REFERENCE
US Census metrics, explained
Plain-English definitions, methodology, source-table citations, and live rankings for every demographic, income, housing, education, employment, and commute metric on CensusEasy. Each page is a topical reference for the metric plus the top US places by that metric.
Demographics
- Median ageMedian age of all residents.
- Residents with a disabilityShare of the civilian noninstitutionalized population reporting a disability. Source: ACS S1810.
- Speaks only English at homeShare of residents 5+ who speak only English at home. Source: ACS C16001.
- Speaks Spanish at homeShare of residents 5+ who speak Spanish at home (with or without English fluency). Source: ACS C16001.
- Veterans (civilian 18+)Share of the civilian population 18 and over who are military veterans. Source: ACS B21001.
Income & poverty
- Income inequality (Gini)Gini index of household income inequality. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = maximum inequality. Source: ACS B19083.
- Median household incomeMedian income of all households, as reported each year (nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted).
- Per capita incomeTotal income divided by total population.
- Poverty rateShare of people with income below the federal poverty line.
Housing
- Housing vacancy rateShare of housing units that are vacant. Source: ACS B25002.
- Median gross rentMedian gross rent across all renter-occupied units.
- Median home valueMedian value of owner-occupied homes.
- Owner cost-burdened householdsShare of owner households spending 30% or more of household income on housing costs (mortgaged + un-mortgaged combined). Source: ACS B25091.
- Owner-occupiedShare of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
- Rent-burdened householdsShare of renter households paying 30% or more of household income on gross rent. Source: ACS B25070.
- Renter-occupiedShare of occupied homes that are renter-occupied.
Education
- Bachelor's degree or higherShare of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
- Graduate degreeShare of adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree.
- High school or higherShare of adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher.
Commute & transportation
- Average commuteMean travel time to work, one way, in minutes.
- Biked to workShare of workers who biked to work as their primary commute mode. Source: ACS B08301.
- Carpooled to workShare of workers who carpooled to work. Source: ACS B08301.
- Drive alone to workShare of workers who drive alone to work.
- No vehicle availableShare of households with no vehicle available.
- Public transit to workShare of workers using public transportation (excluding taxicab) as their primary commute mode. Source: ACS B08301.
- Walked to workShare of workers who walked to work as their primary commute mode. Source: ACS B08301.
- Worked from homeShare of workers who worked from home as their primary commute mode. Source: ACS B08301.