Where Are Arizona’s Highest, Lowest Census Response Rates?

By Christina Estes
Published: Monday, March 30, 2020 - 5:05am

Wednesday, April 1, is Census Day. That’s the reference date used for the 2020 Census. That means you include everyone living in your home on April 1 when you fill out the form, but you don’t have to wait to complete the census.

Data posted on March 28, 2020, showed the national self-response rate was 31.6%. Arizona’s statewide census response rate was 30.9% and responses vary widely among counties. At 34.1%, Yavapai County had the highest rate followed by Maricopa and Pima Counties. The lowest response rate was reported in northeast Arizona — in Apache County — at 1.2%.

Here’s a rate breakdown of all Arizona counties provided by the U.S. Census as of March 27, 2020.

  • Arizona 30.9%
  • Apache 1.2%
  • Cochise 28.1%
  • Coconino 17.8%
  • Gila 19.2%
  • Graham 24.9%
  • Greenlee 13.7%
  • La Paz 4.0%
  • Maricopa 33.5%
  • Mohave 31.0%
  • Navajo 10.4%
  • Pima 33.0%
  • Pinal 28.9%
  • Santa Cruz 17.0%
  • Yavapai 34.1%
  • Yuma 20.9%

The Constitution mandates a census every 10 years to count every person living in the U.S., regardless of citizenship status, race or age. For the first time, people can complete the census online using a unique code mailed to their address in March 2020. There’s also an option to participate by email or phone.

The state receives $2,959 in federal funding for each person counted in Arizona. Based on an analysis of funding through 55 federal programs, Andrew Reamer of George Washington University found Arizona received $20,550,087,125 in 2016 based on data from the 2010 census. That averages $3,214.96 per resident.

Census data are also used to calculate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thanks to population growth, Arizona is expected to gain one congressional seat. 

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