Environmental Public Health Tracking: Populations and Vulnerabilities Data

Vulnerability is how susceptible you are to harm. It is the result of what resources are available to you and the challenges you face.

Some populations are more likely to face vulnerabilities than others. They may come from individual, community, or larger population challenges. Some examples of population vulnerabilities are single-parent households, those living with a disability, people experiencing poverty, and those who are unemployed.

It is challenging to measure the relationship between population characteristics and the environment.

There is evidence that shows these vulnerabilities do affect a person's exposure to environmental hazards. For example, racial minorities and low-income populations may have a greater risk for exposure to several environmental conditions that can threaten their health. The greater risk is because those populations are more likely to live near hazardous waste sites, in areas with high air pollution levels, and in poor housing conditions.

Gathering data on populations and vulnerabilities allows public health professionals to identify high risk groups and plan programs and policies that take into account the needs of certain populations.

By tracking these vulnerabilities we are better able to:

• Predict possible health problems and disease risk in populations
• Understand what is influencing human health in the U.S.
• Understand what influences environmental exposures and human health across the U.S.
• Identify community-specific threats and hazards as well as at-risk populations
• Determine where resources are needed to mitigate or prevent illness, injury, and death

The source of these data are:

• Intercensal and Postcensal Population Estimates
• American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates
• Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
• Geospatial Research, Analysis and Services Program (GRASP)/Census

Please note that not all topics are available at both the census tract and county geographies.

• Demographics
  • Number of people aged 65 years and older living alone in a non-family household
  • Number of people aged five years and older that speak English less than "very well"
  • Number of people by demographic group
  • Number of single-parent households
  • Percent of population aged 65 years and over living alone in a non-family household
  • Percent of population aged five years and older that speaks English less than "very well"
  • Percent of population by demographic group
  • Percent of single-parent households
• Health status
  • Age-adjusted estimates of the percent of adults aged 20 years and over diagnosed with diabetes
  • Number of people aged 5 years and over with a disability
  • Number of people without health insurance
  • Percent of population aged 5 years and over with a disability
  • Percent of population without health insurance
• Social Vulnerability Index (ATSDR)
  • Household composition/disability percentile rank
  • Housing/Transportation percentile rank
  • Minority Status/Language percentile rank
  • Overall percentile vulnerability rank
  • Socioeconomic percentile vulnerability rank
• Socioeconomic status
  • Median household income
  • Number of people aged 16 years and over who are unemployed
  • Number of people aged 25 years and over with high school diploma (or equivalent) or higher
  • Number of people living in poverty
  • Percent of population aged 16 years and over who are unemployed
  • Percent of population aged 25 years and over with high school diploma (or equivalent) or higher
  • Percent of population living in poverty

There are numerous considerations to keep in mind when interpreting the data. Please visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) National Tracking Program Indicators and Data webpage for additional information.

Select the content area from the drop-down list, e.g., Populations and Vulnerabilities. Then select the specific indicator you are interested in from the drop-down list, e.g., "Demographics."

• American Psychological Association Socioeconomic Status Office
• United States Census Bureau
• Social Vulnerability Index – CDC

Demographics

Number of people aged 65 years and older living alone in a non-family household

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. A non-family household can be either a person living alone or a householder who shares the housing unit only with non-relatives—for example, boarders or roommates. Non-family households are maintained only by people with no relatives at home.

Number of people aged five years and over that speak English less than "very well"

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. The data for people who speak English less than “very well” includes people whose native/primary language is any language other than English.”

Number of people by demographic group

Data provided by the CDC National Vital Statistic System. Intercensal estimates were used for 2000-2009. Postcensal estimates were used for 2010 onward.

Number of single-parent households

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology.

Percent of people aged 65 years and older living alone in a non-family household

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. A non-family household can be either a person living alone or a householder who shares the housing unit only with non-relatives—for example, boarders or roommates. Non-family households are maintained only by people with no relatives at home.

Percent of people aged five years and over that speak English less than "very well"

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology The data for people who speak English less than “very well” includes people whose native/primary language is any language other than English.”

Percent of people by demographic group

Data provided by the CDC National Vital Statistic System. Intercensal estimate were used for 2000-2009. Postcensal estimates were used for 2010 onward.

Percent of single-parent households

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology.

Health status

Age-adjusted estimates of the percent of adults >= 20 years diagnosed with diabetes

This data was provided by CDC's National Diabetes Surveillance System. Prevalence rates by county were estimated using data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. Prevalence rates are age adjusted and calculated for adults 20 years and older to be consistent with population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Number of people without health insurance

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates. Data were downloaded for 2005 and 2006, 13 fields were extracted, and the 2005 and 2006 data were concatenated. Read more about the Census's methodology.

Percent of population aged 5 years and over with a disability

This data was collected from the US. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and the ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. Because the ACS has replaced the decennial long-form as the source for small area statistics, there is no disability data in the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau collects data on disability primarily through the ACS and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). The definitions of disability are not always alike so caution should be taken when making comparisons across surveys. Generally, the SIPP estimates of disability prevalence are broader and encompass a greater number of activities on which disability status is assessed. The ACS has a more narrow definition but is capable of producing estimates for states, counties, and metropolitan areas.

Percent of population without health insurance

This data was collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates. Data were downloaded for 2005 and 2006, 13 fields were extracted, and the 2005 and 2006 data were concatenated. Read more about the Census's methodology.

Social Vulnerability Index (ATSDR)

Household composition/disability percentile rank

Data are provided by CDC/ATSDR's Geospatial Research, Analysis & Service Program and are developed using Census 2010 and ACS data. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every Census tract. The SVI ranks each Census tract on 15 social factors, including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing. It then groups them into four related themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figure in the SVI fact sheet. For 2010, the household composition/disability percentile does not include disability because the 2010 Census data does not contain data on disabilities.

Housing/transportation percentile rank

Data are provided by CDC/ATSDR's Geospatial Research, Analysis & Service Program and are developed using Census 2010 and ACS data. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every Census tract. The SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors, including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing. It then groups them into four related themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figure in the SVI fact sheet.

Minority Status/Language Percentile Rank

Data are provided by CDC/ATSDR's Geospatial Research, Analysis & Service Program and are developed using Census 2010 and ACS data. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every Census tract. Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. The SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors,* including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, and groups them into four related themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figure in the SVI fact sheet.

Overall percentile vulnerability rank

Data are provided by CDC/ATSDR's Geospatial Research, Analysis & Service Program and are developed using Census 2010 and ACS data. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every Census tract. Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. The SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors,* including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, and groups them into four related themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figure in the SVI fact sheet.

Socioeconomic percentile vulnerability rank

Data are provided by CDC/ATSDR's Geospatial Research, Analysis & Service Program and are developed using Census 2010 and ACS data. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every Census tract. Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. The SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors*, including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, and groups them into four related themes, as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the figure in the SVI fact sheet.

Socioeconomic status

Median household income

Median household income data are collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.

Number of people aged 16 years and over who are unemployed

Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and ACS five-year estimates. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. The ACS uses the same employment status concepts as those used in Census 2000. The ACS data, however, are annual averages, whereas the census estimates relate to the period of time when the census was conducted—primarily from March to June 2000. The labor force questions changed in 2008 therefore you should use caution when making labor force data comparisons from 2008 or later with data from prior years. Additional information can be found on the Census website. Since employment data from the CPS and the ACS are obtained from respondents in households, they differ from statistics based on reports from individual businesses, farm enterprises, and certain government programs. Some discrepancies between different measures of employment may exist for people holding more than one job, private household workers, unpaid family workers, self-employed people, people less than 16 years of age, and people who had a job but were not working at the time of survey. Furthermore, the employment status data in household survey tabulations include people on the basis of place of residence regardless of where they work, whereas establishment data report people at their place of work regardless of where they live. This latter consideration is particularly significant when comparing data for workers who commute between areas and is likely to be more important the smaller the geographic area.

Number of people aged 25 years and over with high school diploma (or equivalent) or higher

Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. For each race, ethnicity, and gender, the total number of people graduating high school or the equivalent were calculated by summing the following eight columns of highest education attained: high school graduate (includes equivalency), some college less than one year, some college one or more years, Associate degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Professional school degree, and Doctorate degree. Percentages were calculated by dividing this sum by the total population for the corresponding race, ethnicity, and gender.

Number of people living in poverty

These data are collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty estimates. Read more about the Census ACS methodology.

Percent of population aged 16 years and over who are unemployed

Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and ACS five-year estimates. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. The ACS uses the same employment status concepts as those used in Census 2000. The ACS data, however, are annual averages, whereas the census estimates relate to the period of time when the census was conducted—primarily from March to June 2000. The labor force questions changed in 2008 therefore you should use caution when making labor force data comparisons from 2008 or later with data from prior years. Additional information can be found on the Census website. Since employment data from the CPS and the ACS are obtained from respondents in households, they differ from statistics based on reports from individual businesses, farm enterprises, and certain government programs. Some discrepancies between different measures of employment may exist for people holding more than one job, private household workers, unpaid family workers, self-employed people, people less than 16 years of age, and people who had a job but were not working at the time of survey. Furthermore, the employment status data in household survey tabulations include people on the basis of place of residence regardless of where they work, whereas establishment data report people at their place of work regardless of where they live. This latter consideration is particularly significant when comparing data for workers who commute between areas and is likely to be more important the smaller the geographic area.

Percent of population aged 25 years and over with high school diploma (or equivalent) or higher

Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder, and ACS five-year estimates. ACS is a nationwide, continuous survey designed to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, housing, social, and economic data every year. However, because ACS data are based on a sample, they are subject to sampling variability and include a range of uncertainty. Read more about the Census ACS methodology. For each race, ethnicity, and gender, the total number of people graduating high school or the equivalent were calculated by summing the following eight columns of highest education attained: high school graduate (includes equivalency), some college less than one year, some college one or more years, Associate degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Professional school degree, and Doctorate degree. Percentages were calculated by dividing this sum by the total population for the corresponding race, ethnicity, and gender.

Percent of population living in poverty

These data are collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty estimates. Read more about the Census ACS methodology.

Explore definitions and explanations of terminology found on the portal, like age-adjusted rate and confidence intervals.