# US Census Bureau Demographics & Population Data API (`alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api`) Actor

Access comprehensive US Census Bureau data including American Community Survey (ACS) demographics, population estimates, economic indicators, business statistics, and geographic data. Get population, income, education, housing, employment, and health data for any US location.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api.md
- **Developed by:** [The Howlers](https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Other, Integrations
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.01 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## US Census Bureau API - Demographics & Population Data

Access US Census Bureau data including ACS demographics, population estimates, economic indicators, business statistics, and geographic data. Get population by age, race, income, education, housing, and more for any US location down to ZIP code level.

**BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)** -- you provide your own API credentials.

***

### Before You Start

This actor requires your own API credentials to fetch real data.

**Where to get your key:** Free API key from census.gov/developers (optional for limited use)

This actor runs in Demo Mode by default, so a default free run returns sample data (free, no key needed) to show you the output format. Set demoMode to false to fetch real data.

***

### Quick Start

#### Test with Demo Mode (free, no API key needed)

```json
{
  "demoMode": true
}
```

#### Run with real data

```json
{
  "demoMode": false,
  "task": "get_population",
  "apiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE",
  "dataset": "acs5",
  "year": 2023
}
```

***

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|----------|-------------|
| `task` | string | `"get_population"` | Yes\* | Operation to perform |
| `apiKey` | string | - | Yes\* | Free API key from census.gov/developers (optional for limited use) |
| `dataset` | string | `"acs5"` | No | Census dataset to query |
| `year` | integer | `2023` | No | Data year (e.g., 2023) |
| `state` | string | - | No | 2-digit state FIPS code (e.g., 06 for California, 36 for New York) |
| `county` | string | - | No | 3-digit county FIPS code within state |
| `place` | string | - | No | Place (city/town) FIPS code |
| `zipCode` | string | - | No | 5-digit ZIP code (ZCTA) |
| `tract` | string | - | No | 6-digit census tract code |
| `stateName` | string | - | No | State name (alternative to FIPS code) |
| `variables` | string | - | No | Comma-separated Census variable codes (e.g., B01001_001E,B01002_001E) |
| `tableGroup` | string | - | No | Census table group (e.g., B01001 for Sex by Age) |
| `compareStates` | string | - | No | Comma-separated state FIPS codes to compare |
| `naicsCode` | string | - | No | Industry code for business statistics |
| `webhookUrl` | string | - | No | URL to send results to (Zapier, Make, n8n, etc.) |
| `demoMode` | boolean | `true` | No | Run with sample data (no API key required) |

\*Required when Demo Mode is off.

***

### Pricing

This actor uses **pay-per-event** billing:

| Event | Description | Price |
|-------|-------------|-------|
| API Request | Each Census API data request processed | $0.01 |

**Demo mode is free** -- no charges for sample data.

***

### Troubleshooting

#### "API key is required"

You have Demo Mode turned **off** but didn't provide an API key. Either:

- Turn Demo Mode **on** to test with sample data
- Add your API key in the input

#### "API error 403" or "Unauthorized"

Your API key is invalid, expired, or doesn't have access to this specific API endpoint. Double-check your key and account permissions.

#### "API error 429" or "Rate limit"

Too many requests. Wait a minute and try again, or reduce the number of items per run.

#### No results or empty dataset

Check the run log for error messages. Common causes:

- Invalid input format (check the examples above)
- API key without proper permissions
- The target data doesn't exist or is too small to track

#### How do I test without an API key?

Enable **Demo Mode** in the input. This returns realistic sample data so you can verify the output format works for your workflow.

***

**Built by John Rippy | [Actor Arsenal](https://actorarsenal.com)**

# Actor input Schema

## `task` (type: `string`):

Operation to perform

## `apiKey` (type: `string`):

Free API key from census.gov/developers (optional for limited use)

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Census dataset to query

## `year` (type: `integer`):

Data year (e.g., 2023)

## `state` (type: `string`):

2-digit state FIPS code (e.g., 06 for California, 36 for New York)

## `county` (type: `string`):

3-digit county FIPS code within state

## `place` (type: `string`):

Place (city/town) FIPS code

## `zipCode` (type: `string`):

5-digit ZIP code (ZCTA)

## `tract` (type: `string`):

6-digit census tract code

## `stateName` (type: `string`):

State name (alternative to FIPS code)

## `variables` (type: `string`):

Comma-separated Census variable codes (e.g., B01001_001E,B01002_001E)

## `tableGroup` (type: `string`):

Census table group (e.g., B01001 for Sex by Age)

## `compareStates` (type: `string`):

Comma-separated state FIPS codes to compare

## `naicsCode` (type: `string`):

Industry code for business statistics

## `webhookUrl` (type: `string`):

URL to send results to (Zapier, Make, n8n, etc.)

## `demoMode` (type: `boolean`):

Run with sample data (no API key required)

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "task": "get_population",
  "dataset": "acs5",
  "year": 2023,
  "demoMode": true
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

US Census Bureau data including population, income, housing, education, employment, and demographic statistics

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "demoMode": true
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "demoMode": True }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "demoMode": true
}' |
apify call alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,alizarin_refrigerator-owner/us-census-bureau-demographics-population-data-api"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/DTDVjizzDg5Z8w0qg/builds/UQeV1xhJYCUTjdwOh/openapi.json