> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/analyze/impact-dashboards/census-dashboards.md).

# Census Dashboards Overview

Learn how to read the Census Comparison dashboard, which compares your program reach against county population data.

The **Census Comparison** dashboard displays county maps that compare the reach reported on your program activities against American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates published by the U.S. Census Bureau. The maps cover the counties of your organization's state.

## Access Census Dashboards

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#### Navigate to Impact Dashboards

From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Analyze** menu in the top navigation bar and click **Impact Dashboards**.
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#### Click Census Comparison

On the Impact Dashboards page, click the **Census Comparison** card. The dashboard opens with a short explanation of the parity calculation, followed by one county map for each race and ethnicity category: **American Indian**, **Asian**, **Black**, **Hispanic or Latino**, **Hawaiian and Pacific Islander**, and **White**.

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**NOTE:** There is no map for Middle Eastern or North African. The dashboard explains that the Census Bureau does not yet publish a population figure for that category, so those participants appear only in the demographics charts. When the filtered program activities include both reporting periods before 2027 and 2027 or later, which count race and ethnicity differently, the maps appear in two groups: **Legacy Race and Ethnicity (Through RY2026)** and **Combined Race and Ethnicity (RY2027+)**.
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## View County Data

Each county is shaded by its parity value — the race category's share of your reach in that county divided by its share of the county's population. The legend bands the map at under 40%, 40–80%, 80–120%, and 120% and above. Counties with no reported reach are gray.

Hover your mouse cursor over any county on the map to see a popup displaying:

* **County** — the county name
* **% of Population** — that race category's share of the county's population
* **% of Total Reach** — that race category's share of the reach you reported in that county

## Filters

The filter bar on this dashboard offers **Reporting Period Year**, **Program Areas**, **Created By**, **Collaborators**, **Site by Name/Id**, **Primary Curriculum**, **Unit**, **Intervention name**, and **Completed**. Some of these appear only if your organization uses the matching feature. Every filter in the bar applies to the census maps. The dashboard opens filtered to your organization's current reporting period year.

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**TIP:** Bookmark the dashboards page for quick access. User permissions apply — you only see data you are authorized to view.
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**NOTE:** Not all dashboard cards appear for every agency type. For example, SNAP-Ed agencies will not see Extension-specific options. A county's parity value can exceed 100% when a race category makes up a larger share of your reach than of that county's population. The maps are not available to regional or national organizations, and if PEARS cannot retrieve the census figures the maps report that census comparison data is currently unavailable.
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