Best for high school

Data.census.gov provides data on population, race, age, education, income, and businesses for the largest and smallest geographic entities including ZIP codes and neighborhoods. Data are available from the American Community Survey, Economic Census, Decennial Census, and other economic surveys and are easily accessible through a single-search bar or through drop-down filters. 

With This Tool, Students Can:

• Narrow a search with hundreds of detailed categories, such as languages spoken at home, the number of grandparents living with children under the age of 18, vacant homes, or people with disabilities.
• Access data visualization profiles for states, counties, or cities and towns and see an overview of the area. Also included are the four top key statistics—population, median household income, poverty rates and employment rates—along with other data charts and maps for the selected area.
• Customize charts and maps that can be shared or exported.

Best for high school

This tool offers an easy way to access and use key demographic and economic data at the county, city, ZIP code, and tract levels. These data help small business owners plan for opening a new location or expanding an existing one, for example.

For a more advanced version of the tool, teachers and students can use the Regional Analyst Edition, which allows the user to define a region made up of two or more counties and see the data for that area.

With This Tool, Students Can:

• Select a type of business and potential business location with easy-to-use menus.
• Use an interactive map to explore the selected area for business opportunities and compare it to neighboring areas.
• Explore, download, and print county- and city-level business reports (including trend charts).