Get to Know your Neighbors with DemographicsNow

February 27, 2012

If you've ever wondered what you can do with all that information the government gathers through the US Census, check out DemographicsNow in MCPL's Research databases.

An invaluable tool for anyone whose livelihood depends on knowing their market, DemographicsNow offers a glimpse into the demographics and spending habits of any given area of the United States. Users can create custom locations by address, maps, or map coordinates. They can focus on one location or compare several locations at the same time. In short, users can slice and dice the information in ways that are the most useful to them. A quick tutorial makes it easy to get started.

A quick peek at my own neighborhood - a one mile radius around my address - revealed that according to 2010 census figures, the median age of residents is 37.7 years. We're expected to grow up a bit to about 39.1 years by 2015. We spend an average of nearly $5,060 a year on eating out. When we do buy groceries, we spend an average of $71 a year on cookies and nearly $70 a year on white bread. We seem to be a relatively hygienic bunch. Each year we spend an average of $38 a year on deodorant. When we aren't spending money for our own needs and wants, we spend an average of $361 a year on our pets.

Want to know more? Check our DemographicsNow.

Sara PD
Kearney Branch