The U.S. Census Bureau has released the 2024 Planning Database (PDB), which features updated Low Response Score (LRS) data and new operational information from the 2020 Census.
The PDB provides housing, demographic, socioeconomic, and operational data at the block group and census tract levels. It draws from several sources, including the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Summary File, the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File, and five-year estimates from the American Community Survey covering 2018 to 2022.
According to the Census Bureau, “The PDB was developed to aid survey and census planning but has a variety of uses. Among them: Identifying geographic areas for special outreach. Examining expected survey completion rates at different levels of geography. Linking the PDB and map data to create thematic maps. Generating reports, cross tabulations and simple analyses. Planning interviewer-administered surveys and censuses.”
The LRS is designed to estimate how likely residents in specific areas are to respond to surveys or censuses. The latest version includes new predictors of low response such as contact strategy—whether an area receives internet-first or internet-choice outreach—which are now available as variables in the database.
In addition, the interactive Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM) tool will be updated with this new LRS data along with other important variables from the PDB.
For further questions or comments about these updates, individuals can contact [email protected].
There is no news release associated with this product; it was distributed as a tip sheet only.
