Do towns with an increase in housing also experience an increase in population? We explore this question and more in this post.
Read MoreThe American Community Survey (ACS) is a survey administered by the Census Bureau covering topics such as social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics. The ACS surveys around 3.5 million addresses and informs over $675 billion of federal government spending each year. Due to Covid-19, outreach and participation significantly decreased in 2020, and the data collected did not meet quality standards for the 2020 1-year estimates.
Read MoreIn 2020, CTData focused on ensuring a complete 2020 Census count in Connecticut through efforts such as tracking town and county response rates and providing resources to increase response rates in communities. Now that the data collection process has been completed, many of us are awaiting the release of 2020 Census data. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has pushed back many of the previously anticipated data product release dates.
Read MoreNational Invest in Veterans Week is observed from March 1 through March 7 each year and provides an opportunity to celebrate and honor our veterans and their contributions to our community and economy. We put together a blog post with some facts about veterans in Connecticut based on data from the 2019 American Community Survey.
Read MoreIn February 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau updated census geographic boundaries for many states across the country, including Connecticut. Since data from both the American Community Survey and decennial census is often consumed at the census-tract level (areas of up to 4,000 people), it is important for data users to understand the differences between 2010 and 2020 boundaries, as new data will be disseminated using updated boundaries going forward.
Read MoreThe U.S. Census Bureau is typically associated with the once-a-decade count of the entire population of the United States, but did you know the bureau collects and shares data from over 130 surveys and programs?
Read MoreIf you use census data, stay tuned for an important update that will impact the future of your data work in Connecticut.
The State of Connecticut requested and the Census Bureau proposed the appointment of the state’s nine Councils of Governments (COGs) as the “county-equivalent geographic unit for purposes of collecting, tabulating, and disseminating statistical data.” The change is set to be implemented in 2023.
Read MoreHow has Connecticut changed in the last five years? According to our analysis on the newly released 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the total population of Connecticut has declined slightly. However, the share of the population that identifies as a person of color has increased by 3%, and the share of the population that has health insurance has increased as well.
Read MoreAs we’ve spoken with people during the last couple of months about census outreach, one theme has become clear: many people still have hesitations about completing their 2020 Census questionnaires. Reasons include not realizing that the census brings funding to their community, feeling doubtful that funding would be distributed, or reluctance to provide personal information to the federal government.
Read MoreA lot is going on in our lives right now, but we hope you will take 5 minutes to join us to support a fair and accurate census count. Like you, we at CTData care about an accurate count in Census 2020. There is funding, representation, and data at stake. We are concerned that the U.S. Census Bureau has recently shortened the timeline for the decennial count and that Congress isn’t funding census operations at a level that meets the needs in Connecticut and other states.
Turn on any news outlet and data privacy and accuracy sit at the forefront of the conversation. No organization is too small or too large to outwit potential privacy breaches, not even the federal government.
Read MoreHealth care, the economy, major events, our day-to-day lives—Covid-19 has spared nothing on its path of disruption. Even the census had to adjust its 230-year-old process to prioritize the health and safety of census takers (workers) and respondents.
Read MoreAs the response rate in Connecticut nears 65%, our recent analysis shows that there are still many tracts that are struggling to increase their self-response rates. While we don’t typically think about the world around us as census tracts, they allow us to really focus our efforts on encouraging people to be counted in very specific areas.
There are two tools you will learn about in this post. First is the U.S. Census Bureau’s own Response Rates map. The second is the Census 2020 Hard to Count Map. I use both for different purposes, and by the end of this post, you will be using them, too.
Read MoreOur analysis of Census 2020 self-response rates in Connecticut by tract with demographic characteristics found that many tracts in Connecticut are struggling with their self-response rate. These include rates lower than Connecticut’s average among our major cities, tracts with over 50% Hispanic or black residents, tracts with fewer home-owners and more multi-family homes, tracts that received bilingual census mailings, and tracts with less Internet access. Learn more about the details and resources you can access to support these tracts.
Read MoreConnecticut remained in 15th place among the 50 states this week. As of May 12 the self-response rate was 62.6%, getting us closer to our 2010 final self-response rate of 69.5%. Each of the municipalities that have the highest self-response rates were within 4 percentage points of their final 2010 rate as of May 12, 2020. However, seven towns in Connecticut that have surpassed their 2010 self-response rate as of May 12, 2020 get to celebrate. Sprague reached their 2010 rate (43.8%) earliest on April 15. This town also saw the large surge from their 2010 rate, at 57.4% as of May 12, over thirteen percentage points above their 2010 rate. Colebrook met their 2010 rate and joined the club as of May 9.
Read MoreWhat you need to know: Changes to the 2020 Census timeline will likely leave state legislators with little time to redraw Connecticut’s congressional and legislative districts if needed. Clarification to the state constitution is urgently needed to ensure that the legislature—not the court—can determine Connecticut’s districts.
Read MoreAs of Monday, May 4, 2020, Connecticut’s self-response rate hit 60% and moved the state up to 15th place among the 50 states. Last week 91, or 54% of Connecticut’s towns, had self-response rates at or above 60%. This week, 119, or 70%, of our towns are above 60% self-response rates. Tolland claimed the top spot again with a self-response rate of 76.5%. Other towns with a high self-response rate included Marlborough (75.9%), Burlington (75.1%), Orange and Granby (74.4%), and Cheshire (74.3%).
Read MoreAs of Monday, April 27, 2020, 54% of Connecticut’s towns had self-response rates at or above 60%. While last week, 28 towns had self-response rates at or above 60%, this week, 91, or 54% of Connecticut’s towns, had self-response rates at or above 60%. Tolland claimed the top spot again with a self-response rate of 72.4%. Other towns with a high self-response rate included Marlborough (71.4%), Burlington (70.7%), Cheshire (69.9%), and Simsbury (69.6%).
Read MoreAs of Monday, April 20, 2020, six of Connecticut’s towns saw a week-over-week increase of more than 12%. A week ago on April 13, Windham County had the lowest self-response rate at 45.7%, putting it in last place among Connecticut’s counties. However, as of April 20 it came in second-to-last with a 50.4% self-response rate, with Litchfield County slightly lower (49.6%).
Read MoreAs of Monday, April 13, 2020, 50.3% of Connecticut residents had responded to the 2020 Census. That puts Connecticut 17th among the 50 states. Connecticut dropped 3 spots from last week and ranked 17th among the 50 states. Minnesota led the way with a rate of 58.1%, and Alaska lagged with a rate of 32.4%.
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