The Census Bureau’s American Factfinder (AFF) is the primary source for census datasets that include the 2010 and 2000 Census, the American Community Survey, and the Population Estimates Program. The new version of the AFF was launched at the beginning of this year; it gives users more options for searching for data but can be a bit bewildering.
I’ve created a how-to handout with screenshots that demonstrates one method for retrieving data. I provide two examples: one is downloading a profile for a census tract from the American Community Survey, and the other is downloading a comparison table for ZIP Codes from the 2010 Census. Links to the handout are available throughout the New York City Data LibGuide on several pages, and on the US Census Data LibGuide. It’s embedded in a box labeled American Factfinder.
While the AFF is the ultimate source for census data there are some easier sources you can refer users to depending on what they’re looking for; these include the Social Explorer database, the Infoshare database, the NYC Department of City Planning, and the PUMA and ZCTA Google Maps embedded in the Neighborhoods tab of the NYC Data Guide. Embedded in the Neighborhoods tab is a separate guide with recommendations for finding NYC neighborhood census data that highlights these options.