# Census Acs Scraper (`quarterly_jingo/census-acs-scraper`) Actor

- **URL**: https://apify.com/quarterly\_jingo/census-acs-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Petey Boy](https://apify.com/quarterly_jingo) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## Census ACS Demographics Scraper

### Overview

Access US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data for population, income, housing, education, and employment demographics at state, county, city, zip code, and congressional district levels. Supports filters (State FIPS Filter).

### Features

- Search by keywords to find specific results
- Filter results by category or type
- Export data in JSON, CSV, or Excel formats
- Control output volume with configurable result limits
- Built-in proxy support for reliable data collection

### Use Cases

- **Track** - Track federal government data releases and updates
- **Build** - Build datasets for policy research and analysis
- **Monitor** - Monitor regulatory changes and compliance requirements
- **Aggregate** - Aggregate public government data for transparency projects

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description | Default |
|-----------|------|-------------|---------|
| `apiKey` | string | Census API key from api.census.gov (optional - works without one at lower rat... |  |
| `dataset` | string **(required)** | Which American Community Survey dataset to query | `acs5_2022` |
| `variables` | string **(required)** | Preset group of demographic variables to retrieve, or choose 'custom' to ente... | `demographics_overview` |
| `customVariables` | string | Comma-separated ACS variable codes when using 'custom' variable group (e.g., ... |  |
| `geography` | string **(required)** | Geographic level to retrieve data for | `state` |
| `stateFilter` | string | State FIPS code to filter by (e.g., '06' for California, '48' for Texas, '36'... |  |
| `maxItems` | integer | Maximum number of records to return | `1000` |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Proxy settings for the requests |  |

### Output Example

Each result contains structured data like this:

```json
{
  "name": "Census ACS Demographics Sample Item",
  "population": "Sample population",
  "medianIncome": "Sample medianIncome",
  "medianHomeValue": "Sample medianHomeValue",
  "geography": "Sample geography"
}
```

### Pricing

This actor uses pay-per-result pricing:

- **$0.001** per result
- **$1.00** per 1,000 results

No monthly fees. You only pay for what you scrape. [Apify Free plan](https://apify.com/pricing) includes $5/month in platform credits.

### How to Run

#### Apify Console

1. Go to the [Census ACS Demographics Scraper](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate/census-acs-scraper) actor page
2. Configure your input parameters
3. Click **Start** and wait for the results
4. Download data in JSON, CSV, or Excel format

#### API

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fortuitous_pirate~census-acs-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"maxItems": 10}'
```

#### Python SDK

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/census-acs-scraper").call(
    run_input={"maxItems": 10}
)

for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)
```

### Integration

Connect Census ACS Demographics Scraper with your existing tools and workflows:

- **API access** - Programmatic access via [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2)
- **Webhooks** - Get notified when scraping completes
- **Scheduling** - Set up recurring runs on any schedule
- **Zapier / Make** - Connect with 5,000+ apps via [Apify integrations](https://apify.com/integrations)
- **Python / Node.js SDKs** - Native client libraries for easy integration

# Actor input Schema

## `apiKey` (type: `string`):

Census API key from api.census.gov (optional - works without one at lower rate limits)

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Which American Community Survey dataset to query

## `variables` (type: `string`):

Preset group of demographic variables to retrieve, or choose 'custom' to enter your own variable codes

## `customVariables` (type: `string`):

Comma-separated ACS variable codes when using 'custom' variable group (e.g., 'B01001\_001E,B19013\_001E'). Find codes at api.census.gov/data.html

## `geography` (type: `string`):

Geographic level to retrieve data for

## `stateFilter` (type: `string`):

State FIPS code to filter by (e.g., '06' for California, '48' for Texas, '36' for New York). Required for county, place, and zip geographies. Leave empty for all states.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of records to return

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings for the requests

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "dataset": "acs5_2022",
  "variables": "demographics_overview",
  "geography": "state",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("quarterly_jingo/census-acs-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("quarterly_jingo/census-acs-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call quarterly_jingo/census-acs-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=quarterly_jingo/census-acs-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/KrIbw0dBjJCqqSIVf/builds/i1sd1MQW0zMqGBReh/openapi.json