Census 2010

Census 2010 Preparation

The decennial censuses provide the region with detailed information about its residents. The MAPC Data Center conducts research, analysis and advocacy to maximize the accuracy of these major surveys for our region.

Massachusetts contains a significant population of people the U.S. Census Bureau calls hard to count, including students, renters and immigrants. We must act now to reach out to these communities to ensure everyone in the state is counted in 2010.

What's New

Census 2010 Participation Rate

The Mail Participation Rate is the percentage of forms mailed back by households that received them. The Census Bureau developed this new measure in 2010, in part because of the current economy and higher rates of vacant housing. The rate excludes households whose forms were returned to us by the U.S. Postal Service as "undeliverable," strongly suggesting the house was vacant.

For more information see the Census 2010 Take 10 Map

Community Census Awareness Day

When: Saturday March 20, 2010, 11am to 3pm
Where: Prince Hall Grand Lodge, 24 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02121 

Filled with music, food and family fun! Come and bring your 2010 census form. Census partners will be available to help you fill out your form. A kids corner will be provided with lots of fun games. MAPC is a co-sponsor of this event.

Download the flyer.

WGBH Emily Rooney Show - Section on the Census

On March 11, 2010, WGBH's Emily Rooney interviewed MAPC Data Services Director Holly St. Clair about the Census.

Listen to the segment. Click on the “audio” tab, then scroll to “The Emily Rooney Show 3/11/2010” in the middle-right of the screen to hear yesterday’s broadcast. The segment on the Census is 12 minutes in.

Background: What is the Census?

The 2010 Census is a short form that collects only basic information: age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino origin, household relationship and whether your home is owned or rented.

Why participate in the Census?

• It's Important. Census data affect funding and political representation for your community.
• It's Easy. It only takes a few minutes to answer and return.
• It's Safe. Responses are strictly confidential and protected by law. Your individual answers are never released to the public, other government agencies or the private sector.

Census Timeline

• Spring 2009: Census employees go door-to-door to update address list nationwide.
• Fall 2009: Recruitment begins for census takers needed for peak workload in 2010. Eight additional local census offices open in the state. Complete Count Committees should begin outreach to hard-to-count communities.
• Early 2010: Local municipalities will be able to submit addresses for newly-constructed housing units.
• February - March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
• April 1, 2010: Census Day
• April - July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
• December 2010: By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment.
• March 2011: By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

Census 2010 in Massachusetts

The U.S. Census Bureau began opening 11 local offices in Massachusetts in fall 2009 to manage preparations, community education, and the data collection operation. The Census Bureau is also hiring an extensive staff for administrative, data collection, education, outreach, and other functions. To inquire about employment, contact your local office or visit the Boston Regional Census Center website.

Census Offices

Boston Regional Census Center (New England regional headquarters)
One Beacon Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
617-223-3610
Boston.PDSP@census.gov
http://www.census.gov/robos/www/index.html

Early Opening Local Census Offices

Boston North Census Office

Covers Boston, eastern Middlesex County, most of Essex County

5-11 Drydock Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
617-848-3260

Worcester Census Office

Covers most of Middlesex County, Worcester and all western counties

67 Millbrook Street
Worcester, MA 01606
508-635-8130

New Bedford Census Office

Covers Norfolk, Barnstable, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties and all Middlesex County municipalities bordering Norfolk

700 Pleasant Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
774-206-0040

Census Definitions

Hard to Count Populations

The U.S. Census Bureau publishes overall response rates to the 2000 Census, which represent responses received by mail, telephone, or over the Internet. The overall U.S. response rate was 67%, and the Massachusetts rate was 69%. Although above the national average, Massachusetts participation was below the rate achieved by many other large states, including California (70%), Colorado (70%), Pennsylvania (70%), Michigan (71%), and Virginia (72%). Experts estimate that thousands of people were not included in the Massachusetts state population count.

In order to help communities prepare for the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau has compiled a database of social and economic factors from the 2000 Census that have been linked to low participation. The database includes a ranking of the hardest to count tracts in the country according to a "hard to count" score. Among the 651 tracts nationwide that make up the top 1% hardest-to-count tracts, 19 are located in Massachusetts. This data can be used to help set priorities for funding and outreach efforts in the state.

Factors that have been linked to hard-to-count areas include: vacant units, multifamily housing, rental housing, nontraditional households, Low education levels, high poverty, high unemployment, linguistically isolated households, many households recently moved.

Population Estimates

Each year between the decennial censuses, the U.S. Census Bureau issues annual population estimates for each municipality in Massachusetts. The accuracy of these estimates have serious policy consequences and establish expectations for the next decennial census.

The UMass Donahue Institute's Population Estimates Program works to ensure the Commonwealth can protect itself against undercounting by participating in the Census State Data Center program. In this capacity the program conducts independent annual population estimates, develops local and regional partnerships to collect relevant data, works with the Census Bureau to ensure that they have up-to-date and complete information, and supports necessary challenges to the Census numbers.

The Data Center works with the Donahue Institute to take a proactive approach to provide technical information to the U.S. Census Bureau, and dispute erroneous estimates.

Opportunities for Local Involvement

Complete Count Committees and Census in Schools Program

Local communities should appoint Complete Count Committees, a group comprising of elected and community leaders. These groups can design and implement local outreach plans in cooperation with Census officials to maximize community understanding and participation. The committees can come in different forms:

• Community: composed of members of one or more community groups working to conduct outreach and education in their community, using local languages, media outlets, and forums.
• Municipal: includes representatives of government and the community; coordinates education and outreach in schools and through town or city publications, and works with Census officials on technical preparations.
• Statewide: includes representatives of government and private organizations; ensures preparations are coordinated on a statewide basis.

The Census Bureau's Census in Schools program provides a variety of teaching materials designed to build community understanding of the Census.

Advertise Census Numbers for Help on the 2010 Questionnaire

• English: 1-866-872-6868
• Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
• Korean: 1-866-955-2010
• Russian: 1-866-965-2010
• Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
• Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
• TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired): 1-866-783-2010

Questions?

Contact Data Services Director Holly St. Clair at 617-451-2770, ext.2014 or at hstclair@mapc.org.