 data access and use section, updated continuously, to facilitate more effective use of these data.

While the Census Bureau released the Census 2020 “P.L. 94-171” redistricting data two years ago, the new “Demographic and Housing Characteristics” (DHC) data contain much more extensive data. For example, the P.L. 94-171 data contains no gender data. The P.L. 94-171 data has only one age break — 18 years and over. The DHC data, the focus of this section, includes data by single year of age 0, 1 .. 110 and over iterated by gender and race/origin. And much more.

Get started accessing Census 2020 data now. Use this API link to access Census 2020 data on the size of the urban and rural population by county. Clicking that link opens a new page showing a row for each county with the urban and rural population. The first data row (row 2) shows that in Bullitt County, Kentucky, the total population was 82,217 with 58,002 urban and 24,215 rural. The state+county FIPS code is 21029. From here, build a spreadsheet file or geospatially map/analyze these data. More on this, step-by-step, in the next Census 2020 blog.

Examine the distribution of Millennials by census tract using Census 2020.
The following view illustrates use of DEDE to extract Census 2020 single year of age data and then create a thematic pattern map showing the distribution of percent Millennials by census tract. in the New York region. This static view is a snapshot of using VDA GIS tools to map these patterns nationally. It is evident from this view that Millennials are smaller part of the population in the Bronx, Queens, and south Kings County. Further insights are available. This matters, for example, in knowing about the where and how the Millennial population is distributed for analyses of the voting population and prospective outcomes. Many similar applications.

Comparing ACS with Census 2020 Data
Aren’t the American Community Survey 2021 (ACS2021) data more recent than the Census 2020 data? In general, no. The ACS 2021 data (the now most recent ACS-sourced data) are tabulated for 2021 only for selected types of geography with 65,000 population and over — the ACS 1-year data. For most counties, most cities, most school districts, all census tracts, all ZIP Code areas and other geography .. only the ACS 5-year estimates are available. These estimates are for the five-year period 2017 through 2021 .. centric to mid-2019. Two-thirds of the ACS 2021 respondents are pre-pandemic.

Comparing ACS with Census 2020 Data – Subject Matter
The ACS data include a much richer set of demographic subject matter compared to Census 2020. For example, ACS includes income, education, employment and data on many other topics. This compares to the more limited subject matter covered by Census 2020 — population, age, gender, race/origin, housing units, selected housing unit attributes. ACS estimates are all subject to sampling and related estimation errors. Census 2020 data are counts. Many ACS estimates are suppressed, and the data item value is not available (such as median household income for a census tract). There is no suppression with Census 2020 data — the data can always be aggregated (for example, the sum of census block group items for an entire county or state).

Census 2020 provides single year of age data by gender by race/origin for census tract and higher level geography. ACS provides data for selected age groups. As a result, only using the Census 2020 data can we tabulate point, one year, data on the number of Millennials and Generation-Z population groups.

Comparing ACS with Census 2020 Data – Geography
The ACS smallest area of data tabulation is the block group. The Census 2020 smallest area of data tabulation is the census block. One advantage of the Census 2020 census block data availability is the size being smaller, more granular than a block group. Possibly the more important use of census block data is the ability to aggregate custom sets of blocks into an aggregated area such as Congressional Communities or user defined study/service areas.

Accessing/Using Census 2020 Data
The Census Bureau provides the online service data.census.gov and the Census Bureau API access the Census 2020 data. The Demographic-Economic Data Explorer (DEDE enables users overcome some limits of the Census API and create Geographic Information System GIS friendly datasets. The Visual Data Access (GIS) tools provide immediate online access to Census 2020 data with only a browser — enabling mixed subject matter and geography for a wider range, or basic, applications/analyses.

This graphic illustrates use of VDA Web GIS to show patterns of the age 17 population by block (salmon colored blocks, label with population 17 years or age) in Newport Beach, CA. Create maps like this for other areas. Login and start now .. select the County/Regional Trends project.

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Measuring & Analyzing Households by Social Class by PUMA

.. a social class is a population or household group typically referred to as a lower, middle and upper class. The size of the population or households in a social class is often determined in relationship to an interval related to the median household income of an area — from two-thirds of median household income to twice the median household income (MHI). Subsequent blog posts will address a broader definition for class determination. By better understanding composition and determinants of social class for an area, we might better understand and improve on income inequality and create new opportunities. This is a multi-part blog post on social class analytics. Click Follow at right to receive updates.

Percent Population in Households by Social Class by PUMA
.. Los Angeles area .. click for larger view.

Los Angeles metro area by social class .. PUMAs shown with black boundaries; pointer at Los Angeles-Orange County line

Percent of Households by Social Class by PUMA
.. Los Angeles area .. click for larger view.

Los Angeles metro area by social class .. PUMAs shown with black boundaries; pointer at Los Angeles-Orange County line

Using American Community Survey Microdata
We use of the American Community Survey microdata or “public use microdata samples” (PUMS) http://proximityone.com/pums.htm to develop estimates of population and households by middle class, lower class and upper class by “public use microdata area” (PUMA) http://proximityone.com/puma.htm. Microdata files are comprised of anonymized individual respondent data within PUMAs. The approximate 2,800 PUMAs cover the U.S. wall-to-wall and must have 100,000 population or more. 2010 and 2020 vintages PUMAs may be examined and compared with other geography using the VDA Web GIS http://proximityone.com/vda.htm with the MetroDynamics Project.

Social Class Participation by PUMA
Using custom software, the PUMA (ACS 2021 1 year data in this case), individual housing records are summarized for each PUMA. An estimate is developed for the lower, middle and upper class based on an algorithm.

Examine patterns of social class stratification using VDA Web GIS anywhere in U.S.
The estimates are then integrated into a PUMA shapefile. The PUMA shapefile is added to a Geographic Information System (GIS). Access this shapefile/layers using VDA Web GIS to examine patterns of social class, such as the graphics shown above, or in combination with other geography and subject matter.

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

118th Congressional District Demographic Characteristics

.. what are the geographic, demographic, economic characteristics of a congressional district of interest? What are peer group congressional districts based on these characteristics? How might coalitions on selected topics better evolve? How can you communicate more effectively on policy issues to your congressional district leadership? How can you vote in a more informed manner by better understanding these matters? Use the VDA Web GIS Congressional Districts project to get these answers using only a Web browser. Learn more about Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This is a multi-part blog post on congressional district analytics. Click Follow at right to receive updates.

The November 2022 elections determined the representatives for the 118th Congressional Districts (CDs). The 118th Congress is in session from January 2023 to December 2024. The 118th Congressional District boundaries reflect the redistricting process based on Census 2020 results. While CDs have about the same population size within a state, the demographic composition varies widely. Use the VDA Web GIS Congressional Districts project to examine CD demographic-economic characteristics. Selected highlights are reviewed below.

These illustrative thematic pattern maps are based on data from the American Community Survey 2021 1-year estimates. Create your own maps and perform geospatial analyses using the VDA Web GIS with the Congressional Districts project. Nothing to install. Access using a Web browser. Start here. Sign up and login. Select the Congressional Districts project.

General Demographics — Percent Majority-Minority
Examine general demographics characteristics like topics on age and race/origin.

Social Characteristics — Educational Attainment
Examine social characteristics like household composition, mobility, enrollment, educational attainment.

Economic Characteristics — Economic Prosperity
Examine economic characteristics like labor force attributes, employment by occupation industry, income and benefits.

Housing Characteristics — Housing Value
Examine housing characteristics like owner/renter, units in structure, year structure built, housing value, rent, housing cost burden.

What’s Ahead — Upcoming Congressional District Blog Posts
This section has introduced tools to examine congressional districts at the national/regional level. The same tools and Congressional District project can be used to drill-down to the neighborhood level. Examine how characteristics within a congressional district vary within the district .. to be covered in subsequent posts. Learn more about examining these data in a tabular manner and geospatial analysis.

Upcoming topics .. drill-down analytics like this illustrative view
.. Atlanta, GA area .. CDs bold boundary labeled with CD code.
.. patterns of economic prosperity (median household income) by census tract
.. pointer & Atlanta city in GA05
.. easy to see how GA05 and GA06 radically different

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

Data Analytics Web Sessions
Join us in the every Tuesday, Thursday Data Analytics Web Sessions. See how you can use VDA Web GIS and access different subject matter for related geography. Get your geographic, demographic, data access & use questions answered. Discuss applications with others.

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Examining City GeoDemographic Drilldown; Intersecting Tracts and Places

.. how can “our city” do a better job of providing housing for low-income individuals and families? One part of a successful program involves looking at attributes of the neighborhood, or census tract, geography across the city. We need to analyze needs by city component census tracts, areas averaging 4,000 population. Here is how that might be approached — determining which census tracts. And while this applies to low income housing, it applies to many other planning topics.

Relate census tract geography to city/place geography using GIS tools for analytical purposes … determine which tracts intersect a city/place. This section considers intersecting tracts and places for illustrative purposes. But the methodology, and tools to do this, involve many, many other types of geography .. geographic spatial intersection. The inputs in this case are U.S. national scope 2020 census tracts (85,190 areas covering the U.S. wall-to-wall) and U.S. national scope 2020 places (32,188 areas). The output from the process of intersecting these geographies are tract-place intersecting parts (119,906 areas). There are 32,146 tracts that are wholly contained in places.

Developing Intersect Files
Tracts intersecting with cities can be determined using the VDAGIS Intersect tool. Select the two input shapefiles and name the intersect output shapefile. The intersect shapefile is added to the GIS project being used.

Focusing on a City
What tracts intersect a city of interest? By having this information, stakeholders, policymakers can study and better understand inequities, differences and needs across the city. Consider Santa Ana, CA (Orange County). There are 65 tracts that intersect with the city of Santa Ana. This could be any city across America. The following view shows Santa Ana with intersecting tracts.

By viewing the intersecting file in VDAGIS, intersecting tracts can be examined. The graphic below shows a zoom-in to tract 06059089102 (blue boundary). This tract is shown at the pointer in the above graphic. in the following zoom-in view, the white label shows the tract code for the whole tract and the two split parts are shown with the same code. The part to the right in Santa Ana city, the part to the left is in Garden Grove city.

Using the intersecting file, the list (a partial list) of these tracts and tract codes can be determined as shown below. By knowing the tract codes, detailed demographic-economic data can be pulled using DEDE and tract characteristics can be studied. Inequities ab be examined, special needs can be determined, east versus west tract groups might identify patterns to facilitate collaboration and policy development. What are the patterns of affordable housing across the city?

About VDAGIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

The New Urban Geography

.. the nation’s urban population increased by 6.4% between 2010 and 2020 based on 2020 Census data and a change in the way urban areas are defined. As a result of these changes, 1,140 areas containing approximately 4.2 million people, classified as urban in 2010 are now rural. See more about the 2020 urban/rural geography/population. See more about the urban population.

Patterns of the New Urban Geography

click graphic for larger view

As of 2020, there are 2,613 Urban Areas in the U.S. with a combined Census 2020 population of 265,149,027 (80%). The remaining area is defined as rural with Census 2020 population of 66,300,254 (20%).
  • Use this interactive table to view, sort urban areas.
  • Use this interactive table to view, sort states by 2010/2020 urban/rural.

These Federal designated urban areas are comprised of densely settled core of census blocks that meet minimum housing unit density and/or population density requirements. This includes adjacent territory containing non-residential urban land uses. To qualify as an urban area, the territory identified according to criteria must encompass at least 2,000 housing units or a population of at least 5,000. Rural encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within urban areas.

Importance of Urban/Rural Designations
Data users and researchers interested in analyzing data for urban and rural population and housing use urban area geostatistical data routinely updated by statistical agencies. Analysts use urban area data to study patterns of urbanization, suburban growth and development, and urban/rural land area change.

Larger Urban Areas form the nucleus of Core-Based Statistical Areas (metros). Many metro areas (one or more contiguous counties) contain large rural areas even though some consider metros as large cities. Importantly, they are not the same.

Various federal and state agencies use urban and rural definitions as the basis for their own urban and rural definitions and settlement classifications for use in tabulating and presenting statistical data. The National Center for Education Statistics uses the urban area definitions in its locale codes classification. The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses the urban area classification as the basis for various urban and rural classifications used to analyze and report on demographic and economic patterns in rural areas.

Other government agencies use Urban Area designations to determine program eligibility and in their funding formulas. The Federal Highways Administration uses urban areas of 50,000 or more population to establish Metropolitan Planning Organizations. For rural health programs, a clinic qualifies as a rural health clinic if it is located outside the boundaries of any urban area.

GeoSpatial Analysis of New Urban Geography
Use the VDA Web GIS to examine urban/rural area geographic, demographic and economic make-up and in context of other geography and subject matter.

Urban Areas in the Houston, TX Region

click graphic for larger view

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Population Living Alone & Age 65 Years and Over

.. how many people are living alone in your community, neighborhood? How does this population impact the community? What are their special needs? How does this population vary by area and population group? There were 37.9 million one-person households, 29% of all U.S. households in 2022. In 1960, single-person households represented only 13% of all households. These estimates are based on the 2022 Current Population Survey (CPS). Moving forward, the number of one-person households, people living alone, will increase at the rate of one million or more per year. People in households exclude people living in group quarters. This post examines patterns of people living alone with focus on people living alone age 65 year and over and distribution by small area geography.

While the CPS data provide a current snapshot of the number of people living alone, we have to use data from the American Community Survey to obtain data for smaller area geography like counties and census tracts.

Population Living Alone by Census Tract –Visual Data Analytics
The four graphics below show patterns of the population living alone by census tract. These views have been developed using the Visual Data Analytics (VDA GIS) tools with integrated demographics. Develop variations on these views using the VDA Web GIS using only a web browser.

Patterns of Population Living Alone by Tract

.. click graphic for larger view.

Patterns of Population 65 and Over Living Alone by Tract

.. click graphic for larger view.

Patterns of Population Living Alone by Tract — Houston Metro Area

Patterns of Population 65 and Over Living Alone by Tract — Houston Metro Area

Examine the Data in More Detail
As noted in this related New York Times story, nearly 26 million Americans 50 or older now live alone, up from 15 million in 2000. Older people have always been more likely than others to live by themselves makes up a bigger share of the population than at any time in the nation’s history. The trend has also been driven by deep changes in attitudes surrounding gender and marriage. People 50-plus today are more likely than earlier generations to be divorced, separated or never married. Similar ACS data as used to develop the graphics shown above are available by race/origin. These data are based on the ACS 2020 data; the same scope of data will be available from ACS 2021 to be released in December 2022.

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.

Personal Economic Well-Being

.. examining characteristics, patterns and change in personal economic well-being; learning about what per capita personal income by county tells us. Per capita personal income (PCPI) is the best single measure of personal economic well-being. PCPI differs American Community Survey (ACS) measure of per capita income, median household income and similar income measures as PCPI includes non-monetary income .. PCPI provides a more comprehensive measure. This post provides an update focused on new data released November 2022, county level personal income time series data starting in 1969.

Patterns of 2021 Per Capita Personal Income by County

.. click graphic for larger view
.. use VDA Web GIS for Web-based interactive viewing/analytics.
.. see this more detailed analytical framework for analytics using VDA Desktop.

Importance of these Data
How is the regional economy doing? How is it trending? What policies might be changed to improve personal economic well-being? Answers to these and similar questions are why knowing about personal income and its derivation, components is important — to residents, businesses and governments. While median household income is often considered the best measure of buying power for an area, it is not the best measure of personal or household economic well-being. PCPI and the Regional Economic Information System provides insights and answers to these questions.

U.S. Change in PCPI
In U.S. metropolitan areas, PCPI increased 7.3 percent in 2021, up from 6.0 percent in 2020. In U.S. nonmetropolitan areas, PCPI increased 7.5 percent, down from 7.9 percent.

Regional Economic Information System
PCPI is a small part of the broader Regional Economic Information System (REIS). The following links show examples of detailed tables for Harris County, TX comparing 2019 and 2021 developed using the ProximityOne REIS package. Develop these profiles for any county for your selected year 1970 through 2021.
  • Personal Income by Major Source
  • Earnings by Source & Sector
  • Employment by Type & Sector
  • Transfer Payments
  • Economic Profile
  • Farm Income & Expenditures

About VDA GIS
VDA Web GIS is a decision-making information resource designed to help stakeholders create and apply insight. Use VDA Web GIS with only a Web browser; nothing to install; GIS experience not required. VDA Web GIS has been developed and is maintained by Warren Glimpse, ProximityOne (Alexandria, VA) and Takashi Hamilton, Tsukasa Consulting (Osaka, Japan).

About the Author
Warren Glimpse is former senior Census Bureau statistician responsible for national scope statistical programs and innovative data access and use operations. He is also the former associate director of the U.S. Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards for data access and use. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector developing data resources and tools for integration and analysis of geographic, demographic, economic and business data. Join Warren on LinkedIn.