Census.gov

API

Free US demographic & business data APIs from the Census Bureau

Overview

The Census.gov APIs provide RESTful access to official US demographic (ACS, Decennial), economic (Business Patterns), housing, and population datasets. Responses are JSON-formatted. Key endpoints include dataset-specific queries (e.g., ACS 5-Year estimates), geography-based filters (state, county, tract), and variable exploration tools. Use cases include building demographic dashboards, market research platforms, urban planning apps, and integrating economic data into business analytics. It supports parameterized queries for custom retrieval and offers extensive documentation for endpoint usage and data field definitions.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets.html')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful Architecture
JSON Response Format
Diverse Data Sets (Demographic, Economic, Housing)
Geography-Based Filtering
API Key Authentication
Extensive Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Census.gov API free to use?

Yes, all Census.gov APIs are free of charge, though most require a registered API key to access.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, you need to sign up for a free API key from the Census Bureau's developer portal to use most of its API endpoints.

? What is the response format?

The majority of Census.gov API responses are in JSON format, which is easy to integrate into web and mobile applications. Some bulk data exports may support CSV format as well.

Top Alternatives

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) API Search Google

FRED Economic Data API Search Google

OpenDataSoft US Census Datasets Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Government

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Free Official Government Data
⊕ Wide Range of Data Categories
⊕ Detailed Geographic Granularity
⊕ Well-Documented Endpoints
⊕ Regularly Updated Datasets

Cons

⊖ Requires API Key Registration
⊖ Rate Limits Apply (Varies by Dataset)
⊖ Complex Query Parameters for Advanced Use Cases
⊖ Some Datasets Have Delayed Updates
⊖ Limited Real-Time Data