Interactive map tracks census response rate

Joel Walsh
March 28, 2010

Looking good, Laguna Woods.

Come on, Santa Ana. Pick up the pace.

An interactive map launched by the U.S. Census Bureau last week shows the best – and worst – census form response rates in Orange County and across the country. Census forms were mailed to households March 15.

As of Friday, the nationwide average was 29percent, according to the Census Bureau. That's just shy of the 31percent statewide average.

Orange County, which had the highest response rate among California's five largest counties in 2000, ranks second so far this year at 32 percent. That's behind San Diego, 33 percent, but ahead of San Bernardino, 30 percent; Riverside, 29 percent; and Los Angeles, 28 percent.

April 1 is Census Day, the date all forms are due. Beginning in May and through July, hundreds of thousands of workers hired for the census will be knocking on doors, multiple times if they need to, in order to get answers from residents. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves stressed that promptly filling out and returning census forms can save taxpayers money that would be spent on sending those enumerators door to door.

"If every household mailed back its 2010 census form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census by $1.5 billion," Groves said in a news release.

In 2000, Laguna Woods had the highest return rate in Orange County with 87percent. The lowest was Laguna Beach at 65 percent. Nationwide, 72 percent of households sent the forms back before the census workers began knocking on doors.

Anyone who has not received a form or may have lost it can call 866-872-6868. Spanish speakers can call 866-928-2010. The number is 866-783-2010 for the hearing impaired.