Overview
Impact Hub includes access to U.S. Census Bureau data built directly into the platform — no file downloads or spreadsheet wrangling required. The Impact Hub Census_ACS5_2020-2024 dataset draws from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, the Census Bureau's most statistically reliable source for small-area demographic data. The survey covers approximately 3.5 million households per year and pools five years of responses to produce stable estimates.
The dataset covers widely used indicators across demographics, income, poverty, education, employment, health access, and household composition. Because it's a dataset in Impact Hub, you can combine it with your organization's own data to build custom reports.
Important things to know
- National benchmark figures are fixed. The national figures at the top of each dashboard tab are U.S. reference points. They don't change when you apply geographic filters — they always reflect the national picture.
- Blank values aren't missing data. The Census Bureau intentionally suppresses estimates when the underlying sample is too small to be statistically reliable. This is most common at the ZIP code and census tract level in rural or low-population areas. If your service area shows blanks, try switching to county or state as your reference level instead.
- ZCTAs and USPS ZIP codes aren't the same. The Census Bureau uses ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) — a geographic approximation of postal ZIP codes. Some postal ZIP codes have no corresponding ZCTA, and boundaries don't always align exactly. If a ZIP code from your service area doesn't appear in the data, that's typically why.
- Sharing reports that include census data requires your own data too. Before sharing a report or dashboard externally — for a grant report, board presentation, or partner audience — confirm that at least one of your organization's own datasets is included in the same view.
The Impact Hub census dashboard
Every Impact Hub organization has access to the Bonterra Impact Hub | Census Dashboard — a ready-to-use reference you can open without building anything first.
Dashboard tabs
| Tab | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Community Demographics | Population, age, race/ethnicity, and language |
| Economic Context | Income, poverty, and housing |
| Work, Benefits & Health | Employment, benefits access, and health coverage |
| Education & Opportunity | Educational attainment, enrollment, disability status, and veterans status |
Tab layout
Each tab follows the same structure:
- National Benchmarks — Fixed U.S. reference figures at the top of each tab so you can compare your service area to the country as a whole.
- State and County metrics — An interactive map and filterable table.
- ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) metrics — The same data down to the ZIP level.
- Additional Summary Levels — A full table covering U.S. regions, divisions, metropolitan statistical areas, urban/rural distinctions, and more.
There's also a Use Notes tab that explains how the dashboard works and how to interpret what you see. It's worth a read before your first deep dive.
Using the census dataset in your reports
All Impact Hub Authors have access to the Impact Hub Census_ACS5_2020-2024 dataset and can add it directly to their own reports in Report Builder — no additional setup required.
Common uses include:
- Enriching your program data with community-level context
- Demonstrating need by comparing your service area against state or national benchmarks
- Benchmarking program outcomes at the summary level that fits your work — whether that's county, ZIP code, metropolitan area, or census tract
Start by filtering for your summary level
The dataset includes every available summary level, from the national total down to census tract. Before building a report, filter the dataset for the summary level you're most interested in. Without that filter, every row at every geography is included, which can require advanced reporting setup.