Q: Why does the search bar not produce the survey results I would expect?
A: The search bar works best when using specific keywords only found in in this tool. It is not able to function as a traditional search engine. It is sensitive to spelling but not case. Please use the all the guidance pages for suggested search terminology. You can use a search bar search in combination with filters.
Q: Why can I not find my state (ex. Maryland)
A: Please use the Geographies filter “State”, navigate to your survey of interest, and then access data from there or using our data tools.
Q: Where can I find Decennial data for previous year data not available in data.census.gov or other Census data tools.
A: You can visit the Decennial Census by the Decade webpage to view and access previous Decennial Census data and information.
Q: Why doesn’t a particular survey or program appear when selecting certain topics/subtopics I know were part of a survey?
A: Many surveys and programs have changed over time. The Census Survey Explorer only provides filters for current topics/subtopics related to a particular survey or program.
Q: Now that I know what survey(s) have the data I am looking for, where do I go to find the data?
A: You can visit the survey webpage directly by clicking on a survey name or you can visit our Data Tools and Apps webpage. Not all surveys publish their data the same way. Some survey webpages will direct you to the appropriate data tool(s) and others will provide direct links to data tables (csv files), reports, and more.
Q: How do I know what topic terms to use when I search?
A: We provided a list of available subtopics for you to look use while using the subtopic dropdown or the search bar. The search bar can find words in the survey descriptions. Please use the topics page for guidance. For example, if you use the search bar for the term “car” it may not pull up all the applicable surveys, but the topics page informs you that the subtopic “vehicle” is the best subtopic term to use to find the most applicable surveys.
Q: How do I use the topics and subtopics dropdowns?
A: This is a list of subtopics found across all of our listed surveys. As detailed here, subtopics are categorized under five broad topics, which represent the types of surveys we conduct.
Use this subtopic list to help you find the right subtopic search term that relates to your subject matter of interest. (For example, if interested in “cars”, find that the subtopic term “vehicle” is best) To use the Survey Explorer by subtopic, find a subtopic in the subtopic dropdown or type it into the search bar to find the survey(s) that has your subject matter of interest.
No matter what your experience level is, the survey explorer is a useful tool to help discover which survey may have the information you need. Use the dropdown lists to select geographies, frequencies, topics, or subtopics you are interested in or use the search bar to find a survey based on a keyword.
The filters you select are displayed. To clear all the filters and start a new search, click on “Reset Search.”
Clicking on a program and survey listing will take you to its respective website where you can find more information about the program/survey such as links to data tools, data tables, contact information, respondent information, news releases, and more.
What makes the survey explorer unique is that it is a reference for all our surveys/censuses in one place and a guide that can help you figure out if there is data available and where it may be found across all of the Census Bureau’s surveys and censuses.