Every three months we check all of our data sources to see if they have published new data. If they have, we update the data on our web site. So you can rest assured that all of our data is updated within three months from the time it is made available. We recommend you preface your use of this data with the words "According to the most recent available data…" And don't forget to cite your source! Use the "Source citation" at the bottom of each data table.
As you may recall, the Census is conducted only once every ten years. But it provides the greatest breadth of demographic data available. You'll find that much of our data comes from the Census 2000. And although it may seem a bit old, a number of grant writing experts suggest that Census 2000 is the data source that federal funders prefer to see in grant proposals. Just to be sure, we took a look at the updated estimates of Census data that are produced yearly by for-profit companies, but we found that they were not more accurate than the old Census data itself. [For details regarding our analysis of commercial estimates, please fill out a request through Ask Allison—link will close window.] You can feel confident using Census 2000 data in your next grant proposal. Just preface your use of it with the words, "According to the U.S Census 2000 (the most recent available data)…"