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Iowa among best in country for Census response rate, but Clayton County lags

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Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 10:21

Over 68 percent of Iowans have completed the 2020 U.S. Census, giving the state one of the best response rates in the country. Minnesota and Wisconsin have the top spots at 72.2 percent and 69.4 percent, respectively. The national self response rate is 62.8 percent.

Statewide, though, Clayton County has one of the lower response rates, at just 60.7 percent. That trails Winneshiek County at 72.6 percent, Dubuque County at 71.6, Delaware County at 70.4, Buchanan County at 69.8 and Fayette County at 63.4. Allamakee County has the second-lowest response rate in Iowa, at 55.6 percent.

In Clayton County, the city of Garnavillo has the highest self response rate, at 69.7 percent. Other city results include:

  • Elkader, 68.1
  • Volga, 67
  • Luana, 65.9
  • Osterdock, 65.2
  • Strawberry Point, 65
  • St. Olaf, 64.8
  • Garber, 62.5
  • Guttenberg, 60.7
  • Monona, 55.8
  • Farmersburg, 53.6
  • Marquette, 50.2
  • McGregor, 45.2
  • Clayton, 28
  • North Buena Vista, 24.7

Overall, one in three Iowa households has yet to respond to the Census. Groups that tend not to respond—and who have been historically undercounted—include renters, people with low incomes and ethnic and racial minorities.

Census results shape the future of communities, as census data informs how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed for hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other critical programs and services for the next 10 years. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

People can complete Census questionnaires online at my2020census.gov, by phone at (844) 330-2020 or by mailing the paper questionnaire that was sent to homes this spring.

The Census Bureau has added a new postcard reminder that non-responding homes will also receive.

Households that do not respond on their own will soon have census takers visit in person to ask census questions. Enumerators will begin to visit homes on Aug. 11.

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