As the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause disruption and uncertainty in our region, we must not lose sight of the 2020 census.
The census, which is mandated by the Constitution, provides critical data that will impact our communities for the next decade. Billions of dollars in federal funding will go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources based on the results of the census. The responses will also determine the number of seats Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they will be used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
Currently, the national response rate for the census is 45.1%. The rates for our region are as follows:
- Litchfield County: 44.5%
- Highest response rate in the Northwest Corner: Warren, 40.8%
- Lowest response rate in the Northwest Corner: Salisbury, 24.7%
- Dutchess County: 42.1 %
- Highest response rate in northeast Dutchess: Stanford, 33.9%
- Lowest response rate in northeast Dutchess: Washington, 26.1%
- Berkshire County: 40.6%
- Highest response rate: Dalton, 58.3%
- Lowest response rate: Monterey, 8.4%
- Columbia County: 31.3%
- Highest response rate: Ghent, 44.2%
- Lowest response rate: Copake, 21.2%
There is still time to respond to the census online, by phone or by mail. The questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your answers matter.
Respond to the census