Issues in Housing: Investigating a Zip Code

Jump to: Finding Census Data by Zip Code / Other Zip Code Information Sources

Finding Census Data by Zip Code

• Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Learn what a ZCTA is and why it is used as a geographic equivalent to a zip code when researching census data.
• Use Finding Census 2000 Data by Zip Code, an online guide on how to find data at the ZCTA/zip code level in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing. It includes:
  1. What topics were included in Census 2000.
  2. Where to find definitions of terminology used in Census 2000.
  3. Directions on using American Factfinder (a Census Bureau database) to access Census 2000 data about the population and housing characteristics of a Zip Code Tabulation Area via a Fact Sheet or by using Data Sets. Most students in this class will want to get data by both search methods.
  4. Information on how to cite data from American Factfinder in research papers.
• Helpful hints when using American Factfinder:
  • The Census Bureau advises users that pop-up blocker software may affect American Factfinder in unusual ways. So, if you use a pop-up blocker, make sure it is turned off when you use American Factfinder.
  • Some tables produced by American Factfinder are too wide to print unless you change your printer settings from portrait to landscape.
  • If you choose to email census data that you have found on your zip code, be sure to copy and paste the data into the email message. (Pay attention here: if you attach the page or use the quote function instead of using the copy/paste method, you may get a general page from the Census Bureau site instead of your customized results).
  • It is easy to find statistics about the nation, a specific state, and a specific zip code at the same time when you use Data Sets; you simply select all three geographies (add each one, one at a time, to your "Current geography selections"). The tables you generate will include a column for each of the geographies selected.

Other Information Sources with Zip Code-level data

• Community Information by Zip Code provides an extensive list of sources of information that are searchable by zip code. Includes population, education, health, environment, business, and political information sources.
• San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center Zip Code Data

Created and maintained by Mary M. Finley
Questions or comments: mary.finley@csun.edu
Links checked: 10 January 2008