Together, we achieved a 77.7% self-response rate - exceeding our 2010 response rate for each city and town - making Santa Clara County one of the highest responding counties in the nation.
Every person who said “Count Me In!” and participated in the 2020 Census helped make the County of Santa Clara’s census outreach program a success. Despite all of the challenges, our community came together to secure funding for key services like schools, hospitals and emergency response that are critical as we continue recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are grateful to everyone who was counted this year and for the community members and Census Champions who helped spread the census message. Our strong response rate will have an impact on our communities for the next 10 years!
About the 2020 Census
Quick Facts
- A nationwide Census is taken every ten years
- Census data is used:
- To determine the number of Congressional members each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as apportionment
- For $675 billion in federal program funding allocations
- Of that, California has received over $75 billion annually
- By State and local governments to redraw their districts
- The United States Census Bureau's website provides Quick Facts and Data on the results of the 2020 Census in Santa Clara County
Differences between 2010 and 2020
- Methods of response:
- 2010: paper form, in-person via enumerator visits
- 2020: internet self-response form, paper form, by phone, in-person via enumerator visits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the census?
The census is mandated by Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution. Data collected in the census is used for the annual appropriation of over $675 billion in federal funding and apportionment for the House of Representatives. Census data also assists in the drawing of voting precincts, congressional and state legislative districts, and school districts. The next census is scheduled for 2030.
Why was this effort so important for Santa Clara County?
The County of Santa Clara was committed to ensuring a complete count of everyone in our community during the 2020 Census and conducted a multi-year effort to make sure everyone was prepared for the census. One of the key goals of this effort was to make sure each person, even those who have been traditionally hard-to-count (HTC), were heard in the 2020 Census.
HTC means that the community has historically been undercounted in the census and/or has barriers of access to the census. HTC communities include immigrants, non-English speakers or non-fluent English speakers, the LGBTQ+ community, multi-generational households, crowded households, unhoused/unstably housed, and people with lack of access to reliable broadband.
Are there any privacy protections for the information shared on the census?
Absolutely. The census is completely private. By law, the census cannot share any personal information.
Where can I see more information about census response rates?
For more information about 2020 Census response rates, please visit the US Census Bureau's website.