Make Beautiful Census Data Maps & Tables with Social Explorer

Finding accurate, localized demographic data can be a daunting task, especially when working on grant proposals, community assessments, or strategic plans. Publicly available data often falls short—either it’s outdated, too broad, or not specific enough to capture the unique characteristics of a particular community. Fortunately, the Social Explorer is a user-friendly platform that transforms complex U.S. Census data into accessible maps, visualizations, and reports for nonprofits, researchers, and community organizations. In this episode, we’ll explore how to use the Social Explorer to quickly and effectively access the data you need. You’ll hear: (00:47) What is the Social Explorer and what types of census data does it use (03:30) A demonstration on how to access the Social Explorer. (08:26) How to look at community demographics, such as race/ethnicity at the census-tract level (12:34) How to track changes over time, like the percentage of foreign-born residents. (15:15) Three elements that make for a good map Resources Mentioned Visit the Social Explorer Read the blog post - Standards for Collecting Race and Ethnicity Data Are Changing. Are You Prepared? Download the free Data & Evaluation Made Simple Toolkit