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:
- What
topics were included in Census 2000.
- Where to find definitions
of terminology used in Census 2000.
- 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.
- 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
Created and maintained by Mary M. Finley
Questions or comments: mary.finley@csun.edu
Links checked: 10 January 2008