About EachTown
1. Purpose & Scope
EachTown compiles official public records into accessible locality profiles. We organize U.S. Census Bureau population statistics, housing metrics, economic surveys, and administrative boundary files so researchers, planners, and community members can evaluate towns using primary data.
Each profile preserves official government vintages and source definitions. We do not aggregate data across incompatible boundaries, invent synthetic estimates, or mask statistical uncertainty.
2. Methodology & Standards
Our data model adheres strictly to official federal classification schemes defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). We separate legally incorporated municipalities from unincorporated Census Designated Places (CDPs), Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs), and GNIS geographic features.
When federal agencies suppress data points for privacy protection or when a survey has an insufficient sample size, we document the status explicitly. Missing values remain missing; we never substitute statewide averages or synthetic estimates.
3. Geographic Summary Levels
The directory indexes entities across the primary summary levels recognized in Census cartographic boundary files:
| Entity Kind | Summary Level | Primary Identifier | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| State | 040 | 2-digit FIPS | The 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and territories. |
| County | 050 | 5-digit GEOID | Counties, parishes (LA), boroughs (AK), and independent cities. |
| County Subdivision | 060 | 10-digit GEOID | Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs), civil townships, and CCDs. |
| Place | 160 | 7-digit GEOID | Incorporated cities, towns, villages, and Census Designated Places. |
| ZIP Code | 860 | 5-digit ZIP Code | ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks. |
4. Statistical Integrity & Margins of Error
Data sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates are sample-based survey projections rather than complete decennial counts. The Census Bureau publishes each ACS estimate alongside a Margin of Error (MOE) at a 90% confidence level. Users evaluating smaller communities should examine these confidence bounds carefully.
5. Feedback & Corrections
To report an errant record or discrepancy against an official Census release, refer to our contact guidelines or inspect our comprehensive data sources documentation.