- How old is the data that you are using?
- How do I ask for a custom tabulation?
- Where can I find the answer to my question for
free?
- Why doesn't anyone answer my question for
free? My taxes paid for this data already!!
- Can you use Census Data to create a mailing list
for my business?
- Why would I choose you instead of the Census
Bureau?
- Is there ever a time when I should choose the
Census Bureau instead of you?
It's 2007 data, which is pretty current (this is June 2009). It's the
most recent available data because it takes some time for the Census Bureau to
prepare the data for distribution.
There are two places that we know of to get custom US Census
tabulations. The Census Bureau is one, but be prepared to spend at least 4
figures. The other is us. Prices are usually around $350. To
ask us, call 814-934-5564.
You might be able to find it on the Census Bureau's website. We suggest
you look there first, then try our very low cost "pre-prepared" (not
custom) tabulations. If neither of those solve your problem, you're going
to have to request a custom tabulation from someone.
Your taxes paid for the collection of the data, and for the preparation of it
on the Census Bureau website. Some questions can be answered for free
there - it all depends on what your question is. If you have a question
that can't be answered from the materials on their website, someone has to put
in a lot of effort to summarize the data in such a way as to answer your
question. That person needs to be paid.
Absolutely not, and neither can anyone else. There is no personal
information (name, address, email, etc.) in the Census Data that is released to
the public.
It really depends on who fits your needs best for a particular
question. On the pro side, we are faster and cheaper than the Census
Bureau, and if you want to make a small change after we're all done, we'll
usually re-run with the small change for no additional cost.
There are two cases when the Census Bureau is the only possible choice.
The first is when you absolutely have to have your tabulation certified by the
Census Bureau. Obviously, they are the only ones who can do that.
The other is when you need finely divided geographies - for example, you need to
separate two small towns that are next to each other. Because of privacy
law, the Census Bureau lumps groups of people together into "PUMAs",
so we can't separate areas smaller than a PUMA (about 100,000 people). The
Census Bureau does not have that limitation, so they can analyze finely divided
geographies. Tell us your request, and we'll tell you what our
geographical limitations are on it.
