Uploaded June 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The US Census collects data on the household level for every person in the United States. It is then aggregated to different geographic extents, block, block groups, tracts, counties, etc. Tracts, blocks and block groups are defined by the census and change every decade. The highest resolution data released is typically the Tract level. The US Census data is very valuable in the social science because it often is the best data available, but their are some aggregation issues that should be taken into account when mapping or analysing Census Data. Particularly the MAUP.
The US Census collects data on the household level for every person in the United States. It is then aggregated to different geographic extents, block, block groups, tracts, counties, etc. Tracts, blocks and block groups are defined by the census and change every decade. The highest resolution data released is typically the Tract level. The US Census data is very valuable in the social science because it often is the best data available, but their are some aggregation issues that should be taken into account when mapping or analysing Census Data. Particularly the MAUP.
