2030 Census: Toolkit for Counties
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America's counties play a critical role in the decennial census and have a vested interest in its success, as a census count shapes political representation, housing and the distribution of federal funding for the next 10 years. This toolkit gives county officials the information they need to get an accurate count, including details on the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program, how to build a Complete Count Committee and tips for effective communication with every resident in your community.
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Counties and the U.S. Census
The U.S. decennial census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years to determine the number of people living in the United States. It shapes political representation and drives the distribution of over $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding across hundreds of programs.
Funding allocations for county-administered programs and services depend heavily on census data. The 2030 Census will impact vital county functions, from transportation and infrastructure to public health, public safety and social services. Counts affect federal resources flowing to county residents for a full decade.
County officials are uniquely positioned to drive preparation through participatory opportunities and tools such as the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program, creation of Complete Count Committees (CCCs), the 2030 Census Planning Timeline and more.
$2.8T
Annual funding
$2.8 trillion in annual federal funding distributed using census data
353
Federal programs
353 federal programs that use consensus-derived data
10
Years
Ten years the funding gap lasts if your county is undercounted
2030 Census Toolkit
NACo’s 2030 Census Toolkit focuses on information, key intergovernmental partners and new developments, with step-by-step guidance and case studies on implementation of best practices.
Key Terms
LUCA is a program by the U.S. Census Bureau that offers local governments the only opportunity to correct the Census Bureau's address list before the count begins. If an address isn't on their list, the residents at that address are not counted.
- The U.S. Census Bureau invites the highest elected official in each government jurisdiction to participate in LUCA starting in 2027
- In 2020, only 29% of eligible governments participated in LUCA, and those that did added 3.2 million addresses
- Residences to watch for: converted garages or back sheds, basement apartments, buildings with shared mail delivery, communities where residents receive mail only at P.O. boxes, group homes and areas impacted by natural disasters or rapid population growth
A CCC is government-convened but community-delivered group that ensures every resident in the county receives and responds to a census questionnaire. The CCCs use trusted messengers and local knowledge to reach all residents in an area.
CCCs can be created by state or local legislative bodies, elected leaders or tribes. Community-specific CCCs can be formed around specific hard-to-count populations or geographies.
Priority community types for CCCs include children ages 0-4, rural residents with nonstandard addresses and limited internet access, tribal communities, non-English speaking households, group residencies including college dorms and nursing homes, communities with complex or hidden housing and groups facing housing insecurity.
Case Study: Texas
Texas’s 2020 Census undercounted the Texas population by roughly 2%, missing an estimated 548,000 residents.
Research by Texas A&M University estimated that the undercount will cost Texas more than $19 billion in federal funding over the decade and one additional congressional seat that the state was projected to gain.
Hidalgo County’s planning department focused on outreach across the county. By updating about 10,000 addresses through the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA), the county helped ensure the inclusion of residents who would otherwise have gone uncounted and unlock hundreds of millions in federal and state funding.
Stay Connected
NACo has launched a new initiative to help counties prepare for the 2030 Census.
Fill out the form below to share your county story on census readiness and to receive announcements about upcoming NACo webinars, publications and direct connections with federal partners to support local efforts.
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